Tequila is a spirit distilled from agave plants, specifically the blue Weber variety which takes an average of seven to 10 years to grow mature enough for harvest. It is Quite possibly Mexico's most famous export! Production is protected by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), a regulatory governing body, and is guarded by geographical indication (GI) status. There's something for everyone within the Tequila category, with crisp, vibrant unaged expressions that'll shine in the likes of popular cocktails like a Margarita or a Paloma, and mellow, oak-aged spirits that are well suited for neat sipping or twists on classics, like a Tequila Old Fashioned.
The spirit can be made in parts of regions that include Michocoán, Nayarit, Guanajuato, and Tamaulipas, but a whopping 90% of the world’s supply is produced in Jalisco, home to the spirit’s namesake city, Tequila. There are five main types of tequila: Blanco (silver/white), joven (young/gold), reposado (aged), añejo (extra aged), and extra añejo (ultra aged). Generally, blanco tequilas have vegetal flavors of agave, citrus, grass, and pepper, while oak-aged expressions such as reposado or añejo will show toastier, deeper notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruits, and warm baking spices.