Imagine that you are facing the liqueurs shelf, trying to choose a tequila to enjoy at dinner, if you are not a connoisseur, choosing the ideal tequila to share with your guests can be overwhelming due to the great variety of brands and colors. You might not know which is the best option for that special moment. So we have prepared this summary with basic information that you s consider when buying a tequila. Take a note!

There are 2 categories:

1. Tequila and
2. 100% Tequila

In fact, it is very important to check if it this is only tequila or 100% tequila before selecting your drink; even though it seems that the only difference is just the number, let us tell you there is a big difference between the two.

When you go to an establishment and find a tequila (just that) labeled bottle, it means that it is a mixed tequila composed of 51% of Tequilana blue Weber variety agave syrup and 49% from other sources.

But when the bottle says 100%, Tequila100% agave, 100% pure agave, etc. indicates that tequila only has syrup from the Tequilana Weber blue agave variety, therefore has no additives from any other source.

It is also important to acknowledge that the Tequila Regulatory Council is an organization that is responsible for verifying and certifying that the production follows the Mexican Official Standards, therefore it does not indicate whether one tequila is better than another. The key is that the process and quality complies with each one of the categories, therefore the consumers know exactly what they are buying.

Let’s talk about tequila classes

Now that you know the two categories recognized by the Tequila Regulatory Council, the next step is that you must choose between the different classes that derive from the100% agave tequila.

-Tequila blanco, white tequila. This is the purest of all classes because it is obtained after the second distillation. It is colorless like water and has no contact with wood (barrels). The flavors are from citrus or fruit trees, or it may conserve the pure flavor of the agave.

This kind of tequila is ideal to accompany seafood or as an appetizer, it is use to prepare drinks like the famous Margarita, Bloody Mary, among others.

–Tequila oro o joven, gold or young tequila. It is characterized by containing burnt sugar and artificial color. This variety results from the mixture of white tequila and relaxed or aged tequilas.  The color is usually amber or gold (hence the name). Its flavor is softened by the addition of caramel flavors.

This tequila is recommended to mix in drinks with sodas or juices.

–Tequila reposado.White tequila that is rested for at least two months and up to 11 months in oak barrels. The maturation of this tequila allows you to taste woody flavors, result of its resting in the barrels.

The best recommendation is to enjoy it with delicious Mexican dishes, spicy food that invites you to «lick your fingers.»

–Tequila añejo. This type of tequila takes 12 to 35 months maturing in American white oak barrels. In that minimum to maximum period the Tequila acquires amber and copper toned colors. It is an important part of the process for this tequila that it must be stored in barrels which do not exceed 600 liters. Añejo tequila is also an excellent companion to Mexican food, especially those dishes rich in fat or dishes with pork rind.

–Tequila extra añejo. Finally, we have this kind of tequila, which is characterized by its three to eleven-year maturation process in barrels; this aged fermentation gives you a distinct wooden flavor, the agave taste in the background and its characteristic dark amber color. Nothing better than an extra vintage to finish a delicious meal, enjoy it as a digestif.

Next time you want to choose a tequila you know now how to select the right one depending on the occasion and your preference. Practice what you learned and try Tequila Cachanilla,an authentic 100% agave tequila, with denomination of origin and produced and packed in Amatitán, Jalisco.

Identify your 4 Tequila classes and tell us which one you liked best: white, reposado, añejo and extra añejo.

Whether alone or accompanied by tequila, Tequila Cachanilla,it is always a good choice.

To avoid confusion, we give you the following basic recommendations which will allow you to distinguish a real and authentic tequila:

1. The label

To recognize an outstanding tequila, we must know the meaning of some relevant data on the label, the most important is the origin denomination label (el sello de denominación de origen), when a bottle of tequila has this seal indicates that the bottled liquid meets the quality standards that distinguish the production of a tequila.

Now, you will notice that some bottles of tequila indicate on their label the percentage of agave; you will notice that some only mention TEQUILA, while others indicate TEQUILA 100% and you will ask yourself what does this mean? Well, it is one of the most important data you should know since there are two types of tequila:

– Tequila (without percentage), is a mixed tequila with sugar and other substances added.

