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
This long-running collaboration between Corazon Tequila and Buffalo Trace — in which Corazon’s single-estate tequila is aged in a variety of Buffalo Trace whiskey casks — is always worth sampling. This year finds Buffalo Trace ...
Vamonos Riendo Mezcal is a new “ensamble” style joven mezcal, made of a blend of 8 year old espadin and 14 year old tobala agaves. Triple-distilled at high altitude, the company behind it also says ...
I’ve always admired El Mayor’s tequilas, and not just for the funky and unique bottle design. Alas, all good things must come to an end, as the distillery has abandoned the squat, gourd-like design for ...
The core offerings from Avion Tequila have consistently impressed us over the years, and the brand remains a significant player amid an ever-growing field of ultra-premium tequilas. In 2013, Avion followed the lead of other ...
Convite — Spanish for invitation — is a new(ish) brand in the U.S. with a substantial range of expressions already under its belt. The Oaxaca-based brand launched with three varieties and now markets at least seven ...
Ready for more celebrity tequila? Cincoro was created by Michael Jordan and a group of four other NBA team owners with a specific goal: “to create the new gold standard for the spirit.” The collection ...
While most drinkers know to keep Jose Cuervo’s mixto tequilas at bay, the Jose Cuervo Tradicional line — the brand’s most budget-priced 100% agave tequila — isn’t bad as a mixer. For years this line ...
Izo is a new mezcal brand, and while a collection of spirits is planned for the future, the present of Izo is a single product, a joven style mezcal made from wild Cenizo agave grown ...
We can think of no better time of year to celebrate tequila than summer, so the liquor gods knew what they were up to when they made July 24th National Tequila Day. If, like us, ...
Brand new operation Acre Mezcal — you’ll know it by the large “A” on the top of the twine-wrapped bottle — is an up and coming producer of the smoky, Mexican spirit. It makes four ...
