Tequila Wisdom
Tequila is made from the Blue Agave plant – a large succulent cactus that only grows in and around the Jalisco region of Mexico. The plant takes many years to mature, and there are thousands of acres of them in Jalisco. They say the higher up in the hills a Blue Agave grows, the sweeter the taste of the juice. Dry spells are also known to cause the plants to create more sugar.
Tequila Definitions
Blanca (White) or plata (Silver)
White spirit, un-aged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless Steel or neutral oak barrels.
Reposado (Rested)
Aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak or steel barrels of any size.
Añejo (Aged or Vintage)
Aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in small oak or steel barrels.
Extra Añejo (Extra aged or Ultra aged)
Aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels. This category was established in March 2006.
Did you know?
most high quality Añejo tequilas are known as sipping tequilas, meant to be savored rather than quickly gulped. Doing so allows the taster to identify flavors and fragrances that would otherwise be missed.