The ultimate tequila guide

What is tequila?

Tequila is more than just a drink; it’s an iconic spirit that has been part of Mexico's history for years. Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant, a native plant to Mexico.

Where is tequila made?

Tequila is only produced in five regions of Mexico: Jalisco (where 70% of tequila is made and home to the town Tequila), Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. It can only be made in Mexico as the agave plant that tequila is extracted from is indigenous to specific regions of Mexico.

What is tequila made from?

Tequila is made from blue agave plants that can take anywhere between 6-12 years to mature depending on where they are planted. Usually after seven to ten years of growth, the agave plant is ready to be harvested. This process is still done by hand. The agave is then cooked, crushed and fermented to extract the juices. The juice is then distilled and bottled or aged in oak barrels to create different flavors and aromas.

What defines tequila?

For a spirit to be legally called 100% tequila, it must meet a few requirements.

1. It can only be made in the five Mexican states listed earlier.

2. It must be made with 100% blue agave.

3. It must legally be distilled twice.

4. It must be made from a minimum of 51% blue agave, with the remainder to be made up of a neutral spirit made from cane sugar juice.

5. Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), or Tequila Regulatory Council, must approve it.

What about tequila’s alcohol content?

ABV stands for Alcohol by Volume percentage, as in the percentage of the drink that contains alcohol. Tequila needs to be bottled at between 35% and 55% ABV but is usually sold at 35% – 38%. You'll find that different countries have different ABVs - the US market stipulates a minimum of 40%, South Africa 43% and Europe 37.5%.

What does tequila taste like?

Each tequila is slightly different. But tequila has a unique smooth, sweet and earthy flavor. This is all determined by where the agave is grown and the style in which it is processed.

Tequila made in the lowland areas tends to have more of an herbal, earthier taste, whereas you get a fruity, floral taste with a sweeter finish with tequila made in the highlands. Barrel aging tequila will give the spirit an oaky, vanilla-y sort of flavor. Blanco tequilas tend to offer the purest tequila taste, with a semi-sweet, distinctive flavor.

Is tequila the same as mezcal?

No. Although mezcal is similar to tequila—they’re both made from an agave plant—it’s not the same as tequila. It can be made from many species of agave plant, not just the blue agave like tequila is. Also, mezcal is produced using traditional methods, which include cooking the agave underground which creates a smokier flavor. Mezcal has quickly gained popularity due to its smoky and smooth flavor, with people using it to create unique drinks like Mezcal Negronis and Mezcal Mules.