What Are The Ingredients In Tequila

Whats The Best Tequila For Margaritas

I highly recommend using only good-quality tequila to make your margaritas. With only three ingredients in the cocktail, a bad tequila will result in an equally bad margarita.

Look for bottles with labels that say 100% de agave, which means the tequila is distilled only from Mexican blue agave plants. Cheap tequilas are often cut with alcohol made from corn or sugar cane, resulting in a tequila that tastes flat and burns on the way down.

• Want to learn more about tequila? Check out our comprehensive Tequila Guide!

In addition, good-quality tequila is aged in oak barrels for 2 to 12 months, which gives it nuanced flavors. Blanco tequila is aged for 2 months, reposado for 2 to 11 months, and añejo for 12 or more months.

You can serve this cocktail with salt, or not. Straight, or over the rocks. That part is up to you!

What Are The Ingredients Of Tequila

Tequila is made from blue agave, a plant of the genus Cactus, and can only be produced in the town of Tequila, Mexico. Tequila is a type of tequila, and spirits produced in other regions or with other varieties of agave can be called Pulque or Mezcal.

The area around Tequila is the best region for blue agave, and only tequila made there is allowed to be sold under the name Tequila tequila made in other regions is called Mezcal. Tequila must be made from blue agave, distilled with at least 51% agave and no more than 49% sugar. This results in two types of tequila: 100 % tequila and mixed tequila, which is made from agave and added sugar. Blended tequilas are made from glucose and fructose, usually sucrose, as well as caramel coloring, glycerin and other flavorings.

Blue agave takes 8 to 12 years to grow and mature to produce the best nectar. When these plants are harvested by agave farmers, the sharp outer leaves are cut off. The agave hearts are slow cooked for 12 to 48 hours, depending on the type of oven, and then crushed with a machine or giant stone wheel called a tahona to extract the sap. At this point, if the producer is blending tequila, the juice is mixed with sugar. Next, the distiller mixes the pure agave juice or sugar juice with yeast and water and ferments it in a vat. The fermented liquid is then distilled and diluted in a large belly pot. Afterwards, depending on the style of tequila desired, it is either bottled or aged in oak barrels.

Does Tequila Go Bad

If you stumble upon an opened bottle of tequila sitting in the cabinet for a few months, the question does tequila go bad? comes to mind immediately.

Or maybe you have a bottle of tequila you got as a birthday gift a few years ago, and you still didnt have the opportunity to enjoy it.

Now that youve done a bit of research and decided if you want to try it neat, with lime and salt, or in a drink. Youre ready to try it out, and the only thing you need to do is to make sure that its actually safe to drink.

I have some good news for you: the tequila youve got is almost undoubtedly safe to drink, and most likely will taste quite good.

If youd like to learn a bit about storage, shelf life, and if tequila can go bad, read on.

Image from Fidel Fernando

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What Is Real Tequila Made From

MADE FROM BLUE AGAVE, TEQUILA IS THE WORLDS FAVORITE LIMOUSINE. The plant called Blue Agave is used to make tequila, but only the Agave Azul Tequilana Weber variety can be used. Botanist F. Friedrich classified this species. The Blue Agave, first described in 1905 by Weber, is often considered a cactus, but its actually a lily relative.

Tequila Jello Shots Alcohol Content

The amount of alcohol depends on how much Tequila you use in your recipe. If you want your jello shot to taste like Tequila, then use about half a cup of alcohol.

If you wish to make them a bit stronger, you can use about two-thirds of the drink. Be careful not to add too much alcohol, which can spoil your Jello shot.

You could add more water or other mixer to create a lower alcohol version, so you can still have just as much fun but keep a clearer head.

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What Kinds Tequila Are There

There are several kinds of tequila: blanco, joven, reposado, anejo, and extra anejo. Each of these names relates to how long the tequila has been aged. You can technically age tequila for as long as you want, but there arent many brands out there that age it for longer than seven to ten years .

The most obvious difference between these types of tequilas is their color, which is influenced by their age. Some tequila is clear, while others are a golden color, and others are a dark caramel color. A general rule of thumb regarding the colors of tequila is that the longer it is aged, the darker the color will be. The only time when this rule does not apply is when some companies simply add coloring to their tequila to change the color, and it is not actually aged. Most of the time, however, it is safe to assume that a dark-colored tequila has been aged significantly longer than a clear-colored one.

The Wealth Of Brands And Styles In Tequila Has Created Space For New Cocktails

Theres no question that Tequilas reputation has positively evolved over the last couple of decades. Its gone from an obscure spirit to one that was consumed in mass quantities by college students and partygoers, to a star ingredient in complex cocktails, says Josh Powanda, bartender at Sor Ynez in Philadelphia. Because of the resurgence of cocktail bartending, consumers are no longer looking for a shot of Tequila, but a composed drink that has unique flavors shining through.

