Liquor & SpiritsNuetral Spirits
Tequila is a spirit made by fermenting and distilling the juice of theblue agave plant, grown in an officially delimited region of west-centralMexico. The are includes the state of Jalisco, four adjoining states (Nayarit,Michoacan, Guanajuato and Tamaulipas), and the town of Tequila - for whichthe spirit is named.
The agave plant is a tough-skinned plant with pointed, barbed leaves andis closely related to the lily. There are over 400 types of agave, but tequilais made from only one - the blue agave (so called because of its silvery-blueleaves). It flourishes in the dry, mineral-rich volcanic soil on the hillsidesnear Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, and a few other areas ofMexico. The plant is harvested when it has reached a height of about 4 ft.,which takes about 10 yrs. Its heart - which resembles a pineapple and iscalled a pina, the Spanish word for that fruit - is baked (transformingthe starches into sugar), then ground, shredded and washed with water. Theresulting juice is fermented and distilled into tequila.
All tequila's are made from blue agave, but only the premiums and super-premiumsare 100% blue agave. Mexican law requires all tequila to be made up of atleast 51% agave distillates with the remainder being composed of sugar syrupdistillates. Also, tequila's distilled from 100% blue agave must be labeledas such and premium varieties must be bottled in Mexico.
Clear, fiesh-from-the-still tequila is called banco and is sold as "white"or "silver", unaged tequila that has turned pale amber from adose of caramel is called joven abocado, which roughly translates as "bottledwhen young") and is sold as "gold", tequila that has agedin oak for at least two months and up to a year is called reposado,meaning "rested", and tequila that has spent at least a year inoak is called anejo, or "aged". Most anejo's, however,spend at least 3 yrs in oak.
Houses/Producers
Jose Cuervo Gold - by far the leading brand in the U.S. It containsonly 51% agave and is smooth and sweet tasting.
Herradura Silver - 100% blue agave distillates. Unaged yet smooth,elegant and full. Floral lemony bouquet with a long, creamy finish.
Dos Reales Anejo - 100% blue agave aged in oak 4 years. Rich, complex,smooth, this is the ultimate margarita tequila.
Patron Anejo - 100% blue agave, comparable in quality to a fine cognacor single malt scotch Crisp and smoky with tobacco and spice present onthe palate. Recommended neat or over ice.
Porfidio Anejo - 100% blue agave, this is a single barrel tequila.Aged in small oak barrels for a minimum of 2 yrs and the equivalent of anXO cognac, very lush and complex. Layers of oak. vanilla, tropical fruitand spice A definite sipping tequila.