Buy at Liquor Store Online. The rich, mellow oaky flavor comes thanks to a decade of aging in the barrel. The story of tequila has achieved global distinction. Made from agave, this distillate is a designation of origin product that, by law, can only be produced in the Mexican state of Jalisco and in portions of four other Mexican states , as it has been for centuries. In that time, little has changed in terms of production, with agave plants still harvested by hand by skilled jimadores.
It was first distilled by Spanish conquistadors and was seen as the liquor of the laborer for many generations. Today, this classic spirit is getting the respect it deserves.
Tequilas can boast aromas of honey, pepper, and caramel as well as flavors that range from spice and wood to earth and vanilla. As it turns out, worms have nothing to do with tequila. In fact, the law says that tequila may not contain a worm or scorpion. If a bottle is con gusano with worm , then it is likely a mezcal and not a very good one at that. The worm is actually the larva of a moth that infests agave plants.
An infested plant is the sign of a bad agave product. Proceed with caution. Tequila is presented in a variety of colors, from crystal clear to an almost brown amber coloring. These colors hint at how the tequila was aged and for how long. Tequila that is aged spends time in wooden barrels, which lend their color.
There are four main aging categories of tequila, each providing valuable information:. There are also gold tequilas, which are either tequilas with coloring or grain alcohol added. Tequila is a member of the larger family of spirits - mezcal. Mezcal is produced from any agave plant, however, tequila has a strict ingredient requirement: it must be made from blue agave. Obviously, this limits the availability of ingredients, which in turn drives the cost.
The limited availability of blue agave combined with an increasing demand for the popular spirit has created a significant supply issue for tequila producers. This lack of supply has allowed the increase in cost of the plant, to the tune of six times what is cost just a couple of years ago.
As you can imagine, this cost is passed on to the consumer down the line. In addition to increasingly limited supply, harvesting and preparing agave is still a very manual process. Many spirits have seen a mechanization and automation of this part of the process, with the advent of modern farming methods. Tequila making, specifically harvesting blue agave, continues to be a human-driven task.
The process of harvesting agave is still passed down generationally, rather than via a manual or online training modules. Tending to agave is arduous, as the plants require constant monitoring and pruning trimming, really. Only those who work the agave fields known as jimadores know when it is ready to be harvested, as there are no obvious indicators for those lacking experience.
The jimadores are experts, with vast experience, in knowing when the agave plant has just enough carbohydrates and just enough sugar to ferment properly. As you can imagine, with so much experience and manual labor required, a product like agave can be quite expensive.
Thus, the labor intensive and specialized harvesting process alone can drive the cost of tequila. 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.
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. So why is a Patron considered a Premium tequila by our standards, while a popular brand like comes out as a Standard offering?
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. Rose Tequila Rose Tequila makes their spirits with specialty flavors. Jose Cuervo Jose Cuervo produced high-quality and smooth tequila, but at a more affordable price range. Deleon Deleon is another tequila distiller that promotes its brand on being premium quality. What should you mix with Patron tequila? Tequila Sunrise. Silver Mint Julep. Wild Berry Mojito. Patron Silver.
Patron Reposado. Patron Anejo. Patron Extra Anejo. Roca Patron Silver. Roca Patron Reposado. Gran Patron Platinum.
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