Tequila
Tequila is one of the fastest-growing spirits in the U.S., with America consuming even more than they do in its homeland of Mexico. The biggest growth is in the premium and super-premium categories, as drinkers discover the pleasure of sipping rather than slamming good tequila. Tequila is in fact a type of mezcal, but one that has a specific “domain of origin” status and which must be made from a single species of agave, the blue agave. Tequila must be made in certain designated areas in Mexico, the biggest being the state of Jalisco, where the town of Tequila is located. Rack “tequila” must contain at least 51% blue agave sugars, and the remainder can be just about anything, including corn syrup. However, quality tequila will state on the bottle that it is made from 100% blue agave. Anything less than this (think Cuervo Gold) is called a mixto. Within Mexico, tequila can be bottled at anything from 62 to 110 proof, but within the U.S. it must be at least 80 proof. Blanco (silver or white) tequila is sold unaged, reposado tequila must be aged at least two months in white oak barrels, and añejo (aged) tequila are aged for twelve months minimum. Finally, extra añejo must be aged for at least three years. A new variety of tequila, generally called cristalino, is aged tequila that has been filtered to remove color, giving it the appearance of a blanco but the flavor of an añejo.
Top Tequila Posts:
Understanding the Different Styles of Tequila
A Visit to Casa Herradura
A Visit to the Don Julio Tequila Distillery
It’s been five years since we last reviewed Milagro’s Select Barrel Reserve Tequilas, and there are good reasons for taking a fresh look. Most notably, Milagro has lowered the prices for all three of its ...
The budget tequila brand Cazadores is not one we’d normally peg as releasing a cristalino (aka filtered anejo) bottling, but here we are all the same. This cristalino is aged for two years in barrel ...
21 Seeds is a new brand of flavored tequila made with all-natural fruit infusions. Available in three flavors to start — Valencia Orange, Grapefruit Hibiscus, and Cucumber Jalapeño — the tequila is “cultivated from a ...
One With Life is a new organic (and kosher) tequila made from 100% Blue Weber Agave at Tequila Las Americas in the heart of Jalisco. Agaves are roasted in brick ovens and fermented with wild ...
Lejana Y Sola (“afar and alone”) is a sister brand of PaQui Tequila, which we reviewed when it was first released a whopping 11 years ago. This joven mezcal is an “ensemble” made from espadin ...
The Milagro line of tequilas has expanded, but its original, core lineup continues to be a popular, affordable, and widely available option that we last reviewed in 2015. Let’s try the most recent bottlings and ...
For Cinco de Mayo this year, Patron Tequila has partnered with tattoo artist JonBoy and the Cocktail Courier website to produce all the ingredients needed to make a Fresh Ink Smoked Margarita. There’s a choice ...
Along with a pandemic and general global turmoil, the last few years have also brought us the sparkling, ready-to-drink craze that seems to be in full bloom with no foreseeable end in sight. Never one ...
Partida keeps cranking out new luxe, high-end tequilas, but today we’re getting a look at a new entry into its standard lineup, a long-awaited cristalino expression. This expression takes an 18-months-aged anejo tequila then, as ...
Several tequila distillers are lobbying to have cristaliño added to the four existing official tequila categories. A cristalino is an añejo or extra añejo tequila that after aging has been filtered to have color but ...
