About Tequila

Tequila is a form of Mezcal, an agave brandy from Mexico. Tequila is the most well-known type of Mezcal and is produced in the vicinity of the city of Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco, as well as in four other states from the heart of the blue agave plant (Agave tequilana Weber, blue variety, Agavaceae). The core of the agave plant was referred to by the locals as "The House of the Moon," which translates to "Mezcal" in the indigenous Nahuatl language. Typically, Tequila has an alcohol content between 38% and 40%, although some Tequilas can have an alcohol content of up to 50%.

There are two main qualities of Tequila:

• Mixto: contains a minimum of 51% of sugars derived from the agave plant for alcohol production, with other sugars added.
• 100% Agave: is made entirely from blue agave sugars, without any added sugars.

There are five main types of Tequila:

• Silver/Blanco: directly bottled after distillation, it has a classic Tequila taste and is often consumed with lemon and salt in Germany.
• Gold (Oro): a blend of white and aged Tequilas, often mixed with caramel syrup for a darker color. It's consumed in Germany with orange and cinnamon, which is uncommon in Mexico.
• Reposado: aged 2-11 months in oak barrels, it has a light yellow-greenish hue. In Mexico, it's often consumed neat with lime and salt.
• Añejo: aged 1-3 years, it has an amber color and is similar in appearance to Gold Tequila.
• Extra Añejo: a classification introduced in 2006 for all Añejo Tequilas aged more than 3 years.

I exclusively offer 100% Agave Tequila of the quality level and style known as "Reposado," which is relatively less common and lesser known in Germany. Reposado has the typical flavor of Blanco Tequila but is milder and more refined, avoiding the harshness commonly associated with lower-quality Blanco Tequilas that dominate the German market but aren't commonly sold in Mexico.

Tequila can be enjoyed neat, and I recommend using a quarter of a lime and salt rather than a lemon wedge. Higher-quality Tequila is also recommended for cocktails. While the most famous Tequila cocktails are Tequila Sunrise and Margarita, there are many other cocktails based on Tequila. For fans of long drinks, here's a lesser-known gem from Mexico called "Tequila Limón." Simply pour Tequila over ice, fill the glass with unsweetened lemonade, add a quarter lime, and you're done. Once again, I recommend using a Tequila Reposado for this drink.