Friday, March 22, 2024

How Many Tequila Brands Are There

Adam Levine And Sammy Hagar Santo Mezquila

How Patrón Makes Its Tequila

Launch: 2017Price: From $55

This Tequila offers two celebrity founders for the price of one. Hagar is the Van Halen singer hired to replace David Lee Roth. Levine is the Maroon 5 frontman with the moves like Jagger.

Together they have created mezquila a cross between Tequila and mezcal. Mezcal, Tequilas bold-flavoured cousin, is also made from agave, but unlike Tequila its not restricted to blue agave and can be made anywhere in Mexico, not just in Jalisco.

Hagar and Levine couldnt agree whether to make Tequila or mezcal, so compromised by mixing the two together and discovered they actually liked the taste. Santo Mezquila is the first product to blend Tequila and mezcal in this way.

List Of Some Of The Finest Tequila Brands

It wouldnt be wrong if we call tequila the spirit of Mexico , after all, this drink comes with such great history! Even though only produced in Mexico, there are over 1500 brands of this beverage, including both that are bottled within and outside Mexico. But, you dont have to get intimated by these numbers. The following list consists of the brands you must try, so as to get the best that this blue-agave drink can offer your taste buds. Note that the list below isnt an all-inclusive one, and the names mentioned have been chosen only because they are trending, preferred, bought, and/or award-winning in the spirit society.

Carlos Santana Casa Noble

Launch: 1997Price: From £40

Santana, who hails from Jalesco, does have some sort of connection to Tequila, which is more than can be said for many of the celebrities producing it. Sanatana became part owner of the Case Noble brand in 2011.

Santana said when the partnership was announced: When I visited the distillery, I immediately felt spiritually connected to the Hermosillo family and Casa Noble.

The triple-distilled Tequila has won gold at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition in 2007 and 2008.

Constellation Brands has closed a deal to buy Casa Noble in 2014, working with Santana as an equity partner.

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How Is Tequila Made

Tequila starts with the blue agave, a spiky succulent that grows throughout the five Mexican regions where distilleries make Tequila. To make Tequila, the sugary sap in the heart of the blue agave is fermented, distilled, aged , and then bottled.

  • Tequila making takes patience as blue agave grows slowly. The plant must be six or seven years old before it develops a sugary sap called aquamiel that forms the base of Tequila.
  • Once the plant is old enough, the heart of the agave plant, which is called the piña , is harvested with machetes. Then the heavy hearts, which can weigh 100 pounds or more, are steamed or baked in a clay oven. Experts say old-school baking is better because the cooking process is slower, which helps create a smoother spirit.
  • After steaming or baking, the cooked hearts are shredded and pressed to extract the juice. That juice is fermented, and then the fermented juice is distilled in either a column still or an old-fashioned pot still. During the distillation process, Tequila retains much of the vegetal, floral, and earthy flavors coming from the agave. The flavor characteristics of the blue agave vary depending on the region and altitude of where it was grown.
  • Depending on the intended style of Tequila, the finished distilled spirit can be bottled right away for a Blanco. Reposado Tequila is aged a few months up to a year in oak. Or it can be aged a year or more to create an añejo Tequila.
  • Tequila Is The Hottest Spirits Category On The Market And Its Not Just A Volume Playits Fans Are Reaching For The Top Shelf At Unprecedented Rates

    Our Bornholm Guide

    Premiumization has long been a buzzword in the spirits industry, and right now the category spearheading that trend is Tequila. According to Impact Databank, most of the top premium, super-premium, and luxury-priced Tequila brands grew in 2020, while all of the top sub-premium labels suffered. Jose Cuervo, the No.-1 Tequila in the United States, increased 21.5% to 4.7 9-liter million cases last year, and its portfoliomate, the No.-3 brand 1800, advanced 31.2% to 1.5 million cases. The No.-2 Tequila, Patrón, jumped 25.2% to 2.7 million cases, and No.-4 Hornitos rose 11.7% to roughly 1.1 million cases. Rounding out the top five is Diageos Don Julio, which saw a 24.5% surge to about 1.1 million cases as well. Overall, Tequila depleted 20.7 million cases in the U.S. market last year, an increase of 13.5%, according to Impact Databank.

    As was the case with other categories, Tequila consumption in 2020 shifted significantly from the on-premise to the off-premise, with the closing of many bars and restaurants across the world due to the Covid-19 crisis. We saw unprecedented growth in the e-commerce spaceour digital commerce business grew five-fold from the previous year, says Chloe Lloyd-Jones, vice president of marketing for North America at Patrón. And in the last five years, the Tequila category has seen 41% growth, according to Impact Databank.

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    Comparing Brands And Their Pricing

    So why is a Patron considered a Premium tequila by our standards, while a popular brand like 1800 comes out as a Standard offering? Lets compare some of the brands on our list and look at what might make one more expensive than another.

    Patron tequila is often seen in night clubs and is considered an ultra premium brand in the marketplace. Easily identified by its uniquely designed bottle, Patron is one of the higher priced tequilas available on the shelf.

