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
Ricava is a new brand of 100% Blue Weber agave tequila that is shaking things up with some unusual aging choices. In addition to a traditional Añejo Tequila, today we’ll be trying an expression that was aged in French oak Burgundy barrels as well as one that was aged in deep-charred American oak barrels. These…
Made at Hacienda la Capilla — best known for its production of Cuestion tequilas — Por la Gente (“for the people”) is another 100% agave tequila available in the classic three expressions. There’s rather little information about the tequilas available aside from the aging, though Cuestion is made from Highlands agave, as are other Capilla…
Ready for another innovation from the lately-on-fire Don Julio? Alma Miel is a blend of blanco tequila distilled with oven-roasted agave honey plus añejo tequila that has been aged for at least 14 months and finished in Crémant du Limoux (sparkling) wine casks from the Limoux region of France. Officially billed as a Tequila Joven,…
1953 is a new tequila brand with a single expression — anejo. The tequila is “an ultra-premium, additive free anejo founded, farmed, distilled, and led by women.” To that end, the name of the product marks the year that women gained the right to vote in Mexico. Founders and friends Shivam Mallick Shah, Lindsey Davis…
Presented in an artful, oversized bottle and carrying a substantial price tag, Emyla is clearly an ultra-premium tequila by design. It is the brainchild of founder Art Davtyan, who named the tequila by combining the names of his two daughters, and it is produced at the Casa Maestri distillery, which makes a broad range of…
Previously we brought you a look at the six indie-bottled whiskies in edition three of the ImpEx Collection — now we’re carrying on with the bottler’s first foray into mezcal. The line comprises four different expressions from two distillers, using four different subspecies of agave. Let’s get into it. The ImpEx Collection Mezcal Felipe Cortes,…
In the widening world of mezcal, artisanal expressions made by hand with traditional methods are increasingly the best places to find unique flavors and superior quality. And it doesn’t get more handmade than Creador which dropped their second set of bottlings late last fall. The deets: Each of the six new expressions is milled by…
Maestro Dobel‘s latest tequila is plenty old, but it isn’t a cristalino but a traditional extra anejo, complete with natural color driven from the barrel. This is actually the second release of Dobel’s “Atelier Tequila” Extra Anejo expression, which launched last year — and which you can still find online. The bottles are decidedly unique,…
Late last year, El Tesoro launched a new line of tequilas called The Mundial Collection, which will be built around various whiskey cask finishes. “Mundial” translates to “world” in Spanish — a cue that you’re going to see finishes from all over the place used in this lineup. The first two releases are build around…
Suerte has emerged as a solid choice for 100% agave tequila, a Highlands offering with a fairly straightforward, balanced approach — and reasonable pricing. If you want to break away from the usual trio of expressions, consider this newish release from the brand — Suerte Blanco at “still strength,” a cracking 52% abv. There’s not…