Enrique Sanchez, bar consultant at El Alto in Los Altos, California, attributes the changeor at least the start of the changeto one bartender in particular. Back in the day, people in the U.S. werent making or drinking many Tequila-based cocktails, which I think mostly comes down to a general lack of knowledgepeople didnt know how good Tequila could really be, he says. It wasnt until the late 1980s, when Julio Bermejo started pouring 100% agave Tequila at his parents Mexican restaurant Tommys in San Francisco, that the Tequila world really changed. People used to not know the differences between blanco, reposado, and anejo, but Julio changed the game and I really look up to him for that. Since then, people have realized how much flexibility Tequila can have and its led to great experimentation in the cocktail world.

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What Is The Healthiest Alcohol

How To Store Tequila

Since tequila is a distilled spirit, you store it the same way you store other distilled spirits, such as vodka, rum, or whiskey. That means you keep it away from sunlight and sources of heat, in a dry area thats relatively cool. The pantry would be best, but room temperature is okay too.

Once you open the bottle, oxidation starts to be a problem. In short, oxidation is a process that slightly changes the compounds in alcohol. That results in altered flavor.

To experience the results of oxidation you can leave some tequila in a shot glass for 24 to 48 hours and compare its taste with tequila poured right out of the bottle. If you have a bit of experience with the drink, you should notice the difference.

The critical step to prevent oxidation is to keep the bottle of tequila sealed tightly when not in use.

If you drink tequila in small amounts and only on rare occasions, you might want to pour the alcohol into a smaller bottle once the original one is about half-empty. The more oxygen in the bottle, the faster the oxidation process, therefore pouring the spirit into a smaller bottle will slow down the process.

Of course, that only makes sense if you plan on storing the opened tequila for more than a few months. The oxidation process proceeds gradually, so if you finished the bottle in a month or two, the quality gains would be negligible.

Image used under Creative Commons from fasteddy760

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How To Drink Tequila

Tequila is very versatile and you can drink it in many ways. It’s commonly enjoyed as a shot, either straight, with a lemon and salt or with mixers. Tequila cocktails are diverse, ranging from shaken martini-like drinks to refreshing soda or juice highballs. Fruity margaritas are very popular and tequila’s the perfect match for spicy cocktails. You can even find sweet or creamy tequila recipes. Aged tequilas are often sipped straight, whether that’s chilled or on the rocks. Tequila is a great pairing for Mexican and Tex-Mex food and tequila cocktails make a nice addition to barbecues and summer parties.

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The obvious sister to the Tequila Sunrise is a Screwdriver, whichll do the trick if youre short on tequila but stocked with vodka. Then theres the Mimosa with OJ and champagne, to which you can even add a teaspoon of Grand Marnier, to give it a backbone.

Photography and Prop styling by Heidis Bridge

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This Is What Tequila Is Actually Made From

In the same way that Scotland is known for its whiskey and Jamaica is synonymous with rum, Mexico has a reputation for tequila, a distilled spirit enjoyed around the world often in a margarita or with salt and a lime slice. The United States is the worlds largest consumer of the beverage, and more than 171 million liters were imported in 2017 .

Americans beat out other countries by a wide margin, with Spain being the worlds second-biggest consumer at a relatively meager 5 million liters. Similar to champagne or bourbon , tequila is also a legally protected term. It can only be used if the liquor was produced in the Mexican state of Jalisco, or in certain parts of the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, or Tamaulipas . Tequila is typically 80 proof and can only be produced using one very specific ingredient.

What Is The Best 2 Ingredient Tequila Drink

What is the most well-known tequila cocktail with only two ingredients? The Paloma, of course! tequila and grapefruit soda are the only components in this original Mexican drink, which is a classic. When making our new version on this dish, you may use it in place of the freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and sparkling water.

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Why Can Tequila Only Be Made In Mexico

Tequila is made from a single kind of agave plant, Agave tequilana Weber blue, which is fermented and distilled. It is not smokey because the agave hearts are steamed or kilned during manufacturing tequila can only be manufactured in Jalisco and authorized locations in four other Mexican states it is not available in the United States.

Discover The 5 Mexican Tequila Brands To Try Now

There is nothing quite like enjoying a cocktail after a long day. Especially when it can be savored with views of some of Mexicos most scenic spots. Just like Champagne, only mezcal produced in the Tequila region earns the title Tequila. Because of this, if you want to drink what the locals drink, make sure to check out the top selling tequila in Mexico. On this list, you will find everything from eye-catching bottles to display on your drinks cart to time-honored classics loved by locals. Read on to discover our top 5 tequilas brought to you straight from the homeland!

