“Tequila – A Love Story” Episode 7 : sponsored by Cazadores Tequila

Last time on “Tequila – A Love Story”, we took a tour of our favorite distillery in Mexico.  Now I want to introduce you to the Cazadores ambassadors, Las Chicas Cazadores.  And you think you loved tequila?  I dare you to have more excitement and passion than these lovely ladies.

“Tequila – A Love Story” Episode 6 : Sponsored by Cazadores Tequila

Welcome back to “Tequila – A Love Story”.

Last time I used the smurfs to present to you the different types of tequilas.

We’ve talked about the blue agave plant & met our hero, Raphael.

We’ve also discussed the geography associated with tequila.

Then we took you through the journey the agave plant take to get to liquid form.

Now, this video below will tie everything together for you.  It really is a very well made video, and just so happens to take you to the home of UpAfterDusk’s favorite tequila…Cazadores Tequila!

“Tequila – A Love Story” Episode 5 : sponsored by Cazadores Tequila

Ok everyone, we are back!  Last episode we talked about how Raphael (our agave slayer) harvested the ripe agave & then the process it went through to become the clear sinful liquid we know as tequila.

Today…it’s very exciting…I’ve brought by some very special little blue friends (don’t you just love the symbolism) to represent the different types of tequila that are produced…rather, that you consume.

Let’s first start our with our 2 categories:

1.)    100% Blue Agave -  pretty self explanatory, no?  It must also be bottled @ the distillery in Mexico.
2.)    Tequila Mixtos – Must contain a minimum 51% Blue Agave Tequila.  The remaining amount would come from sugars (typically cane sugars.  Mixto tequilas can be bottled outside the Tequila are and in other countries.

Now…la, laaa, lalala, laaaa, laa, lalala, laaaaa….these 2 categories are broken into 5 types of Tequila.

Blanco

The Blue Agave in its purest form.  It is typically unaged and therefore the intensity of the agave & its sweetness is present.

Gold

Typically a mixto, and colorants & flavorants have been added before bottling.  These tequilas are young & inexpensive.

Reposado

Reposado means “rested” (hence lazy/sleepy smurf).  This tequila is aged in wooden barrels or storage tanks 2 months & 11 months.  The color becomes a golden hue & becomes a good balance between the agave and wood flavors.

Anejo

Means “extra aged” and must be aged in barrels for at least 1 year.  The barrels cannot exceed 600 liters.  This process darkens the tequila to an amber color.  Flavor becomes smoother, richer, and more complex.

Extra Anejo

These are considered “ultra aged”…like grandpa smurf.  Extremely smooth and complex these tequilas must be aged at least 3 years.  The color is a deep mahogany and these tequilas become difficult to distinguish from other quality spirits.

“Tequila – A Love Story” Episode 4 : sponsored by Cazadores Tequila

Hi kiddies, welcome back!  Let’s review, we’ve already been introduced to the Blue Agave plant…remember Raphael?  We also learned where tequila originates from…geographically.

Today we introduce the process…from the blue agave plant to the clear liquid that all types of tequila begin.

Find a ripe agave
This is the “jimador’s” (remember our warrior, Raphael?) responsibility to assess the ripeness.  Usually takes 8 – 12 years after it’s planted.

Assess the ripeness
Leaves are chopped away by the jimador (Raphael) & he decides if it’s ripe.  This is so crucial.  There needs to be enough sugar in the plant for fermentation.

Clear the agave
The jimador (Raphael) uses a long knife known as a “coa” to clear all the leaves on the plant.  When cleared, you now have the core of the agave…or the “pina”.

From the fields to the distillery
Pinas are hauled to the distillery & chopped in half (or quarters)

Roast ‘em
Starches turn to sugar as the pinas are roasted in furnaces called “hornos”.

Juice ‘em
Roasted pinas are shredded, their juices pressed out, and placed in fermenting tanks.

Fermentation
Add yeast.  Each distiller keeps its own yeast as a closely guarded secret.  Yeast acts with sugar of agave plant to produce alcohol.  Juices ferment for 30 to 48 hours.

WE ARE NOW AT ABOUT 6% ALCOHOL…booooooooo!

Distillation process
The fermentation juice is distilled 2 to 3 times.  The first distillation is always a rough, low-grad distillate.  The 2nd or 3rd run is to purify and perfect the liquor.

We now have your basic tequila blanco, or silver tequila.
ALCOHOL CONTENT BETWEEN 70 AND 110 PROOF…yaaayyyyyy!

All types of tequila start with this colorless distilled spirit. The type of tequila now depends on its aging.

Now, shut the blinds, turn off the lights, kick your feet up, relax, and check out this british guy give you a tour of the Mexican Tequila making process….bloody cool!