National Tequila Day is July 24th, and what better way to celebrate this gift from the agave gods than raising a glass (or two)?
To help narrow down your myriad of choices, let’s first go over exactly what Tequila is. Simply explained, tequila is the national alcoholic beverage of Mexico and is made from the blue agave plant. It is exclusively produced in the area around the town of Tequila in the Jalisco region of Mexico. Believe it or not, tequila was originally known as mezcal wine.
Around the year 250, the Aztecs made an alcoholic drink called “pulque.” This drink was made from the fermented juices of a plant called the maguey – a cousin of the agave—which is a predecessor to tequila. Tequila, as we know it today, is distilled, unlike pulque, and was likely made by the Spanish colonists when they invaded South America. In the early 1600s, Don Pedro Sánchez de Tagle, an aristocrat and is hailed as “The Father of Tequila”, began the first distillery in Tequila, Jalisco.
In 1974, the Mexican government declared this alcoholic drink the intellectual property of Mexico (similar to what France did with the Champagne region), and that tequila can only be produced exclusively in certain Mexican states, namely Jalisco, Nayarit, Michoacán, Guanajuato, and Tamaulipas. A tequila regulatory council (the Consejo Regulador de Tequila, or CRT) was established to maintain tequila production standards (like agave content, ABV content, aging time, and ingredients).
There are several types of tequila, including:
- Blanco tequila: This is a white unaged tequila distilled from the blue Weber agave and is hailed as one of the best savory tequila in Mexico.
- Joven tequila: This tequila style is is an unaged golden version with either sugar syrup or caramel flavoring.
- Tequila reposado: This tequila style is aged in oak barrels for at least 2 months (up to 1 year).
- Anejo tequila: the tequila is matured in oak barrels for 1 to 3 years.
- Tequila Extra Anejo: This style calls for at least 3 years of aging and maturing in oak barrels.
Many afficionados will say that the best tequilas for sipping are the ones that have been aged longer, so if that’s your cup of tea-quila (see what I did there?) then Reposado or Anejo would be your best bet.
Now, if you’re a fan of tequila cocktails, nothing beats the classic margarita (tequila, triple sec and lime juice, served over ice with a lime garnish, and salt on the rim, if you’re so inclined). But there are a couple of others you could give a try this year as well. Here they are, along with ingredients and instructions, courtesy drinkies.ph blog.
Paloma
Hailed among the most savory tequila-based cocktails in Mexico, Paloma can help you clear your mind for a while and enjoy your tasting experience with its delightfully refreshing taste. Other than that, this cocktail is also one of the effortless fruity cocktail recipes that are super easy to make at home on this National Tequila Day.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of tequila
- 0.5 oz of lime juice
- Grapefruit soda
Instructions:
- Prepare a salt-rimmed tall glass filled with small ice cubes.
- Add the tequila and lime respectively and shake gently.
- Finally, add grapefruit soda gently to the top of the cocktail mixture. Serve and enjoy
Guadalajara Fizz
This cocktail recipe is surprisingly delicious, with hints of chocolate and stunning flavors from grapefruit bitters. At the same it, its eye-catching color is also sure to turn head this National Tequila Day.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Tequila
- ½ oz of Crème de cacao white
- ½ oz Triple Sec
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 4-5 dashes of grapefruit bitters
- 1 oz soda water
Instructions:
- Dry shake tequila, crème de cacao, triple sec, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters for about 1-2 minutes.
- Open the shaker and add a large cube of ice and shake it again for 1-2 minutes.
- Strain the cocktail into a Collins glass and pour to the top with soda water.
- Put a grapefruit peel on top of the drink and enjoy.
Now that you’ve got the 411, what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate! Salud!
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Photo Credit: Marcel Kriegl / Shutterstock.com