One of the most internationally recognized Mexican beverages is tequila, a product that is already a Mexican cuisine and culture ambassador, which has stood out for its flavor, and also for its delicate production process. This is why, when buying a bottle of tequila, or when ordering a drink of tequila, you have the certainty that you are going to consume a quality product and not a «similar» drink to tequila.
To avoid confusion, we give you the following basic recommendations which will allow you to distinguish a real and authentic tequila:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
