Production Process
About
What Is Tequila?
Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the Weber blue agave plant. Tequila is a popular spirit used in many different cocktails, like the Margarita, Paloma, and the Tequila Sunrise. The Mexican government decrees that tequila is only allowed to be produced in Mexico, and only in certain designated regions, including: Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas
Tequila is made from the Weber blue agave plant, or agave tequilana, which is a large succulent with long, spiked leaves similar to aloe vera. Within the core of the blue agave plant is a bulb called the piña. This bulb is baked and juiced, and the juice is fermented with yeast in barrels to make tequila.
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History
What Is The History of Tequila Production?
Around the year 250, the Aztecs made a drink called pulque—made from the fermented juices of a plant called the maguey, which is a cousin of the agave—which is considered a predecessor to tequila. Tequila as we know it today—which is distilled, unlike pulque—was likely first made by the Spanish colonists when they invaded South America. In the early 1600s, Don Pedro Sánchez de Tagle began the first distillery in what is now known as Tequila, Jalisco.
In 1974, the Mexican government declared tequila the intellectual property of Mexico, and that tequila can only be produced in certain Mexican states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas. A tequila regulatory council (the Consejo Regulador de Tequila, or CRT) maintains tequila production standards (like agave content, ABV, aging time, and ingredients) and supports the tequila industry through promoting tourism to tequila-producing regions and supporting trade with other countries.
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process
How Is Tequila Made?
Tequila production can be broken into six stages: harvesting, baking, juicing, fermenting, distilling, and aging. Here is more information about each one of these steps:
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Mr Sancho PancHo's - "Tequila Maestra"
This role requires extensive knowledge of the agave plant, fermentation, and distillation processes, and a refined palate to ensure the highest quality of tequila.
A “Tequila Maestra” is a title often given to a highly skilled and knowledgeable expert in the production of tequila.
Their Responsibilities Typically Include:
1. Selecting Agave:
Choosing the best blue agave plants for production.
2. Overseeing Harvest:
Managing the jimadores (agave farmers) who harvest the agave.
3. Production Process:
Supervising the various stages of tequila production, including cooking the agave, fermentation, distillation, and aging.
4. Quality Control:
Ensuring the final product meets high-quality standards.
5. Blending and Tasting:
Blending different batches to create a consistent and balanced flavor profile and tasting the product to ensure its quality.
6. Innovation:
Developing new tequila varieties or production techniques.
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Aging Process/Duration
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Esmeralda
reposado
Minimum 2 months, maximum 1 year in oak.
MSP Tequila: 10-12 Months
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Turquesa
blanco
Bottled without spending time in barrel.
MSP Tequila: Direct
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Beige
añejo
Minimum 1 year, maximum 3 years of aging.
MSP Tequila: 16-18 Months
EXTRA: At least 3 years of ageing in oak barrels.