Tequila is a type of mezcal made from the blue agave plant in Mexico. It has an alcohol by volume of 40% and comes in various styles including silver, gold, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo.
How it is made
Tequila production begins with harvesting the blue agave plant. The heart of the plant, called piña, is cooked to break down complex sugars into simple ones. The cooked piñas are then crushed to extract juice, which is fermented in tanks. After fermentation, the liquid is distilled twice in copper stills. The final product is diluted with water to reach 40% alcohol content before bottling.
History
The history of tequila dates back to 1530 when Spanish conquistadors began distilling agave drinks. Industrial production started in 1600 with Don Pedro Sánchez de Tagle establishing the first factory. The Cuervo family began production in 1758, officially receiving the right to produce Mezcal Vino de Tequila in 1795. Tequila gained international recognition in 1968 during the Mexico City Olympics, and Mexico obtained exclusive rights to the name in 1974.
Types and styles
Tequila is categorized by aging and agave content. Silver (blanco) is unaged or aged less than two months. Gold (oro) or joven is a mixto tequila, often with added caramel. Reposado is aged 2-11 months in oak barrels, making it the most popular style in Mexico. Añejo is aged 1-3 years, while extra añejo exceeds three years. Tequila is either 100% agave or mixto, containing at least 51% agave sugars.
How it is served
Tequila can be served neat, with salt and lime, or in various cocktails. Popular cocktails on this site include Margarita, Tequila Sunrise, Paloma, and Sangrita. In Mexico, it's common to sip tequila slowly with sangrita, a small glass of spicy citrus drink. The type of glass and serving method often depends on the style of tequila being enjoyed.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Текила, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Styles and varieties
- Casa Dragones
- Lunazul (Mexico)
Well-known brands
- Casamigos
- Patrón (Mexico)
- Jose Cuervo (Mexico)
- Don Julio
- 1800 Tequila (Mexico)
- Espolon
- Arette (Mexico)
- Tequila Avión (Mexico)
- Corzo
- Dos Lunas Tequila (Mexico)
- Tijuana Sweet Heat
- Milagro Tequila