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What’s The Best Tequila For Margaritas

Blanco and reposado tequilas are the best types to use for margaritas. The reposado will have a more pronounced aged flavor, somewhat smoother than the blanco, but dont discount a good blanco. Not being aged, it is less expensive and great for a big party. Our experience is that using a higher-end orange liqueur is more important than using a very expensive tequila, so thats where we like to spend a higher percentage of our margarita budget. . Also, get a good juicer for the limes: the fresh juice is key.

Three Simple Exceptional Ingredients One Masterpiece 100% Naturally Pure Patrn Tequila

This article is part of a series, highlighting the importance of additive-free and authentic tequila, partnered by PATRÓN. Discover more at The World of PATRÓN.

Sometimes, complicated can be great. Like the dinner recipe that requires a long list of complex ingredients but turns out to be completely and totally worth it. Most of the time, however, simple and uncomplicated is exactly what you need.

While flashy, overcomplicated creations grab a lot of attention, it takes immense skill to create something exceptional out of simple ingredients. In the world of tequila, that corollary is probably best exemplified by PATRÓN. While many brands overcomplicate their recipes with glycerin, sugar, and other additives, PATRÓN still makes its spirits with just three simple ingredients: agave, water, and yeast. Each of those three contributes greatly to the quality and flavor of the distillerys tequila, which means theres never been any need for additives, colorings, or other extraneous ingredients to mask imperfections.

PATRÓNs commitment to preserving traditional means of tequila-making, a precise production process, and use of the highest-quality natural ingredients agave, water, and yeast that are masterfully combined, yields a simply perfect tequila.

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The Agave Plants Importance In Making Tequila

The amazing agave plant is used to create tequila. Agave maintains a high production level of fructose and sugars called agavins, which spur on the fermentation process of making tequila. Agave thrives in Mexico because it needs rich, sandy soil filled with nutrients. The hot, dry climate makes for the ultimate agave growing conditions. You could technically grow these plants elsewhere, but they are traditionally grown in Mexico for the sole purpose of making tequila and mezcal.

Once this succulent reaches around five years of age, yellow flowers sprout on top, and this represents the end of the agave life cycle. Even more crazya fully grown agave plant can reach heights of seven feet tall!

What Are The 3 Types Of Tequila

Types of Tequila Blanco Some are matured for a brief length of time after distillation, while others are bottled immediately after distillation.Reposado tequila is tequila that has been matured in oak barrels for between 2 and 12 months.Joven tequila is a blend of Blanco and Reposado tequilas that is light and refreshing.Aejo tequilas are tequilas that have been matured in oak barrels for 1-3 years.

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What Is Tequila Made From

Tequila is a type of mezcal, a spirit produced from agave. Unlike mezcal, which can be made from a number of different agave varieties, tequila is only made with Webers blue agave or agave tequilana. Confused? Its kind of like how all scotch is whiskey but not all whiskey is scotch.

The blue agave thrives in Mexico, in the highlands of Jalisco. It takes over seven years to reach maturity! Once mature, agave farmers harvest the large succulents by removing the leaves and exposing the hearts which are sent off to a distillery.

What Kind Of Alcohol Is In Tequila

This distilled liquor is prepared by fermenting the juice of the Mexican agave plant, especially some types of Agave tequilana Weber, then distilling the resulting product. Tequila is often clear in color and unaged when purchased. Tequila is classified as a type of alcoholic beverage.

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I Love This Drink Because

• Looks amazing: Fun, light colors make this drink a must-try. I mean who doesnt love putting a cute two-toned drink on their Instafeed.
• 3 Ingredients: You only need 3 common ingredients to make this. Most people keep a bottom of Tequila on the house, but if you dont you can pick up an affordable choice at your local liquor store.
• No Fancy Bar Equipment: No cocktail shaker or blender is needed.
• Sweet Taste: The tangy orange juice and sweet grenadine make this a favorite among those who dont drink very often.

Your Tequila Bottle Should Not Have A Worm In It

Tequila, FYI, will have absolutely no worms in it. The association with tequila and worms is based on the fact that maguey plants are often nibbled on by gusano de maguey, little larvae that, if not interrupted, would turn into a mariposa, or a kind of butterfly. When they are put into bottles of liquor as larvae, its mezcal, not tequila. So basically dont drink tequila if theres a worm in it. If the producer got that wrong, who knows what else is wrong in the bottle.

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