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’ve reviewed anything new from Tequila Herradura — and our last go-round wasn’t the best. We’re not holding any grudges though, and we’re back to Jalisco for a fresh look at a newer release — Herradura Legend — an anejo tequila that sits between Herradura Ultra and Herradura Seleccion Suprema…
Flecha Azul is a new tequila brand, coming out the gate with five expressions covering the gamut of modern tequila styles. We received but one for tasting, an anejo aged in American oak for 18 months, built from agaves harvested after 6 to 8 years, open-air fermented, and steam-cooked in masonry ovens before being distilled…
We previously reviewed Gracias a Dios Mezcal Espadin, and today we swing around to try two of their mezcals, alternately made from Tobala and Tepextate agaves. These varieties differ from Espadin in that they are not domesticated and are only cultivated where they grow wild. They also require more time before they are ready to…
Spirits enthusiasts are always on watch for the next trend in spirits. Whiskey and brandy have held international acclaim for eons, but could tequila be the next craze? The popularity and credibility of tequila as a premium spirit has been on the rise, thanks in large part to Tomas Estes. Estes passed in 2021 but…
Tres Generaciones upgrades its Anejo expression with this third bottle in its Legacy Edition series of tequilas. This 50th Anniversary Añejo “is a unique expression paying homage to Don Francisco Javier Sauza’s original recipe, which he crafted 50 years ago to create a tequila masterpiece celebrating three generations of distilling at La Perseverancia distillery.” This…
Sure, let’s start with the basics: What’s bacanora? In the northern Mexico state of Sonora, bacanora is a type of mezcal traditionally made from a particular strain of agave, Agave angustifolia. Like Tequila, Bacanora is also a town that is the spiritual home of the beverage, though it can be and is made all over…
You’ve seen the ads. You know the couple behind it. There’s nothing left to do here but toss out an “está bien, está bien, está bien” for Matthew and Camila McConaughey’s tequila, which is named in honor of the pants you are bound to remove upon cracking open the bottle. This is McConaughey’s second foray…
Codigo 1530 is back with another tequila release, and it’s what you’d expect: A cristalino, albeit one made from a reposado base, not an anejo. As as refresher, the reposado is aged in cabernet sauvignon wine barrels made from French white oak. This cristalino is blended with some 6 year old Codigo 1530 Origin extra…
We’ve been big fans of Nosotros Tequila since its 2019 launch, when we enjoyed its blanco and its 2020 reposado follow-up. We’ve been sleeping on the brand since, including its anejo and cider barrel releases as well as its entry into mezcal. We correct that oversight today with a fresh look at all 5 products…
Jonathan kicked off our coverage of El Cristiano Tequila last year with a look at the distillery’s silver and reposado expressions. Now we’re jumping ahead to El Cristiano Extra Anejo, “Black Label,” which is aged for three years in ex bourbon barrels. The tequila plays like a selection of greatest hits from the Extra Anejo…