by Mariel

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: May 23, 2008

Mexican Tequilas

Tequila is one of the most known beverages in the world; Casa Cuervo and Sauza have made this possible exporting ten of thousands of bottles every year. Many have been knocked out cold or even got lucky with this elixir.

But there is much more to drinking tequila. This sweet nectar is not intended to knock someone out, but to be enjoyed like you enjoy sex: slowly and at your own pace. You can mix it with everything and still enjoy a very palatable taste and you can drink it alone and just experience the soft heat waving through your body.

Tequila is made of the Agave plant and there are thousands of "make believe" tequilas that say that they are the real deal: The truth is that if the label does not hold the Mexican emblem with the number 16.1.57348 and a very special legend it is not true Tequila. And yet, some of the best tequilas I've ever tasted were bought in the streets of Jalisco of manufacturers that do not have the capital or power position as the great factories, thus, I would not suggest you to buy any tequila in the streets unless you are walking the streets of Jalisco-. Hehehe

The process of Tequila making is somewhat a secret, suffice to say that of course, you cut down the plant and then grind it to a pulp, and then trough 6-8 steps of decantation, fermentation and maturation you get Tequila. There are three types of Tequila:

Young (tequila has been mixed between white and aejo) is also called ORO or Golden

Aejo o Madurado (this means that the tequila was matured according to the NOM regulation) has been inside oak barrels for at least two months

Gran Reposado (tequila has matured for a longer period than the NOM regulation) and a much longer time in the oak barrels than the Madurado

White (it comes from the second distillation [skips some steps])

Bronco (rough quality and taste)

Joven Abocado (tequila mixture and then a 1% of the following added for flavor and an extra kick: Caramel Color, Extract of Oak, and Sugar Syrup)

For mixtures, usually the White, the Young, the Bronco or the Joven Abocado are used, the Aejo and the Gran Reposado are traditionally enjoyed alone.

It has come a long way since it's appearance as a beverage used by workers to warm up their mornings and nights to the current trend and fashion that makes it the "jet set" choice for celebration. However, it still participates as a running river to "drown the morn for a lost love"; naturally, in such occasions, there is no room for Michael Bolton and still the right pair is Mexican Mariachi music.

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