– Tequila 100%, is pure tequila, made entirely from the blue variety Tequilana Weber agave syrup. This feature makes it unique and unrivaled with other liqueurs that are extracted from grains, for the authentic tequila is extracted only from the Tequilana Weber blue variety agave, an ingredient that gives it an outstanding flavor.

2. Why should a tequila to be “denominación de origen”?

As we already mentioned, a real tequila must have the designation of origin (denominación de origen) that particularly indicates that the areas where the drink is produced comply with the appropriate regional and climatic conditions; likewise, it refers to the traditional production processes that allows to obtain a tequila with the distinctive quality and flavor to outstand other drinks.

The states that have the denomination of origin are: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, Tamaulipas and Jalisco. From the first three states, only some municipalities adjacent to Jalisco have this seal. If a «tequila» is produced in a place that is not one of those recognized by the Official Mexican Standard, it cannot be considered a true tequila.

The Tequila Regulatory Council is the body accredited by the Mexican government, to inspect and certify the production process, and to apply the Official Mexican Standard that oversees the production and quality of this traditional Mexican beverage.

3. Tequila tasting

Once the production inspection has been passed, the sensory review continues, the beverage has to delight not only the palate, but also the sight and the smell to identify the main qualities of tequila.

The first contact you have with a tequila is through sight. We observe the color, a white tequila is almost or fully transparent, while a reposado, añejo or extra añejo tequila, will vary from shades of amber or gold (depending on the maturation age of the tequila).

The second sense that comes into action is smell. To be able to better appreciate the aroma that is emerged by tequila, it is highly recommended to serve it in a glass (as it is done with wine), so that we bring the nose as close to the center as possible, we aspire to be able to detect the variety of aromas that are perceived. Depending on the type of tequila (white, aged, extra aged, etc.) we can appreciate herbal, floral, fruity or woody notes.

Finally, the taste is the one that closes the cycle of tasting a tequila. Like the aromas, the flavors of a tequila will depend on its maturity. The notes that distinguish a white tequila are usually herbal and fruity, this is because it is distilled and bottled without going through any rest, resulting in the natural flavor that burst.

As for aged or extra aged tequilas, the flavors that can mainly be appreciated are woody, this results from the time spent in barrels. In turn, and depending on the maturation of the tequila, you can taste bitter or sweet notes, such as vanilla and chocolate.

Well, now that you read this information, we invite you to know and enjoy Tequila Cachanilla, an authentic Mexican tequila with denomination of origin (denominación de origen), 100% agave and produced and packed in Amatitán Jalisco. Our four varieties of tequila offer a unique and exceptional flavor: white (blanco) ; aged (reposado) (matured in American white oak barrels for nine months); and the aged (Añejo) and extra aged Extra añejo, of 24 months and 48 months respectively.

Tequila Cachanilla dare to try it!

Tequila Cachanilla takes its name after this representative plant from the area, which accurately synthesizes the pride of belonging to Mexico and being bajacalifornian; since we have a strong and sweet character at the same time, this is conveyed on to the flavor of our tequila.

The company was born in 2012 in Tijuana Baja California, trying to offer a tequila which represents this corner of México. In an endeavorto develop a beverage that represents our beloved country by including traits from the peninsula. The result: Tequila Cachanilla.

Our product is obtained from agave tequilana weber blue variety. It is produced and bottled in the beautiful magical town of Amatitan Jalisco. But crafted with the northern personality of Baja California; It is produced in Jalisco, since it is one of the five states that are authorized as producers of this traditional beverage.

Tequila begins its process once the piñas(the succulent core of the plant) are trimmed, and undergoes a course with several stages: the first direct extraction produces the Tequila Cachanilla blanco 100% de agave.The second part of the process includes the fermentation or reposadowhich happens by keeping the beverage in American white oak barrels for nine months. The next step requires 24 months and becomes Tequila Cachanilla Reposado. The last step of the process involves 48months to create Tequila Cachanilla Extra Añejo. These are the four tequila varieties that offer our unique and exceptional taste.

Look for Tequila Cachanilla in  NorthGate Markets, en California. In Tijuana, you can find it in Soriana Río, Playas and Otay; El Florido Palmas y La Mesa; in selected restaurants and liquor stores.

Visitour  Facebook page and please leave a comment.