Tequila. Something that most people are quite familiar with. Mostly in a horribly, hungover, can’t remember the night before kind of way. That being said, there are so many things about tequila that Mexico has right. The all around flavor, smoothness, and aging process. I’m going to try to not get too technical here, but blue agave is a very distinctive and flavorful depending on the region it comes from. I’m going to give a little bit of insight as to what makes tequila tick, and why we shouldn’t shun it for that one (or many) night(s) we can’t remember.
Tequila is made with Blue Agave. There are two categories of tequila. There’s Mixtos or 100% Agave. The Mixtos use at least 51% Blue Agave and have the other 49% or less are made up of glucose and fructose sugars.
There are four types of tequila.
Blanco/Plata or White/Silver Agave Tequila:
This is typically the type of tequila that most people are most familiar with. The type of tequila that Patron is popular for. It’s clear and very harsh. It is typically a very young tequila. They are aged less than two months and have very harsh flavors. When I say harsh, I mean the boldness of the flavor. They’re typically aged in neutral oak barrels or stainless steel. I personally avoid this type of tequila. Avion makes an exquisite, sweet blanco tequila. It’s way too harsh for me to drink it on its own, but is great for a margarita.
Joven/Oro or Young/Gold Agave Tequila:
This is a tequila that is actually a blanco tequila but is flavored and colored with caramel. It still has the same harshness as blanco, but is slightly balanced out with the caramel in the tequila. A very popular company that makes this type of tequila is Jose Cuervo. It’s a common misconception to believe that Jose Cuervo is aged, but in reality, it isn’t. It’s simply dyed with caramel.
Reposado or Rested Agave Tequila:
This type of tequila has been aged anywhere between two and twelve months in oak barrels. Most brands of tequila have their own versions of reposado tequila. Seeing as how the tequila is “rested” in the aging process, the flavors aren’t as bold and crisp. Partida Reposado is a personal favorite that has hints of vanilla, hazelnut, and almond. It has a very sweet finish.
Añejo or Vintage Agave Tequila:
Tequila that is considered añejo has been aged for at least one year, but less than three. The beauty of this type of tequila is the smoothness. The age of the tequila cuts back all of the crisp, bold flavors that’s seen in blanco, joven, and reposado. The end result is deliciousness. The beauty of añejo is that it has a wider aging bracket. There are some tequilas that are aged so well, that their flavor has the oak finish off some highland scotches. One, in particular, is Tres Gerenaciones Añejo. The hints of vanilla and agave blend beautifully and the oak finish is superb. Overall, most añejos are very smooth and delicious. I recommend drinking them on the rocks. Don Julio Añejo is one of my favorites. Very delicious agave tequila here people.
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Extra Añejo or Extra Aged/Ultra Aged:
This is a rather new type of tequila that came about in March of 2006. The tequila is aged a minimum of 3 years. A bottle of extra añejo can run hundreds of dollars and a shot of it at a bar can run $30-$55. The sweetness of the agave plant blends beautifully with the oak barrels and the end result is a sweet caramel flavor. Herradura Seleccion Suprema is a fine example of the flavor that can be achieved with the aging process of tequila.
Agave and Different Regions:
Similar to scotches in Scotland, Mexico has different flavors of tequila depending on which region. There are two regions that flourish with agave plants: Highland (Los Altos) or Lowland. Highland produces the Blue Agave plants that are used to create the sweeter tequilas that are seen on the market. Lowland produces Agave, which is used to create the more herbaceous and earthy tequilas.
There are several ways to enjoy tequila, but I prefer to go the route of tequila on the rocks. Shooting tequila can be fun and what not, but there isn’t any real enjoyment. You’re shooting it to get drunk. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but there are ways to enjoy tequila in the same fashion as scotch, bourbon, whiskey, and vodka.
Over time I’ll be blogging more about what I like and which tequilas I prefer. There are just so many out there that finding one that suits you can seem like a challenge. I’ll share what I like and what I don’t like.
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