TEQUILA

TEQUILA IS A SPIRIT MADE PRIMARILY IN THE AREA SURROUNDING TEQUILA, A TOWN IN THE WESTERN MEXICAN STATE OF JALISCO.

IT IS MADE FROM THE BLUE AGAVE PART OF THE LILY FAMILY.

PROCESS OF TEQUILA MAKING

THE PROCESS OF TEQUILA BEGINS WHEN A BLUE AGAVE PLANT IS RIPE, USUALLY 8 TO 12 YEARS AFTER IT IS PLANTED.

LEAVES ARE CHOPPED AWAY FROM ITS CORE AFTER THE RIPENESS IS ASSESSED.
THE PIA WILL BE VISIBLE WHEN ALL THE LEAVES (PENCAS) HAVE BEEN CLEARED.

MATURE BLUE AGAVE PLANTS

HARVESTING OF PINA

 PIAS ARE HAULED TO THE DISTILLERY WHERE THEY ARE CUT IN HALF OR CHOPPED AND PUT TO ROAST. STARCHES TURN TO SUGAR AS THE PIAS ARE ROASTED IN FURNACES CALLED "HORNOS".

PINA

SPLITING OF PINA BEFORE ROASTING

MATURED HEARTS OF PINA

PINAS BEING TRANSFERRED TO A ROASTING CHAMBER

TRADITIONAL BRICK OVEN USED TO COOK PINAS

COOKED AGAVE HEART BEFORE IT IS CRUSHED AND PRESSED

 THE ROASTED PIAS ARE THEN SHREDDED, THEIR JUICES PRESSED OUT AND PLACED IN FERMENTING TANKS OR VATS.

ONCE THE JUICES ARE IN THE VATS YEAST IS ADDED. DURING FERMENTING, THE YEAST ACTS UPON THE SUGARS OF THE AGAVE PLANT CONVERTING THEM INTO ALCOHOL.

SHREDDED PINA. THE JUICE IS BEING PRESSED OUT BY A GRINDING MILL

JUICE BEING PUMPED INTO A FERMENTATION TANK / VAT

THE FERMENTATION PROCESS: CONVERSION OF SUGAR INTO CARBON DIOXIDE AND ALCOHOL

 JUICES FERMENT FOR 30 TO 48 HOURS THEN THEY ARE DISTILLED TWICE IN TRADITIONAL COPPER STILLS OR MORE MODERN ONES MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL.

THE FIRST DISTILLATION PRODUCES A LOW-GRADE ALCOHOL AND THE SECOND A FIERY COLORLESS LIQUID THAT IS LATER BLENDED BEFORE BEING BOTTLED.
THE RESULTING LIQUID IS THEN AGED ACCORDING TO ITS TYPE.

THE DISTILLATION PROCESS: ALCOHOL EXTRACTION FROM MASH RESULTING IN COLOURLESS LIQUID

SOME TYPES OF TEQUILA ARE THEN BOTTLED IMMEDIATELY AND SOME ARE KEPT FOR MATURATION IN OAK CASKS

AFTER MATURATION TEQUILA IS BOTTLED AND THEN SOLD

TEQUILA IS SERVED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE THOUGH SOMETIMES PEOPLE LIKE IT CHILLED. IT IS NORMALLY SERVED WITH SALT AND LIME HALVES. IT IS TRADITIONALLY SERVED IN A 2 OUNCE GLASS CALLED CABALLITO

TYPES OF TEQUILA
BLANCO / WHITE / SILVER: UN-AGED TEQUILA JOVEN /GOLD: UN-AGED TEQUILA WITH COLORANTS AND FLAVOURS LIKE CARAMEL REPOSADO: TEQUILA WHICH HAS BEEN RESTED FOR NOT LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AND NOT MORE THAN 12 MONTHS ANEJO: TEQUILA WHICH IS AGED BETWEEN 13 YEARS. AMERICAN WHISKEY OR COGNAC BARRELS ARE USED TO AGE THIS

FAMOUS TEQUILA BRANDS

SAUZA JOSE CUERVO CORRALEJO DON JULIO