Tequila neat - or - How to drink tequila!
Most people in the US and in Europe like to drink Tequila in bars, as shots and as quickly as possible. After the shot, a lick of salt and a squeeze of lime is the norm. Mostly on a Friday or Saturday nights while having a good time with a group of friends and to get drunk. There is nothing wrong about having a great time and enjoying other people’s company, but if you like to enjoy a tequila, drink it the right way and enjoy your tequila like the locals in Mexico do.
Know what you drink and choose a tequila made of 100% of agave. There are two basic categories of tequila. Tequila made of 100% agave, which only has the sugars of the blue agave plant. That's the Tequila you want to drink and enjoy! And there is the tequila mixto, tequila with no less than 51% agave sugar, but with 49% of other sugars such as glucose and fructose sugars.
Take your time to enjoy this magical spirit. Tequila made of 100% of agave is made for sipping and savoring. It took a minimum of eight years from planting the blue weber agave to distil the final spirit. Drink it slowly and respect the time and hard work which went into creating this amazing spirit.
Want to experience the actual taste and the full flavor profile of a tequila? Forget about the salt and the lime, and save it for making margaritas. Try our amazing and refreshing Hibiscus Margarita recipe if you bought already the lime for your tequila. You may need to go back to the supermarket one more time, and buy hibiscus leaves, but sure you will not regret is.
Types of Tequila:
Tequila Blanco
Tequila Blanco is un-aged and bottled right after distillation. Tequila Blanco is great for any well mixed Tequila cocktail. If you need to drink your Tequila as a shot, drink a Tequila Blanco.
Tequila Reposado
Tequila Reposado is a tequila that is aged in wooden barrels between two and eleven months. Sometimes they are aged in used bourbon or wine barrels to take on flavors from those spirits.
Tequila Anejo
Tequila Anejo is aged for at least one year and will take on an amber color during the aging process. Tequila Anejo is usually smooth and rich in flavors.
Tequila Extra Anejo
Tequila Extra Anejo is a new category of tequilas introduced in 2006 and are labeled this way when the spirit has been aged more than three years. Extra Anejo Tequila is more complex and smooth.
How is Tequila made:
Tequila is made from the blue agave plant, which grows in Mexico.
The agave plant is harvested and the leaves are removed, leaving only the core, called the piña.
The piñas are roasted in ovens to break down the starches and convert them into sugars.
The cooked piñas are crushed to extract the juice, which is then fermented to create a low-alcohol beer.
Fermentation is a process that converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas.
In the context of tequila production, fermentation is the step where the extracted juice from the cooked agave plant is transformed into a low-alcohol beer.
Yeast is added to the juice to start the fermentation process.
The yeast feeds on the sugars in the juice, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide as byproducts.
The beer ferments for several days, during which time the alcohol content gradually increases and the carbon dioxide is released into the air.
Once the fermentation is complete, the beer is ready to be distilled to create tequila.
The beer is distilled at least twice in copper or stainless steel stills to create a clear, high-proof spirit.
The tequila can be bottled as-is (called Blanco or Silver), or it can be aged in oak barrels for varying lengths of time to create different styles of tequila (Reposado, Añejo, Extra Añejo).
Once bottled, the tequila is ready to be enjoyed on its own or used as an ingredient in cocktails.
Recommended Tequila Cocktails, crafted by The Lion Chef:
Of course we recommended trying them all! Or just enjoy the tequila need. In Mexico, there is a tradition of drinking tequila as a sign of respect, with the person being honored taking the first sip of a freshly opened bottle. Enjoy the tequila respectfully with friends, guests and family and let's honor the Mexican tradition around the tequila!
Below are some pictures from our last trip to Jalisco, Guadalajara, and Mexico City:
