Sunday, March 24, 2024

What Is The Best Tequila In Mexico

Where And How Is The Best Tequila Made

These are the 10 Best Tequila Brands

There are a lot of specific rules and guidelines governing where, how, and from what tequila is made. Heres what you need to know:

  • Most tequila is 38% to 40% ABV serious business. Drink with caution.
  • Tequila is a type of mezcal. The regions of production of the two drinks are overlapping. The distinction is that tequila must use only blue agave rather than any type of agave.
  • More than 300 million blue agave plants are harvested each year.
  • Tequila was first exported to the United States in the late 19th century.
  • Tequila is made primarily in areas near and around the city of wait for it Tequila, Mexico. Its also made northwest of Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands of the central western Mexican state of Jalisco.

Is White Or Dark Tequila Better

When it comes down to it, silver tequila is better for margaritas than gold tequila. They are aged differently, with silver tequila boasting a stronger, purer taste while being clear in color. It is aged in barrels for months or years, resulting in a range of light to dark amber and caramel colors.

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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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.
  • Cdigo 1530 Rosa Tequila

    Fortaleza Tequila

    Drizly

    Smooth and delicate, Código 1530s Rosa Tequila makes for perfect after-work sipping, or used in a hand-crafted cocktail. Produced using the tequila-making traditions of the Los Bajos region and its tequilieras, the tequila is meticulously aged inFrench White Oakred wine barrels from Napa Valley. That gives the Rosa a subtle pink hue, and a sweet yet dry finish.

    Country singer George Strait is an investor in the brand, and even wrote a song inspired by the tequila off his 2019 album, Honkey Tonk Time Machine.

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    What Makes A Tequila Exceptional

    According to the law, to bear the name tequila, a spirit must be made in the region outside of Guadalajara, or in segments of four various Mexican states. For it to be good, it must be 100% Blue Agave, though this is split into several categories: Tequila Silver, Blanco, Plata, White Tequila Platinum Tequila Gold, Joven Oro Tequila Reposado Tequila Añejo aka extra aged between one and three years and Tequila Extra Añejo aka extra, extra aged, which is a relatively new category that is anything aged more than 3 years.

    Theres great tequilas all over the board, but traditionally the best of the best are made with the ancient Tahona process wherein a massive volcanic stone crushes the cooked and shredded agave to squeeze out the juice. This juice and fibers are fermented in wooden casks to create mosto. The mosto is then distilled with the fibers and then without. At last it is filtered, bottled, shipped, and enjoyed.

    Not all tequila fantástico is made this way, as youll see from our best tequilas in the world.

    Tequila Ocho Single Estate Agaves De Rancho Plata: Las Pomez

    Carlos Camerena and Tomas Estes make up the genius team behind Tequila Ocho, Bailon says. For those who approach agave as they do wine, this is the must-try brand. They feature single terroir agave in such a sincere way, switching plots every batch. Although I love the hints of macadamia nut in the 2019 El Bajío, I really fell in love with the Las Pomez. Its the tropical fruit and pomelo combination that hooked me on this specific brand which carried into what I love about this brand as a whole. It brings back respect to the roots.

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    Don Julio Mexico La Primavera Jalisco

    Another tequila to come from the Jalisco region is Don Julio. Founded in 1942 Don Julio Mexico makes premium tequila in white oak barrels. They also use 100% blue agave from their plantation, La Primavera located in the hills of Jalisco. As Mexican Tequila brands go, Don Julio offers a luxurious product.

    Mexicos Best Selling Tequilas

    What’s the best tequila for the money?

    These best selling tequilas have something in common, except for Don Julio 70 they are quite affordable. Mexico is poor country and folks down there are not willing to pay a lot of money for tequila. Mexicos rich and famous people would rather pony up good money for a bottle os Scotch as it provides a sign of status.

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    Whats The Best Tequila For The Money

    Best Tequila For The Money

    • 3 Amigos Anejo Tequila.
    • Jose Cuervo Gold. 4.4 out of 5 stars.
    • El Jimador Blanco. 4.6 out of 5 stars.
    • Legado Blanco Tequila. 4.3 out of 5 stars.
    • Don Sergio Blanco Tequila. 4.6 out of 5 stars.
    • Cazul 100 Silver. 4.2 out of 5 stars.
    • El Padrino Blanco Tequila. 4.6 out of 5 stars.

    There Is A Worm Inside

    Often there is the misconception that tequila contains a worm. However, this only applies to the mezcal, this agave drink traditionally came with a worm in the bottle. Today, this is hardly done anymore, but in the past it was a clear quality feature . In addition, the Mexican enjoys the Mezcal with ground worms and salt. Who likes it..

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    The Best Blanco Reposado And Aejo Tequilas To Be Savored On Their Own

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    LIQUOR / Chloe Jeong

    Best Highlands:Tequila Chamucos Reposado at Drizly

    Floral on the nose, it has the bittersweet fruitiness and briny undertones to keep you coming back for more.

    A is fantastic, but its not the only way to drink tequila. In fact, if you take a deeper dive, you’ll discover tequilas you can enjoy on their own, says Crystal Chasse, beverage director of Talk Story Rooftop in Brooklyn, New York. What she’s describing is what’s called a sipping tequila.

    ” distinctive nuances that take you on a journey from the front to the back palate, with a finish that makes you come back for another sip, she explains.

    According to Morgan Hurley, marketing and beverage director of Mex 1 Coastal Cantina in Charleston, South Carolina, a sipping tequila should be 100% agave and very well-crafted, particularly if its unaged.

    Reposados, on the other hand, are barrel-aged for two months to a year, and they should be mellow, he says. “But still have that cooked agave flavor mingling with the honey, toasted oak and vanilla.

    Here, the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now.

    Mexicos Best And Most High

    Mexican Champagne: The 19 Best Tequilas en el Mundo

    Extra Anejo tequila is best had neat, unlike many of its counterparts.

    When it comes to making spirits, theres no denying that theres varying quality. From cheap $5 a bottle wine to seven figures bottles of the finest whisky, the range at which alcohol exists is astounding. However, there are some kinds that transcend just being a bottle to share with friends and family theyre a way of life.

    Many cultures are associated with a specific spirit: Mediterranean people love their wine, Germans can never get enough beer, and the Russians know their vodka inside and out. But sometimes, it can go far beyond that, and become both a sacred symbol of what you are and your most prized commodity. For Mexicans, tequila is one of those cases.

    Whether you like it with lime and salt, paired with some sangrita, or served neat, tequila is a special kind of spirit. Its a protected industry, otherwise known as having a Geographical Indication , meaning that only real tequila can be made in Mexico, just like how only Scotch Whisky can be made in Scotland. You can tell if your booze is legit by a small seal on the bottle.

    QUI Rare, like many of the tequilas on this list, features a dark amber color, more reminiscent of … whisky or brandy than tequila.

    Clase Azul’s bottles are all beautiful works of art on their own: this one is inlaid with pure … platinum, sterling silver and 24-carat gold.

    La Adelita Extra Anejo has one of the more unique smell and taste profiles on the list.

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    When You Have Passion You Have Everything

    Agave fields in Jalisco: Tequila from Mexico

    This statement comes from Don Julio, one of Mexicos most successful businessmen. But who is Don Julio? In 1942, a 17-year-old teenager founded the first luxury tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Don Julio Gonzalez had the financial responsibility for his family already as a teenager and saw his only chance in the Tequila production. He passionately convinced a local businessman to support his vision of a luxury tequila. The popular drink of Mexico was until then only mass production. To pay attention to quality was new. So Don Julio revolutionized tequila production and specialized in high-end tequila.

    Don Julio set new standards for good tequila in the 1950s

    Take A Sip Of This Iconic Mexican Spirit

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    Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the bestproducts youcan learn more about ourreview process here.We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

    Liquor / Chloe Jeong

    Every spirit has its “moment”sometimes more than onceand just like whiskey in the pre-prohibition era, rum in the midcentury tiki craze, and vodka in the swingin’ sixties and seventies, tequila is currently the darling of the spirits world. Nutrition consultants saddle it with various health claims , and it seems like every day that yet another celebrity is launching a new tequila brand. However, to longtime aficionados like Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin, the Jalisco-based founders of the website Tequila Matchmaker, there’s something to be said for the old, artisan production methods and for the flavors they yield: herbs, spices, and the briny, bittersweet signature of agave.

    But the sheer volume of tequila brands currently competing for shelf space means that there’s truly a bottle out there for every consumer. The Consejo Regulador del Tequila, the spirits regulatory body, lists 1,754 tequilas currently in productionand these include bottles labeled blanco , reposado , añejo , and several other increasingly esoteric categories. Whether you like your tequila neat or mixed with cocktails, here are the best tequilas available today.

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    Best Aejo: Don Julio Aejo

    Courtesy of Reserve Bar

    Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Baked yam, Ginger

    Don Julio, Chasse notes, takes care of its raw materials. When the producers were planting their fields, they used much more land than other producers and spaced the agave out so as not to overtax the soil and sap it of its nutrients. Thats important when the plants take so long to come to maturity, and it leads to some lively flavors in the spirit.

