Facts - and Some Fiction - About Tequila

Tequila: it calls to me like an insect, drawn to the luminescent glow of a bug zapper. Surely, the destination is tragic, but the journey makes it all worthwhile. Truth be told, tequila is not as wild and crazy a liquor as it is made out to be- rumor has it that the good stuff might not even give you a hangover!

Of course, any hard alcohol worth it's weight may cause obnoxious behavior in an individual (and possibly puking), but why does tequila get the bad rap? Is it due to the boisterous spirit of the Mexican people? What is it about this mysterious spirit that sets it apart from the others? The unique experience provided by a few shots of tequila or mescal is one that should not be missed by any connoisseur of inebriation.

So what should you look for when shopping for your next bottle of tequila? Here are the basics:

100% pure agave- the good stuff bears this phrase, or something similar- perhaps it will appear in Spanish- 100% de agave or 100% puro agave. Regardless, this is the best indication that you are looking at a quality tequila. What it means? These spirits were produced using only fermented and distilled agave juice with water. Otherwise some other sugars were used in the process, possibly cane sugar. This is really the most important thing to look for- the rest is a matter of opinion. The highest quality tequilas will have this printed on the label- Cabo Wabo, Patron and Cazadores are among a few of the finest tequilas you can find. Expect to pay around $50 for a 750 ML bottle of the best stuff.

Silver/Blanco/White: These are your clear tequilas- they are either aged less than sixty days in stainless steel tanks, or not aged at all. This variety of tequila is best used for mixed drinks- especially the fruit flavored variety. Think margaritas when you see this type of tequila.

Gold: this is usually just silver/blanco/white tequila with coloring and flavoring added. Odds are it is not 100% agave.

Reposado- meaning "rested": this tequila has been aged a minimum of two months in a wooden tank or cask. In Mexico, they take their tequila very seriously- this aging period is enforced by law! Some of the higher quality brands age their tequila for a few more months. This is good stuff.

Añejo, meaning "old": This tequila has been aged at least a year, in wooden barrels.

Maduro: This is the oldest of the old- aged at least three years in oak barrels, this is a new classification of tequila- established in early 2006.

With all of this talk of aging, one would think that tequila gets better with time, like fine wine. This couldn't be further from the truth- tequila does not get better with age (after a certain point). When it comes to aging tequila, there is a point of diminishing returns- tequila stored in a barrel for over four years can actually start getting worse!

Tequila Fun Facts:
If you only drink shots of 100% agave tequila, and no other alcoholic beverages, you won't get a hangover.

Tequila does not have a worm in the bottle. If there's a worm in the bottle, it is either mescal, or you bought your tequila directly from a really, really bad brewery.

Mescal does not contain mescaline.

The worm was introduced into mescal bottles as a marketing ploy in the forties. Why? Nobody really knows for sure, but there are a few popular rumors. Some say it is because the presence of a worm in your bottle of mescal means that the alcohol is strong enough to preserve it.

The differences between mescal and tequila:

Understanding what sets tequila apart from mescal is not that difficult- but the confusion is understandable, after all- tequila is mescal, but not all mescal is tequila. confused yet? Let me clarify:

Mescal is like the funky step sister of tequila- both are made from the same plant, but tequila is the more refined of the two- tequila is produced under strict standards- it is only created in a certain area of Mexico, where the altitude and soil are just right- only using blue agave (there are dozens of varieties), and it is always distilled twice. In other words, tequila is a top notch product. It never contains a worm- there are laws restricting this practice!

Mescal on the other hand is a term that applies to any alcoholic spirits that are brewed using agave as a base. It is, in essence, a mutt. The standards are lax- mescal can be made from a variety of species of agave plants and can be made almost anywhere in Mexico. This is known as a common man's drink.

Tequila is usually smoother than mescal, but this varies depending on the brewing practices of the distillery.

Tequila is a potent drink, as any hard liquor should be, but few are wrapped in so much mystery. When is the last time you heard of someone hallucinating while drinking vodka?

I've personally had a few experiences with both tequila and mescal that I would describe as "enlightening" at best. My best experience was sharing a bottle of gusano rojo mescal with a good friend. I felt as though I was on a higher plane of existence. A different state of consciousness. It was a spiritual journey- unfortunately, I did not experience any hallucinations.

So next time you find yourself in the liquor aisle, I suggest you give our Mexican friend a try. Especially since you now know what all of those crazy terms mean! Until next time, drink one for me!

Sources:

Chefs.com: tequila and mescal

Yahoo answers: what's the difference between tequila and mescal?

Tastings.com: all about tequila and mescal