Types of Tequila -
the agave -
the jimador -
How Tequila is crafted
Regions of Mexico -
Pappasito’s Tequila List
It’s an ancient spirit made from a plant that has been cultivated for 4000 years. Made with pride following time-honored traditions, tequila inspires myths, legends and a taste for the unusual.
Unique among spirits, tequila is not made from grain. Rather, it’s distilled from the fermented nectar gathered from the piña, or fruit, of one type of agave plant. Contrary to popular belief, tequila is not “cactus juice.” The Blue Weber Agave is not a cactus at all, but rather a succulent related to the lily family.
Nicknamed “Blue Gold” thanks to its color and value, it takes a lot to grow the Blue Weber Agave. It must be planted by hand and tended for eight to ten years before the ripe piña can be harvested by a Jimador. From soil to shelf, it takes between eight and 20 years to produce a bottle of tequila. After all, once the piña is harvested, it must be cooked, fermented, distilled and aged! And like champagne or brandy, to carry the name tequila, the plants from which it is made have to be grown in one of five designated Mexican states.
Blanco or Plata (1-60 Days)
The most common type and the original form of tequila. It's considered 'unaged' and is under 60 days old. It may be bottled fresh from distillation or sometimes stored in stainless steel tanks before bottling. Sometimes this is a harsh, young (joven) drink, but it can also be tastier and more robust than highly refined varieties, especially if it's marked "100% agave." Some distillers may 'rest' blanco tequilas in large oak barrels for more smoothness - the maximum allowable period is 30 days.
Joven abocado or oro
Basically the same as blanco, but with colouring and flavouring ingredients added to make it look aged and smoothen the harshness. These are also called suave or oro (gold) because of its coloring - usually through added caramel and sometimes oak essence, up to 1% total weight. In the industry they're known as mixto, or mixed blends. Generally they're not as good as 100% agave, but they are also very popular for export sales. Note that Herradura also calls its 100% agave reposado tequila "gold," but it is not to be confused with a gold mixto.
Reposado (60 Days to 1 year)
This tequila is aged from two months to a year in large oak casks or smaller barrels. These casks may be as large as 20,000 litres. This is where the tastes become richer and more complex. The longer the aging, the darker the colour and the more the wood affects the flavour, although the larger the cask, the less the wood contact. Reposado accounts for more than 60% of all tequila sales in Mexico. It was the first type of aged tequila. Some companies use the same small barrels for añejo and reposado tequilas while others prefer the high-capacity vats. The larger the vat, the less the wood contact with the aging tequila.
añejo (1-3 years)
Now called "extra aged" - stored in government-sealed barrels of no more than 600 liters, but usually about 200 liters, for a minimum of a year. They may be aged longer - as long as eight to ten years, although many authorities say tequila is at its best at four or five years. It may be removed from the barrels and racked into stainless steel tanks after four years because evaporation in the barrels can reach 50% or more in some areas. Many of the añejos become quite dark and the influence of the wood is more pronounced than in the reposado variety
Pure love? To be sure, check the label. Only tequila made from 100% Blue Agave grown and bottled in one of five regions can be carry the “Tequila 100% De Agave” or “Tequila 100% Puro De Agave” label. All others are called Tequila Mixto. These tequilas must contain a minimum of 51% Blue Agave but the other 49% can come from other sugars and flavorings.
About 200 species of agave are recognized, each with their own beauty. Agave, also commonly referred to as Maguey, have been used as a source of food, fiber, medicine, shelter and tools (like pins and needles) for the past 9,000 years. And one (and only one) variety of the Maguey is used to create tequila–the Weber Blue Agave.
Grown in the arid soil of five Mexican states, this blue beauty features thick fleshy leaves ending in sharp points with thorns along the edges. It takes about eight years of careful cultivation before the ripe piña can be harvested by a Jimador. A mature piña usually weighs 80 to more than 300 pounds (although most are under 200 pounds).
Not just anyone can harvest the piña of the Blue Weber Agave. It’s a skill that has been passed down from father to son for generations and a title that is earned. Being a Jimador, or harvester means knowing everything from when the piña is ripe and how to avoid the sharp spines of the plant, to mastering the razor-sharp edge of the long-handled coa tool.
When the plants are ready, the Jimador cuts the piña from its stalk. Then using his razor-sharp coa, he chops the 200 or more six- to seven-foot, thorn-covered leaves close to the head, then turns the plant over to chop away the remainder. A Jimador can trim a large agave in about three to six minutes.
Methodical, but fast and efficient, a good Jimador can harvest more than a ton of piñas in a day!
Baked in Ovens
Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacan
It’s simple. If it didn’t come from one of these five states, it’s not tequila! Only these states have the right to label this legendary spirit, tequila.
PLATA TEQUILAS
Crystal clear with pure Blue Weber agave flavors.
- 1800
- Arette
- Arte de Nom
- Casa Noble
- Casamigos
- Cimarrón
- Código 1530
- Corazón
- Don Julio
- Fortaleza
- Gran Centenario
- Herradura
- Hornitos
- Jose Cuervo Tradicional
- Milagro
- Partida
- Patrón
- Patrón Roca
- Pura Vida
- Siembra Valles
- Siete Leguas
- Tapatio
- Tequila Ocho
- Tres Generaciones
REPOSADO TEQUILAS
The aging of two months to a year in oak barrels gives these tequilas their slightly more complex flavors, golden color and mellow taste.
- 1800
- Arette
- Arte de Nom
- Casa Noble
- Casamigos
- Código 1530
- Corazón
- Don Julio
- Fortaleza
- Gran Centenario
- Herradura
- Hornitos
- Milagro
- Partida
- Patrón
- Patrón Roca
- Pura Vida
- Siete Leguas
- Tapatio
- Tequila Ocho
- Tres Generaciones
AñEJO TEQUILAS
These seductive spirits have been nurtured in oak barrels from one to four years, creating an ambercolored tequila — perfect for sipping.
- 1800
- Arette
- Casa Noble
- Casamigos
- Código 1530
- Corazón
- Don Julio
- Don Julio 1942
- Fortaleza
- Gran Centenario
- Herradura
- Hornitos
- Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia
- Milagro
- Partida
- Patrón
- Patrón Roca
- Pura Vida
- Siete Leguas
- Tapatio
- Tequila Ocho
