Liquor 103 - Tequila
From the field of Jalisco in Mexico to speakeasy bars in New York City, tequila has become one of main pillars in the world of spirits. Have you ever wondered how a drink with this distinctive flavor is made? In this post I will talk about the processes and methods to make Tequila. And, if you read to the end and subscribe, you can find my favorite recipe for Margarita; The most popular cocktail in the world.
Margarita Glasses
Libbey Blue Ribbon Stemless Libbey Blue Ribbon Stemless, 10.25-ounce, Set of 6
Wars usually don't bring happiness, yet, in 16th century Spanish brought the knowledge of distillation using copper stills to Mexico to make a happy drink from blue agave. They called it "vino mezcal de Tequila", or for short, Tequila.
Blue Agave is a species of Agave, a genus of plants belonging to asparagus family. There are over 200 hundred species of agave, but blue agave is particularly important because it is the only species of agave which can be used to produce tequila. Additionally, blue agave can take 7 to 10 years to reach at a point that it can be harvested.
The first step of harvesting is to remove the leaves and expose the heart of the plant, called piña. Reaching to piña is hard and labor intensive. Additionally, each piña can weight from 50 to 150 lbs (~20 to 70 kg). Each distillery can use up to thousands of piñas to produce tequila.
Once the piñas are harvested, they are typically baked or steam for several days to make them ready for fermentation. Then, piñas will be crushed and shredded using modern tools and will be moved to the next step for juicing using tohanas, an old method to make juice of tequila fabric using a revolving stone on fabrics for hours.
In the next step, the extracted juice, known as mosto, is then fermented in large vat using yeast to convert sugar to alcohol. After several days, the result of this process is a low alcohol liquor, like beer, called mosto meurto. In next weeks, I will talk about fermentation process and beer in details.
The main tequila will be produced after going through distillation for a couple of times depending on the desired alcohol content and flavor profile. The end result is blanco tequila or white tequila.
Distillation is a process of separating a mixture of liquids based on differences in their boiling points. It involves heating the mixture to vaporize the more volatile components and then condensing the vapors back into a liquid to isolate the desired product. Psst... Another post which I will talk about distillation is on the way.
After a painstakingly precise process of distillation, the crystal clear tequila nectar may be introduced to oak barrels, where it undergoes a transformative journey towards greatness, as it absorbs the tantalizing flavors and complexities of the wood. From just a few short months for joven tequila to years of aging for añejo or extra añejo tequila, each precious moment is imbued with potential to create a masterpiece.
Once the culmination of this maturation process is reached, the tequila is masterfully blended and skillfully filtered to reveal a flavor profile that will tantalize the taste buds. Finally, the liquid art is sealed in bottles, awaiting distribution to those who are worthy of its splendor.
[Bonus] How to make margarita on ice for two:
Ingredients:
- 4 oz (120 ml) tequila
- 2 oz (60 ml) fresh lime juice
- 1 oz (30 ml) orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec or Cointreau)
- 1 oz (30 ml) simple syrup
- Salt for rimming the glasses (optional)
- Ice
- Lime wedges for garnish (optional)
Mixology Bartender Kit
10-Piece Bar Tool Set with Stylish Bamboo Stand | Perfect Home Bartending Kit and Martini Cocktail Shaker Set For an Awesome Drink Mixing Experience | Cool Gifts (Gun-Metal)
Instructions:
- Rim two cocktail glasses with salt (if desired) by rubbing a lime wedge around the rim of each glass and then dipping the rim into a shallow dish of salt.
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
- Shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds until the cocktail shaker feels very cold.
- Fill the prepared glasses with ice and strain the cocktail evenly into the glasses.
- Garnish each glass with a lime wedge if desired.
- Serve and enjoy your delicious Margarita!
Cheers!
