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Tequila

Tequila, possibly Mexico’s most famous export, has seen an explosive growth in global popularity in recent years. The spirit takes its name from the town of Tequila which lies in the south west, near Mexico’s second city of Guadalajara. The rules for production are governed by the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), and Tequila can only come from five regions: Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, and Jalisco.

The other notable rule is that even though there are more than 200 varieties of agave, only one, the blue weber agave, can be used to make Tequila. The agave plant is a succulent native to Mexico. Don’t call it a cactus, the two are not related in any way. Some agave grows wild though most of the plants for Tequila production are now cultivated. An agave can take anywhere from six to twelve years to mature and can grow up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) tall. Harvesting the agave is a skilled and labour intensive process. When the plant is ripe, the jimador (farmer) removes the agave leaves with a sharp curved tool called a coa. These fibrous leaves are discarded, the part he’s after is the heart of the plant, called the piña, because it looks like a pineapple. These can weigh up to about 100kg (220lb) but usually come in at 30kg. They are made up of complex carbohydrates which are not fermentable so the next stage is to convert them into sugar. The exact time of the harvest is very important, because if the agave plants are gathered too early, the natural sugars will have yet to develop, and if it is gathered too late, the plant will have begun to decay.

To access those sugars, the piñas need to be cooked. They are cut up, by hand usually, and put in a giant oven. Here they are gently steamed in a process that can take up to three days. This process turns the starchy plants into a sweet pulpy mass. A more recent way of extracting the sugar from agave plants uses a machine called a diffuser. This essentially subjects the agave to high temperature, pressure, and often high acidity to maximise extraction from the agave fibres and cook the carbohydrates (although sometimes the liquid is cooked after the process).

The next stage is to release all that sugar rich juice from the cooked agave. Originally this would be done by crushing the cooked pinas under a stone wheel known as a tahona, pulled by a donkey. Some Tequilas are still made this way but most are milled and crushed in a machine. Fermentation takes place over days either with a wild or commercial yeast, today usually the latter as it creates a faster and more stable ferment. Tequila producers at this stage are allowed to add corn sugar so that it makes up a maximum of 49% of the final amount of fermentable sugars. This is done for cheaper Tequilas which are known somewhat disparagingly as ‘mixtos’. Following fermentation, the resulting agave drink will be between 4 and 6 % ABV. This is not dissimilar to pulque, a fermented agave drink that has been made in Central America for centuries.

The next step in the Tequila process was introduced by the Spanish in the 16th century: distillation. In Tequila this is usually done in a two stage process in pot stills. The first stage produces a ‘low wine’ of 20-22% ABV which is then resdistilled to 55-75% ABV. Some producers, however, use column stills. Traditionally stills would have been made from copper and though stainless steel is also commonly used, it is important to have some copper contact to remove unwanted compounds.

The finished spirit is commonly divided into three varieties: blanco (or silver/plato, which is one aged for up to two months), reposado (2-12 months ageing) and añejo (1-3 years in oak vessels with a capacity of 600l or less). The barrels usually come from the bourbon industry though some new casks are used. There’s also an extra añejo category, introduced in 2006 and referring to anything over three years aged and cristalino, which is essentially añejo Tequila that has been filtered (often through charcoal) to remove the naturally occurring colours. Finally there’s gold Tequila which can be a mix of blanco and aged Tequila, but most often unaged ‘mixto’ blanco with abocado. No, not avocado, though wouldn’t that be fun, abocado is what’s classed as a ‘mellowing agent’ to mimic the effects of ageing and usually made up of caramel, glycerin and wood tinctures. Tequila will usually be reduced to a minimum of 38% ABV before bottling but you do see much stronger ones.

The vast majority of Tequila is drunk in cocktails such as the Margarita, Paloma, and Tequila Sunrise. Many Tequila aficionados turn their noses up at so-called ‘mixto’ Tequilas which are made with up to 49% corn sugar. But if you’re making large batches of cocktails, then they make sense. Furthermore, the global boom in demand for Tequila has meant a shortage of agave which takes a long time to grow, so a mixto can be the more sustainable alternative.

