Tequila a gift from the Gods

Tequila as a alcoholic beverage was born in the State of Jalisco, the state that also gave us the Charros and the Mariachi music. Together, they are national symbols that represent Mexico throughout the world.

The history of Tequila goes back a long way. There is a legend that recounts of a lightning hitting some Maguey cacti, causing them to gush forth a most aromatic, sweet juice which, when fermented and ingested, resulted in a enjoyable relaxed state of well-being. They considered this to be a gift from the gods, so they continued cutting, cooking and fermenting the juice.

For the Nahuatl, the Maguey was a divine creation that represented Mayahuel, a goddess with four hundred breasts to feed her four hundred children. Mayahuel was the wife of Petacatl, who represented certain plants that help in fermenting pulque, giving it stronger magical powers.

With the arrival of the Spaniards, the process was improved, as natives did not know about distillation, this gave rise to Tequila. The first important distillery belonged to Don Pedro Sánchez de Tagle, a powerful landowner, near Guadalajara, where the cultivation, harvest and distillation processes were carried out. The entire location was known as the Hacienda de Cuisillos.

Tequila fermentation and distillation factories were known as tavernas. Don Nicolás Rojas founded a taverna in San Martin, which was later called La Rojeña. In 1750, Don José Gómez Cuervo started planting agaves and owned a destillery in the Hacienda of San Martin, which was eventually purchased by Don Cenobio Sauza.

The name "Tequila" comes from the Nahuatl language and is identified a pre-Hispanic culture that lived about 60 km. northwest of Guadalajara. There is also a valley and a nearby volcano that has the same name, the latter rises 9,000 feet above sea level.

There are very few places were the agave cactus can be grown as it requires very special soil and climate. The best soil is permeable clay, abundant in basalt derivatives, rich in iron. The ideal climate is semi-arid, without sudden temperature changes, about 4,500 ft. above sea level; with a cloud cover 65 to 100 days per year.

The agave cactus (or "plant of the century") from which Tequila is destilled, belongs to the Amarilidoceas family and is known as blue agave Tequilana weber, a plant native to Jalisco and some nearby regions. The production of Tequila includes a series of processes the includes the planting of agaves, harvesting, cooking, fermentation and distillation. Each step must be carefully supervised and the sequence and details establish the differences between one Tequila brand and another.

Tequila comes from the blue agave plant. It takes from 8 to 12 years before it is mature enough to be harvested. When the plant is about to flower, all its leaves are cut off so that the plant sugars concentrates in the pineapple-like heart that is left. These "pineapples" are then baked in ovens for 36 to 48 hours until they take a golden color. Afterwards, they are ground in a mill or on a millstone, powered by a mule or a tractor (nowadays the process is industrial). The powder is put into large tanks where it is mixed with water and yeast, and left for 7 to 10 days, after which it stops bubbling and is then cooled.

The sugars are converted into a smooth alcohol, and finally the distillation is carried out in copper stills or stainless steel tanks. The yeast bubbles up and the alcohol vapors are condensed in cold spirals separating alcohol from its impurities. By law, Tequila must be distilled twice to obtain a refined flavor and must be aged in oak barrels. When the entire process is finished, the Tequila is ready to be bottled.

There are five officially sanctioned types of Tequila, each with its own color and flavor, these are Silver (Blanco), Young (Joven or Gold), Aged (Reposado), Extra-aged (Añejo) and Ultra-aged (Extra añejo):

Tequila Blanco or Joven “White” is clear, bottled following distillation without aging. It is pure and strong.

Tequila Joven u Oro: Mostly outside Mexico you can find a variety called Oro or Gold, it's unaged Tequila, not as strong as Blanco and many times with added flavoring and colorants.

Tequila Reposado (Aged)has a color that may vary from a light to a darker golden, as it is allowed to age at least for two months up to a year in white oak barrels. It is one of the most popular and is taken in one shot.

Tequila Añejo (Extra Aged) has a dark amber color with a flavor of agave and oak because it is allowed to age for one to five years in 600 litre barrels or smaller.

Tequila Extra Añejo, a relatively new high-end Tequila variety is now being sold called Extra Añejo (Ultra-Aged) sometimes called "de reserva" is an Añejo that has been left to mature more than 3 years. These varieties tend to taste more like wood and lose their characteristic avage taste and are more like a Cognac, but because of the price people fall for them and enjoy them (at that price, you better!). Those in the know recommend a high quality blanco so you get to taste the agave.
There is the “joven abocado”, a mixed white Tequila, treated with cane sugar and coloring to emulate the characteristics of the añejo. It was invented in the United States and is greatly inferior to Tequila made 100% from agave. lt is sold in Mexico as well, so be careful when you read the sticker. If it does not specify that it is 100% agave, it is a mixed Tequila.

Connoisseurs of Tequila claim that the best way to appreciate it is in a shot glass, no mixes, though it may be enjoyed with lime and a pinch of salt if you wish.

Today, Tequila is proud to have been granted an “Appellation d'origine contrôlée” (AOC) just like Cognac and Champagne. This means that only Tequila producers located within authorized zones in Mexico, using blue agave Tequilana weber can use the exclusive name of Tequila.

Here in Puerto Vallarta, there are a number of Tequila-tasting places where you can taste, enjoy and purchase the best brands of Tequila:

Source: Puerto Vallarta.net