    One major reason Patron is seen as a premium brand, and is more expensive, is because of their unique agave handling process. Rather than simply using agave grown on their property, Patron selects from an array of blue agave producers around the region. This ensures that only the perfect blue agave make it into their tequila.

    Most would argue that Patron is worth the price as this is one of those tequilas that can be enjoyed sans salt and lime wedge.

    On another note, Patron is incredibly environmentally conscious for a major tequila producer. They compost all the agave hearts after use and utilize natural gas to reduce carbon emissions.

    Don Julio joins Patron as a Premium tequila on our list. It is also considered a super premium brand by the market, as well.

    Jose Cuervo falls into the Standard category by price point, however, that does not mean it is significantly less quality. It has long been one of, if not the best selling tequilas world wide.

    Jose Cuervo Tradicional Aejo

    BEST UNDER $50

    Jose Cuervo is a legacy among the best tequila brands, one that has been synonymous with the spirit for over two centuries. That alone warrants its credibility. Its latest release in the Tradicional portfolio, Añejo combines the Cuervo family recipe with a touch of charred American oak to create a remarkably smooth tequila that might be confused for a light whiskey upon first taste. The company matures this blend for 12 months in oak barrels before spending an additional four months in Irish single malt whiskey barrels, adding unique flavors like cinnamon, caramel, and stewed figs to the tequilas already distinctive profile. Priced slightly above the $30 mark, its an amazing value and Fathers Day gift idea thatll warm you and the big guy up any night of the year.

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    The Difference Between Reposado And Aejo Tequila

    Reposado varieties are specifically aged in a wooden cask, or sometimes bourbon barrels up to one year. They gain their golden color from this process as well as their flavors. They typically taste like vanilla, coffee, or nuts.

    Añejo varieties have a darker color since they are aged for longer and because of this, they lose all of those agave characteristics. These rested varieties are often enjoyed neat or with a splash of water.

    Alcohol Says Something About The Personality

    5 Solid Budget Tequila Brands – The Tequila Hombre

    Alcoholic beverages have extensively leveraged traits like personality and aspiration in their brand messaging. Everyone has a favorite drink, and there are some associations you subconsciously make about a person depending on what it is.

    Indeed, tequila is not a new spirit. It has been around for centuries, though its most commonly known as the alcoholic portion of the famous margarita, which was first created back in 1936. But, looking at it from a business perspective, tequila was sort of a blank canvas for celebrities, and they helped shape the narrative to make it the cool and trendy category we see today.

    Tequila has experienced a recent rebirth of sorts, reestablishing itself as a partygoers favorite. In 2015, when a few daring bartenders started to explore tequila beyond margaritas, the spirit became synonymous with fun and variety that went beyond just being a shot of liquor. In fact, this rebirth is also educating consumers about savoring their tequilas, taking a page out of the books of whiskey and scotch aficionados.

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    How Many Shots Of Tequila To Get Drunk

    The answer to any question revolving around how many shots of an alcohol it takes to get tipsy or drunk is always the same: it depends entirely on you. A persons age, gender, size, alcohol tolerance, the rate of consumption, and whether they have eaten will all influence how fast they get drunk.

    This means that smaller individuals will have a harder time drinking consecutive shots than someone larger. Younger people tend to have more tolerance than someone older. Women tend to have higher blood alcohol concentration than men after the same amount of alcohol.

    But if we were to generalize, someone between 100-150 lbs will start getting drunk around 2-3 shots between 150-200 lbs , it takes around 4-5 shots and between 200-250 lbs , 6-7 shots.

    Does this mean that a 125 lb woman is always going to get more drunk than a 150 lb man? No. She could genetically have a higher alcohol tolerance, for instance, than he does.

    You have to know yourself. If you know that you are poorly affected by spirits like tequila, then you may want to drink less or more slowly than your peers.

    Want a quick way to figure out how drunk you are? Check out an alcohol consumption calculator. These apps are nifty, because you can also figure out your blood alcohol concentration. Do not drink and drive if your BAC is above 0.05%. Although the legal limit in the US is 0.08%, you could already be impaired at 0.05% BAC.

    Clase Azul Reposado Tequila

    Drizly

    If Casamigos is what you serve at your party, Clase Azul is what you break out for the select few invited to stick around after the crowd leaves. This may be one of the priciest options on our list, but this top-shelf tequila is worth the premium price. Clase Azuls tequila comes in this instantly recognizable bottle, which you see on the top shelf of high-end bars and restaurants. At over $100, this is a true premium spirit, with a bottle and flavor profile worthy of its price.

    Made from blue agave plants in Mexico, Clase Azul Reposado Tequila features notes of spice, cream soda, apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon and honey. The bottles, meantime, are like a work of art, inspired by traditional Mexican colors and motifs. Each bottle is hand-crafted and hand-painted, so no two are alike, making Clase Azul a great gift idea as well.

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    Tequila Is The Cognac Of Mezcals

    Wait, what? Yes, it is true. Think about it. Cognac is a form of brandy that has such restrictive requirements that it makes it a superior product that happens to cost significantly more than other brandies.

