Tequila Must Come From Tequila
Tequila is a spirit distilled from blue agave. Like Champagne, it is legally tied to a place, and most of it comes from one Mexican state.
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant. The name is protected: it may only be produced in the state of Jalisco and limited areas of four others, and it must be made from blue agave. Spirits from other agaves or other regions are *mezcal*, which is the wider category.
- A spirit from blue agave. *A shot of tequila.*
- Tequila as a modifier. *A tequila cocktail.*
- Mezcal — the broader agave spirit category. *Smoky mezcal.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | tequila | Aged tequila. |
| Plural | tequilas | Different tequilas. |
| Related | mezcal | Artisanal mezcal. |
| Related | agave | Blue agave. |
| Related | margarita | A frozen margarita. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Good tequila is sipped, not shot.A common recommendation.
- All tequila is mezcal; not all mezcal is tequila.The category relationship.
- The agave takes years to mature.Typically six to eight.
Tequila classifications
- Blanco — unaged or briefly rested
- Reposado — rested in oak for two to twelve months
- Añejo — aged one to three years
- Extra añejo — aged over three years
- 100% agave — made only from agave sugars, as opposed to mixto
From the town and municipality of Tequila in Jalisco, from a Nahuatl place name. The protection works like an appellation for wine.
Is there a worm in tequila?
No. A larva is sometimes added to certain mezcals as a marketing device. Tequila regulations do not allow it.
Tequila or mezcal?
Mezcal is any agave spirit. Tequila is mezcal made from blue agave in designated regions, under its own rules.