    Hurley notes the baked yam, toasted oak, caramel and vanilla notes that two and a half years of wood aging give this añejo. But its round, sweet qualities are balanced out, says Chasse, by a gingery, peppery spice.

    Good to Know: Want to nibble while you sip? Try fatty things with a crisp blanco, like guacamole and chips, a grilled steak and carnitas tacos. For aged tequilas, Hurley advises dark chocolate. And any sipping tequila goes great with spicy or salty foods, chased by a Mexican lagerjust the way the distillers like to drink it themselves.

    El Patrn Tequila Jalisco

    TRAVEL GUIDE: Tequila Song “Mexico”

    El Patrón tequila gets its delicious taste from the blue weber agave plant. This stand-out ingredient mixed with time-honored tradition makes this a top tequila in Mexico. Plus, the notable design of the bottle makes this tequila the perfect adornment for your drinks cabinet. If you fancy a premium tequila to drink dry or to mix in a cocktail, this is one of the Mexican tequila brands for you. Be sure to try their coffee tequila for a real kick!

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    Sotol Hacienda De Chihuahua

    Just like tequila, but a bit different. Sotol Hacienda de Chihuahua is housed in a legendary hacienda. As the company, Sotol, states: The Hacienda Tabalaopa, a family jewel since its establishment in 1881, has historically embraced Sotol as the spirit of the region.

    Sotol is a bit different to tequila. Distillers create sotol with agavacea variety termed Dasylirion. Dasylirion only grows in the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico. This Mexican-owned tequila is an example of how the industry is diversifying, encompassing other regions of Mexico.

    Tequila Ocho Arandas Jalisco

    The creators behind Tequila Ocho have converted tequila production into an art form. As the name suggests they focus everything around the number 8. 8 years to grow the agave and 8 kilos of agave for one liter of tequila. Just like a fine wine, the producers add the name of the rancho where the agave was harvested along with the year to each bottle. It is no surprise that this tequila finds itself amongst the top 10 tequilas in Mexico.

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    Best Under $: Teremana Blanco

    Courtesy of Total Wine

    Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Pepper, Citrus, Earth

    Leave it to The Rock to have his name behind a classy blanco, which is produced using high-mountain agave roasted in brick ovens and distilled in copper pot stills. Lynette Marrero, bar director at New Yorks Llama Inn, is a fan. Its made in the most authentic way and without any additives, she says, so its great for connoisseurs looking to sip on a serious tequila.” But, she also serves it to people wanting to learn more about the category.

    She likes its clean character and wonderful flavor: The agave shines through, complemented by fragrant citrusy and earthy notes, vanilla and a hint of aromatic peppery spice.

    Get To Know The Best Tequila In Mexico

    Mexican Champagne: The 19 Best Tequilas en el Mundo

    Before you go reaching for the bottle, lets start with the basics. The difference in tequila types boils down to age and distillation.

    • Blanco . Un-aged tequila with strong notes of agave. A favorite amongst Mexicans.
    • Reposado which translates to rested ages in a cask for between two and 11 months, during which time the tequila acquires a sweet flavor, with hints of vanilla and caramel.
    • Anejo means aged or vintage. This tequila ages in a cask for 1-3 years at a time. Expect a woody flavor, with smooth and subtle characteristics.

    In Mexico, Tequila is commonly drunk from a tall, thin glass called a caballito. But it is also used as the main ingredient for the classic Mexican cocktail, the Margarita. Be sure to try all three types of tequila when on vacation in Mexico.

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    Patron En Lalique Serie 2

    Patrón has been, perhaps more than any other brand, responsible for elevating the reputation of tequila from an inexpensive source of quick intoxication to a sipping spirit as respected as the finest whiskies and Cognacs. So when the brand wanted to create a special package, they had to think big. The result was a collaboration with Lalique, the premiere French design house for fine crystal. Patrón en Lalique Serie 1, released in 2015, was a stunning, handmade crystal take on the classic Patrón bottle containing a bespoke extra añejo tequila created by master distiller Francisco Alcaraz.

    Tequila Ocho Plata 2017 Single Estate Los Patos

    As mentioned previously in this article, Carlos Camarena of El Tesoro is a legendary tequila maker, which is why Tomas Estes enlisted him as a partner on Tequila Ocho. Estes wanted the best, so he teamed with the best. Tequila Ocho Plata 2017 Single Estate Los Patos smells of peaches, bananas, lemongrass and straw. The list of flavors in the mix includes chamomile, rosemary, peppermint, avocado and green olives. It opens and develops in the glass like a fine wine.

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