    Tequila follows the same trajectory. It is a mezcal but must be made from a specific, rare plant and in a small region. There are very few budget offerings of tequila, as you can see in our chart below, because of these legal restrictions on what is considered tequila.

    While tequila is often pictured as a spirit consumed in hot, sweaty desert locations or as a simple additive to the sugary margarita, it is actually quite a premium spirit. Many brands, like Patron, have focused their marketing on raising the level of perceived quality of tequila.

    What Is The Difference In Types Of Tequila

    TOP TEQUILA BRANDS CONSUMED IN LOS ANGELES

    Tequila is divided into five categories primarily based on their aging process.

    Lighter tequilas are aged for less time, typically between 2 months and a year, and the darker, amber, or even mahogany spirits are aged for up to three years.

    The longer tequila ages in the barrel, the darker it is in color and the smoother to the taste. This is because it loses most of its agave properties. Because it takes longer to make, older tequilas are usually more pricey.

    Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the differences between the five varieties, lets have a quick look at the tequila-making process.

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    If Not Tequila What Else

    The final motivation for entering the tequila market could come from a production standpoint. Given that across the board celebrities are working with contractors to produce their tequilas, they dont need to build a distillery or plant crops of agave and wait seven years for them to mature. But they can still be involved in the process somewhat. Cincoros Fazzalari says she and her co-founders tasted thousands of tequilas over a three-year period before finally settling on the formula for their brand.

    Once the production formula has been finalized, getting to market can be relatively quick. In the case of blanco tequila, there are no lengthy barrel-resting periods involved. As for añejo, it is a relatively young aged spirit compared to many whiskeys or rums. Capital expenditure is much more economical than other categories, says Thoroughbreds Moran.

    What about gin and vodka? Perhaps theyre just lacking in one vital ingredient: the George Clooney factor.

    This story is a part of VP Pro, our free content platform and newsletter for the drinks industry, covering wine, beer, and liquor and beyond.

    How Is Tequila Produced

    Making tequila is a long and detailed process that requires a mix of craftsmanship, patience and a little bit of luck. Patrón employs a seven-step process that could take up to three years before the tequila is ready.

    To start, agave plants are harvested by hand in the Jalisco Highlands, using farms that pass the Mexican Tequila Regulatory Councils yes, its a thing strict standards. The agave can only be harvested at a precise time to give off the optimal amount of sweetness without being too tart, bitter or bland. If the agave is cut from the ground too early or too late, it will compromise the quality of the tequila being produced. The ideal ripeness of agave is somewhere between six to eight years thats when the plant has optimal sugar content.

    After the agave is selected and harvested, it is taken to the distillery where it is slowly cooked. The hearts of the agave plant are put in brick ovens and steamed to bring out the natural sugars of the plant . After baking for 79 hours, Patrón uses a time-honored tahona process that then takes the roasted agave and places it into a giant pit, where a large stone wheel is used to break down the agave to extract the juice.

    If youre going to buy tequila, heres what you need to know:

    1. Its Not Tequila if its Not Produced in the Tequila Region

    All tequila comes from the Tequila region of Mexico, and in order for a spirit to call itself tequila, it must be distilled from agave plants grown in that region.

    Read Also: What Is The Most Expensive Patron Tequila

    The Difference Between Blanco And Joven Tequila

    These two types of tequila are most commonly consumed at bars and lend themselves to a more affordable price bracket.

    The main difference between these two is that Blanco tequila is made of pure 100% agave, while Joven tequila is not.

    Another difference is that the gold varieties have additional additives such as grain alcohol, sugar, or caramel flavorings.

    For this reason, Joven is often taken in shot form, and Blanco, with its lighter flavor profile and coloring, is used in cocktails like margaritas.

    Everyone From The Rock To Nick Jonas Is Jumping On The Tequila Bandwagon

    How Many Tequila Shots Does It Take To Get A DWI- Texas

    There are an increasing number of Tequila and mezcal brands entering the market.

    Dwayne The Rock Johnson is only the latest celebrity to try his hand at Tequila. Diageo bought George Clooneys Tequila brand Casamigos in 2017, in a groundbreaking deal worth $1 billion. You can now buy Tequila from Scotland, and even whisky distilleries are starting to mature their amber elixirs in barrels previously used to age the agave spirit. Multiple celebrity-backed tequilas are gold medal winners. For many stars-turned-distillers, this is clearly something more than a vanity project.

    We round up ten stars, from singers to designers to actors, who are trying their hand at Tequila.

    This is an updated version of an article published by the drinks business in 2018. To read the original, .

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    Why Is Tequila More Expensive Than Other Liquors

    Since the blue agave plant only reaches maturation every seven to ten years and the global demand for tequila is so huge, the harvesting process is an expensive and time-consuming one.

    Add global warming, precarious weather conditions, and bouts of drought farmers cannot always guarantee a fruitful harvest.

    Then there is the time factor. Older, more mature tequilas take longer to age, and this makes them pricier. Time, as they say, is money, especially when it comes to tequila.

    Luckily, the lighter younger varieties are usually well-priced and you can find some great options at the store for under $30. If youre wanting an aged variety, youll more than likely be looking at a heftier price tag.

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