Tequila is a purified liquor and falls under the broad category of mezcal. It is finished from blue agave plants that grow in specific regions of Mexico, Jalisco & Tamaulipas. While many types of tequila are very clear, you can notice that some have brown colouring. This means it was aged in barrels or caramel colouring was further added to give it a golden hue. Tequila is liquor in Mexico and the US. It is also a central component in numerous of the drinks every bartender would know.
The Different Types of Tequila available
Tequila Blanco is the starting point of all tasting tequilas that make their system to your glass. If the tequila is destined to stay a Blanco, it will be diluted to 40% and put in a bottle straight away. If it is destined to be aged tequila, it is put directly into a barrel of choice for the designated amount of time and thinned after it is removed from the barrel. While every tequila has its own exclusive taste, you can still use tequila for numerous popular cocktails.
Tequila Reposado
Reposado is translated as rested. This type of tequila ages in oak or white barrels anywhere between 2 months to 1 year. This process will give it a light golden colouring. Tequila reposado is countless for crafting flavourful and even tasting margaritas. It can improve the taste of margaritas with some fruity flavours or some other syrups. But if you would rather skip on the add-ons, it is delicious on its own.
Tequila Añejo
This means vintage and this tequila is somewhat darker than tequila reposado as its ages in barrels between 1 - 3 years. Known for its smooth and sweet flavour, tequila añejo is countless for sipping on rocks. It can serve as another cocktail recipe that calls for brown liquors and prevalent whiskey brands. Some types can be additional añejo, meaning they are aged in oak barrels for 3 years or longer.
Tequila Blanco
This is also known as tequila silver,and this type of tequila is a countless candidate for any margarita. Tequila blanco usually ages for a short period of time often less than 2 weeks. This makes it the cleanest form of tequila. You may feel that a lightly aged tequila Blanco has a slightly green hue in its bottle.
Tequila Joven
This means young tequila which is a blend of pure & aged tequilas. It is also known as gold tequila, this type usually obtains its golden colour from the add-on flavors like glycerine, oak-tree extracts, or sugar. Tequila Joven is frequently less expensive and aids as a great base for mixed drinks like margaritas. Gold tequilas typically contain about 51 percent agave tequila. This means the tequila has its extra colouring from the add-ons.
How Is Tequila prepared?
Tequila has produced some of the most prevalent brands and signature mixtures to date. It originates from the blue agave plant known as the agave tequilana. Depending on where the agave is reaped in Mexico, the plant can harvest different flavors. For instance, agaves from the uplands release a sweet highly related to the spirit. But agaves harvested from lowlands release a botanic taste. Due to controlling reasons enforced by the government, there are only a handful of states that produce blue agave tequila. Tequila starts with harvesting blue agave plants that have ripened between 8 to 10 years. The reaping process includes elimination of all leaves until only the fundamental is left, which can weigh between 40 - 50 pounds. The core is the piña because it will look like a pineapple after the leaves have been exposed. The piñas are then cut up and roasted in furnaces exactly designed for this process. While roasting, the piña’s thickeners are turned into the sugary material that makes the fermenting process thinkable. After roasting, the cores are cut and placed into the press, which crushes the juices from the piña. The composing juices are then stored in fermentation tanks. Yeast is added to the tanks which consume the sugars from piña’s pulp. The consequence of yeast eating sugar becomes lovely, delicious alcohol. The tanks are heated, which releases carbon dioxide. This procedure takes between 30 - 48 hours which will produce about a 6 percent alcohol level. The fermented liquid is purified a few times. The early distillation provides a deficient distillate, while the next 2 distillations are used for cleansing purposes. This procedure allows the liquor to display the aromas of the agave while making a purified experience. At this point, the tequila should produce anywhere from 38 - 55 percent of alcohol. Aging tequila in barrels for 2 - 3 months creates gold tequila, but tequila reposado requires at least 1 year of aging in a barrel.