Tequila

Tequila is a Mexican distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant, found mostly in the state of Jalisco. There are also limited areas of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas allowed to produce the famous drink. The production of tequila is strictly prohibited outside of these areas.

Tequila became increasingly popular in the late 20th and 21st centuries, especially in the United States. This may be due to their inclusion in margaritas one of the most popular club and party beverages in America. Also, inclusion of tequila references in popular music has made drinking the spirit straight an even more popular bar tradition.

Many tequila producers still utilize strictly manual methods for processing the agave plant and producing tequila. The first step of the process is to grow and maintain a quality agave plant, which is done by the jimadores. These professionals determine when a plant is ready to be harvested, cut down sufficiently matured plants and harvest the piñas, heart or center of the agave plant.

The piñas are then shredded and the juice is extracted by pressing from the plant. This juice undergoes a process of fermentation, transforming the sugar into alcohol. The primary fermentation produces a cloudy fluid that requires distillation. The primary distillation process produces the first and usually cheaper form of tequila, known as "silver tequila." Tequila with a golden color is aged in wooden barrels to give it a more complex flavor.

In the U.S. tequila is usually served in mixed drinks such as the margarita or by itself in shot glasses, or caballitos, and is consumed very quickly and often followed with salt and/or lime.

However, like any finely made product, high quality tequila should be sipped slowly to savor and appreciate the refinement and smooth consistency of the spirit. Like a find cognac or whiskey, a good tequila does not require a "chaser," to be mixed with juice, or diluted within a fruity cocktail. Many bottles of premium tequila could cost between $30-50. With prices like that, the drink should be appreciated to its fullest extent.

Aside from the margarita, there are hundreds of mixed drinks made using tequila, usually with a fruit juice. The Tequila Sunrise uses tequila, orange juice and grenadine, though the traditional variation uses creme de cassis. A more ambitious tequila drink called the Baja Fog is made with tequila, beer, garnished with lime.

Other drinks made with tequila

• Margarita
• Tequila Sunrise
• Tequila Matador
• Mexican Blood
• Tequila Swamp

• Correlejo
• Patron
• 1800
• Cabrito
• Tres Generaciones
• Herradura
• Don Julio
• Cazadores

• Note: The majority of the links in this section are to sites that require the user to be 21 to enter.

• Jose Cuervo

• Sauza

• The Patrón Spirits Company

• Margaritaville

• 1800

• Chinaco

• Milagro

• Don Roberto

• Tres Mujeres

• Tres Magueyes