Everything you need to know… about Tequila!

by | Dec 15, 2022 | December 2022 jhb, Jozi North, Lifestyle | 0 comments

Everything you need to know… about Tequila!

Words: Keegan Smith AKA The Barsmith
Tequila, the mere mention of the word conjures blurry images of poor choices, great times and quite possibly the worst hangover you have ever had! The truth is, most people, while being intimately familiar with the spirit, have probably never had real tequila – and if they have, they might not be drinking it correctly. Let’s explore the facts and fiction regarding this wonderfully misunderstood spirit.

IS TEQUILA MADE FROM A CACTUS?

This common rhetoric is very wrong! Tequila is derived from the weber blue agave plant, a succulent that belongs to the asparagus family. Tequila does not have any relation to any type of Cacti, including the peyote cactus – a rumour that led drinkers to believe that tequila has an upper effect. However, even if the base ingredient of the spirit was produced with peyote, the result would be the same – ethyl alcohol, just with a different flavour.

WHAT’S UP WITH THE WORM?

Tequila has never and will never come with the worm in the bottle – this is the practice of the Mezcal makers in Mexico. Mezcal, while also made from agave, is not produced from the weber blue agave and is baked rather than steamed, resulting in a clear smoky spirit.

True tequila must be made in Mexico, specifically in the state of Jalisco, from 100% blue agave grown in the region. In fact, most of the “tequila” that we see on our shelves is a Mixto meaning that it is only 51% blue agave nectar with the balance of the spirit made from a grain.

WHAT TYPES OF TEQUILA ARE THERE?

Tequilas are categorised by the amount of time that they are aged for. There are four main variants:

Blanco/Plata (silver tequila): This is generally bottled directly from the second distillation but federal law in Mexico states that it can be aged for up to 60 days in Oak. Blanco tequila is rated as the most complex of all spirits, even more so than gin.

Reposado (Rested) tequila is aged between 60 days and 1 year in oak barrels.

Anejo (Aged) is rested between 1 and 3 years in oak barrels.

Extra Anejo (Extra Aged) is aged from 3 years up

It’s important to note that a spirit, unlike wine, does not age after it’s bottled. The ageing process ends once it’s removed from the barrel. So, a 12-year-old Scotch will remain a 12-year-old, even after 20 years in your collection.

Most spirits are produced from grains, which grow in a single season, while tequila’s weber blue agave’s take a whopping 8 years to reach maturity which further drives the price up.

“Tequila is generally enjoyed neat, served at room temperature to be sipped – not, as we generally know it, as a shot served ice cold. The common practice of drinking it with lemon and salt is regarded as a travesty by tequila sommeliers and producers!”

Deck the Halls

Looking for a cocktail this festive season? Mix up this libation in your cocktail shaker for Christmas Eve sundowners!

50ml Tequila OCHO Plata (Silver)
25ml Rosemary Sugar Syrup*
25ml Fresh Lime Juice
100ml Cloudy Apple Juice
4 dashes Cinnamon Bitters

  • Add all the ingredients into a shaker tin, shake vigorously and double strain into a tall glass.
  • Garnish with a rosemary sprig and apple slice. 

* Rosemary Syrup
500g Brown Sugar
Rosemary, handful

  • Place the sugar and 250ml water into a pot and lightly simmer while stirring continuously.
  • Remove from heat, add rosemary and allow to infuse while the syrup is cooling.
  • Pour the syrup into a bottle and store for up to 10 days.

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