Going further upmarket are 100% agave Tequilas. One of the joys of premium Tequila is that like with a good wine you can discern differences in flavour depending on where the agave was grown and how ripe it was when harvested. Highland agave which grows slower is said to taste fresher and more floral. Certain brands now release single field Tequilas. It’s worth trying these neat especially alongside Mexican food. Finally there are aged Tequilas: minimally aged ones like reposados have extra body and sweetness making them great in cocktails like a Negroni while añejo and extra añejo Tequilas which make great bourbon substitutes in cocktails like an Old Fashioned.

Tequila Komos Añejo Cristalino

70cl, 40%
Tequila Komos

A Cristilano Añejo Tequila from Komos. Made from 100% agave, this premium Tequila has been aged in French oak barrels that previously held white wine, and unlike traditional golden-hued añejos, it…  More info

Tequila Komos Añejo Cristalino
$117.64

Tapatio Blanco Tequila

50cl, 40%
La Altena

The Tapatio Blanco Tequila is a silver tequila that's as good as gold! (We'd like to make it clear that we're using "good as gold" as an expression, not comparing it to Joven/gold tequila. That would…  More info

Tapatio Blanco Tequila
8
$26.03

Batanga Tequila Blanco

70cl, 38%
Casa Orendain

Batanga blanco Tequila is produced at the Casa Orendain, which was founded all the way back in 1926! It's distilled using 100% agave, harvested from the Orendain plantation and fermented with yeast…  More info

Batanga Tequila Blanco
1
$30.11

Herradura Plata Tequila

70cl, 40%
Herradura

Produced by Casa Herradura in the Sierre-Madre mountain range, this fine Plata Tequila is aged for 40 days in oak barrels before bottling. It is distilled from nothing but 100% blue agave plants…  More info

Herradura Plata Tequila
1
$39.85

The Butterfly Cannon Cristalino Tequila

50cl, 40%
The Butterfly Cannon

A 100% agave Tequila aged for 30 days in barrels before being charcoal filtered. It’s produced by the Destiladora del Valle de Tequila in Mexico and has been specially-designed to be mixed in…  More info

The Butterfly Cannon Cristalino Tequila
$29.62

Ocho Blanco Tequila 2022 (Cerro Del Gallo)

50cl, 40%
Ocho

Splendid single-estate Tequila from the ever-impressive Ocho collection. This expression of its blanco Tequila is produced from 100% agave grown at the Cerro Del Gallo estate and harvested in 2022.…  More info

Ocho Blanco Tequila 2022 (Cerro Del Gallo)
$26.33

Enemigo 00 Extra Añejo

70cl, 40%
Enemigo

This is the Extra Añejo Tequila from the Enemigo range, which spends three years maturing before being bottled at 40% ABV. Very much proffered as a sipping Tequila, and certainly can be enjoyed as…  More info

Enemigo 00 Extra Añejo
$148.33

Herradura Directo de Alambiqe Tequila

70cl, 55%
Herradura

The fourth release from the Herradura Coleccion de la Casa range is the Directo de Alambique expression. This tequila has been made with 100% blue agave and fermented using natural yeast, which is…  More info

Herradura Directo de Alambiqe Tequila
$85.87

Calle 23 Reposado

70cl, 40%
Calle 23

The Reposado expression from the Calle 23 range. A 100% agave tequila which spends up to 8 months maturing in ex-bourbon casks to take on a touch of those warming, vanilla-y, subtly oak-y notes that…  More info

Calle 23 Reposado
3
$45.97

Goya Single Estate Blanco

50cl, 40%
Goya

This Blanco Tequila was produced from blue agave harvested exclusively from one farm. Hence the name. The organically-grown piñas are harvested, roasted and double distilled all on the estate. Seeing…  More info

Goya Single Estate Blanco
2
$46.80

Jose Cuervo Especial Silver

70cl, 38%
Jose Cuervo

An unaged tequila from the most popular Tequila brand in the world! Perfect in cocktails such as the famous Margarita!  More info

