Tequila

Tequila: not just a spirit, but Mexico's fiery love letter to the world. The country's most famous export is crafted from blue Weber agave in sun-soaked fields that have been decades in the making. 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. 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 flavours 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. About 90% of Tequila production goes down in Jalisco, home to the spirit’s namesake city, but the spirit can be made in parts of regions that include Michocoán, Nayarit, Guanajuato, and Tamaulipas. Not your average beverage, Tequila has a whole regulatory body, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), and enjoys the same GI (Geographical Indication) status as Champagne. With bold flavours, a rich history, and quite frankly, the best stories at the bar, there’s a lot to sip, savour, and celebrate in the world of Tequila.