The main styles of tequila

It’s Cinco de Mayo - the 5th of May - a day when all things Mexican are celebrated and in my world, that usually means one thing: tequila! It makes me happy. We’re tasting a few with Mike Graham on talkTV this week so here are the details along with a bit of background. 

What exactly is tequila?

Tequila is a spirit hailing from Mexico that is made by cooking, fermenting and distilling the piñas that grow within the blue agave plant. To be called tequila, the agave must be grown in the five designated areas of Jalisco or the production areas of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. In practice, most tequila actually comes from Jalisco. Sales of tequila grew by 175% during lockdown and have continued to stay strong!

What are the key styles of tequila?

The three main types of tequila are tequila blanco (also known a silver tequila), tequila reposado and tequila añejo. You can also find some tequila joven (joven means young) and at the other end of the scale, small amounts of extra añejo (extra old) tequila exists.

Tequila Blanco

Blanco is unaged tequila made from the blue Weber agave. It’s bottled shortly after distillation, is clear in colour and showcases the freshest style of tequila.

Tequila Reposado

‘Reposado’ means rested in Spanish and refers to tequila that has been aged in oak barrels (American or European) for between two and twelve months. The colour will be slightly darker yellow thanks to the contact with wood. 

Tequila Añejo

‘Añejo’ means ‘old’ in Spanish and it refers to tequila that’s been aged in oak barrels for at least twelve months and is darker in colour. These tequilas you will want to sip neat as they are very complex and delicious. They also make a good alternative to brown spirits like whisky or cognac. 

Tequila joven and extra añejo are harder to find. Jovens are usually unaged tequilas with a tiny amount of aged spirit blended in. Extra añejo tequilas are very rare and aged for at least three years in wood. 

Some premium tequilas to try

Ditch the lime and salt please, premium tequila should be treated like other premium whiskies, cognacs and other spirits. Take your time to sip and savour them and see how they open up in the glass. 

Mijenta Blanco Tequila

Mijenta is a sustainable, artisanal, super premium tequila from Jalisco. Made by female maestra, Ana Maria Romero, it’s pure, silky, subtle, yet complex.

Find it at The Whisky Exchange for £49.95

Pancho Datos Reposado Tequila

The name Pancho Datos is homage to the great historian and poet of the Mexican Revolution, Ricardo Grijalva de León. It’s made with agave aged for 6 years before cooking, then distilled twice and rested for 6 months in ex Bourbon barrels. Think earthy, creamy, spice and toffee. 

Find it at Master of Malt for £49.95

Patrón Añejo Tequila

A super premium tequila from the original, premium tequila brand. It’s made in small batches and oak aged for over a year. Think smooth, sweet, woody, candied citrus.

Find it at The Whisky Exchange  or Ocado for £56.95

Maestro Dobel Diamanté Tequila

The first ever crystal clear, multi-aged tequila (a blend of 100% Agave Reposado, Añejo & Extra-Ańejo). Think maple, nuts, honey, 

Find it at Waitrose, Amazon and others for £49.90

What is Mezcal?

You may currently only know mezcal as ‘that smoky tequila with the worm in’, but today we are here to bust misconceptions on this intriguing drink and educate the world on what mezcal really is.

Where is mezcal made?

Mezcal is produced in nine different states in Mexico. The vast majority comes from Oaxaca, with the rest coming from the Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Michoacán and Puebla states. It is still mostly made by small-scale producers in tiny distilleries and its production is steeped in tradition, often being a family affair, with methods being passed down from generation to generation.

What is mezcal made from?

Unlike tequila which can only be made from the blue agave plant, mezcal can be produced from many different varieties, as well as blends of more than one agave. The most commonly used agave are Espadín, Tobalá, Arroqueño, Tepeztate and Tobaziche.

How is mezcal made?

When an agave plant is fully mature, which can take anything from 8-15 years if not longer, it is harvested, and the piña located in the centre of the agave is cut away from the roots and leaves of the plants and brought back to be roasted.

Traditionally the agave is slowly roasted in an earthen pit oven which is usually lined with rocks that are heated by wood. The piñas are piled into these pits and sometimes reach up to 5 or 6 feet above ground level. This mound is then covered with leaves and earth to keep in the heat and the piña are left to roast. Some, but not many, mezcal producers cook their piñas in ovens above ground heated using gas, wood or steam and a few mezcal producers even cook the piñas in stainless steel ovens with steam, but this is a much more industrial way to produce mezcal.

Once cooked, the piñas are removed from the oven and crushed to release the juice and sugars. The crushing method varies from producer to producer, some use a tahona, a stone wheel drawn by a horse, donkey or tractor, whereas other producers crush the piñas by hand with mallets or put them through a wood-chipper.

How is mezcal fermented?

Once crushed, it is time for fermentation. The container for fermentation varies, but the tanks are usually made from either stone, steel, wood or animal hide. Often, at this point, water is added to the crushed piña and this mix is then left to ferment, however, temperature variations mean different methods need to be used in different areas, for example, in San Luis Potosi and Durango, agave juice is used to kick start fermentation.

How is mezcal distilled?

The liquid from the fermentation process is then moved to the stills. Stills are usually made from either copper, clay or stainless steel and are traditionally wood-fired. Mezcal must be distilled twice to meet regulations although some producers distill it a third time for extra smoothness. When bottled, you may find some mezcals (usually industrially produced) come with a worm, however, this is not traditional. There has been much debate over why the worm has been added to mezcal bottles, though many put it down to a marketing ploy.

Aging mezcal

Some mezcals are aged before being bottled, giving them a different colour and flavour due to the barrels they are aged in. The aging classifications are:

Joven: Unaged or aged for less than 2 months.
Reposado: Aged for between 2-12 months.
Añejo: Aged for 1-3 years.
Extra Añejo: Aged for 3 years or more.

A further and much more common form of aging is Madurado en Vidrio which refers to mezcal that has been stored in glass containers for over 12 months. This method traditionally took place underground but these days is also allowed to occur in warehouses that have good temperature control. The glass aging allows the spirit to mellow slowly without evaporation and also without taking on any extra flavours from oak.

How is mezcal drunk?

In Mexico, mezcal is mostly drunk neat or over ice and is often accompanied by citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and limes. In the US and Europe, however, mezcal is swiftly making its way into many cocktails. Try a Mezcal Old Fashioned - it’s a smoky delight!

Which Mezcal Should I try?

Pensador Mezcal

Pensador Mezcal is produced by Don Atenogenes and his family in Oaxaca, using a combination of the espadín and madrecuishe agave. It has notes of roasted apricot, black pepper, citrus and an oak-y smoke.

ABV: 48%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £39.20

Dangerous Don Joven Mezcal

Produced exclusively from the espadín agave, this mezcal is a smoky, fresh spirit with the sweetness from the agave coming through and subtle notes of citrus. Try this in a Mezcal Old Fashioned - you won’t regret it!

ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £43.90

Ilegal Reposado

Made in Mexico's Oaxaca region, this mezcal is twice distilled in copper stills before being aged in American oak. On the nose, it has slightly woody, caramel-like aromas and on the palate, you’ll find notes of butterscotch, caramel and soft smoke. Yum!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £58.90

Ilegal Añejo

Another delicious treat from the Ilegal company, this añejo mezcal is also twice distilled in copper stills. It has hints of honey and soft smoke on the nose and to taste has lots of herbal notes with a floral and slightly salty hint. Drink this one neat or over ice to get the most out of it.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £75.10

Has all this mezcal talk got you thinking about tequila too? If so, take a look at The World’s Best Sipping Tequilas or The Top Celebrity Owned Tequilas.