Jose Cuervo Especial Silver
6
$22.50

Cabrito Tequila Reposado (40%)

70cl, 40%
Tequila Cabrito

The Reposado expression from Cabrito Tequila, bottled at 40% ABV. The goat on the label seems pretty chill, which is nice. Sweet beard, too.  More info

Cabrito Tequila Reposado (40%)
1
$32.79

Arquitecto Tequila

70cl, 42.5%
Arquitecto

A top quality Tequila here, Arquitecto Tequila is made in Jalisco by Enrique Fonseca (who is also a trained architect – which might explain the name and the label) using blue weber agave at the…  More info

Arquitecto Tequila
$35.29

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver

70cl, 38%
Jose Cuervo

A 100% agave, unaged tequila from the classic stable of Jose Cuervo. Excellent entry level stuff, great for cocktails but with enough character to enjoy neat.  More info

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver
2
$35.02

Casamigos Reposado Tequila

70cl, 40%
Casamigos

This is a Reposado Tequila from the Casamigos range, created by George Clooney (off of the movies) and Rande Gerber. After spending 7 months in American white oak casks, this tequila has taken on…  More info

Casamigos Reposado Tequila
3
$64.39

Lunazul Añejo

70cl, 40%
Lunazul

A 100% agave tequila that's aged in ex-Bourbon barrels for 12 to 18 months.  More info

Lunazul Añejo
$33.55

El Jimador Tequila Blanco

70cl, 38%
El Jimador

A silver tequila from El Jimador, made in Jalisco from 100% agave which is bottled immediately after distillation. It boasts a classic Lowland Tequila flavour profile, crisp and fruity, and versatile…  More info

El Jimador Tequila Blanco
1
$28.08

Tapatio Reposado Tequila

50cl, 38%
La Altena

Kept in casks that previously held bourbon for four months, Tapatio Reposado Tequila works fantastically in cocktails and by itself.  More info

Tapatio Reposado Tequila
2
$26.86

El Tequileño Reposado Rare

70cl, 40%
El Tequileño

This beguiling rare reposado from El Tequileño is made from 100% blue agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco. Fermented with natural yeast, and influenced by the 150-year-old mango trees that grow…  More info

El Tequileño Reposado Rare
$158.56

Don Julio Reposado Tequila

70cl, 38%
Don Julio

Smooth and balanced reposado tequila from Don Julio, aged for just under a year in bourbon barrels.  More info

Don Julio Reposado Tequila
5
$51.10

La Dama Tequila

70cl, 40%
La Dama

This glitzy bottle is from La Dama, and holds within it an organic unaged Tequila! Distilled from blue Weber agave, the distillery also makes a huge effort to protect its surroundings and ecosystems.…  More info

La Dama Tequila
5
$61.11

El Tequileño Reposado Gran Reserva

70cl, 40%
El Tequileño

A reposado refers to a lightly aged Tequila that spends no less than two months and no more than one year in oak. This example from El Tequileño is aged for 8 months in American oak, then blended…  More info

El Tequileño Reposado Gran Reserva
$45.46

Próspero Añejo

70cl, 40%
Próspero

It's the Añejo Tequila from the Próspero range, which was launched by singer Rita Ora, who teamed up with master distiller Stella Anguiano to create a selection of superb spirits. This particular…  More info

Próspero Añejo
$37.33

Código 1530 Añejo

70cl, 38%
Código 1530

This is the Añejo expression from the Código 1530 range. Every Tequila from this selection is made with agave aged for seven years before distillation, and this particular expression spends 18 months…  More info

Código 1530 Añejo
1
$105.36

Olmeca Altos Añejo

70cl, 40%
Olmeca Tequila

Olmeca launched their Altos Añejo Tequila in mid-2016, adding to the range's Plata and Resposado expressions. They age this tequila for 18 months in oak casks before bottling, making it well-suited…  More info

Olmeca Altos Añejo
1
$45

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