A Beginners' Guide To 2 Different Types Of Tequila
Did you know that tequila can be made into diamonds? Synthetic diamonds can be made out of tequila, but the diamonds produced tend to be too small to be made into jewelry based on current technology. With tequila also once being prescribed by doctors as a medical remedy to alleviate the symptoms of the Spanish flu, tequila also possesses a range of medicinal qualities such as soothing sore throats, relieving congestion, and improvement of sleep quality. Tequila is a truly unique spirit, but what truly makes it special is the different types of tequila available, with five different categories of tequila available in the market. These five types of tequila are referred to as Blanco, Joven, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo, but in this article, we would be focusing exclusively on the two most commonly consumed variations of this spirit, Blanco and Reposado. Read more to find out more about these two types of tequila!
Tequila
To truly understand the different variations of tequila, you should first understand what tequila truly is. Simply put, tequila is a distilled spirit made exclusively in Mexico and produced only in a few states. This spirit is a plant-based drink, they are made with at least 51% blue agave, the rest coming from another neutral spirit. The agave plant takes eight to twelve years to mature, and the heart of the agave is extracted, roasted, crushed, and fermented to make the drink. Unlike fruit-based spirits like wine, these plants must be regrown and harvested from scratch after harvest, making it a truly unique drink. These different variations of this spirit can be further categorized into two classes, mixto, and 100% agave which refers to the different concentrations of agave in the tequila. 100% agave tequila refers to tequilas being made only out of blue agave only. Distilled from the hearts of the plant without any additional sugars, these tequilas are bottled on-site and are usually of the highest quality. Mixto, like its name suggests, consists of a mix of other sugars before the fermentation process itself. While the majority of sugar is still from the agave plant, the rest are mixed with sweeteners resulting in more muted notes of agave. The different tequilas vary based on their aging and classification in those two distinct categories, so here is a brief overview of the two most commonly enjoyed tequilas in the market.
Blanco
Blanco tequila is aged from 0 to 59 days and is often referred to as the purest variation of tequila. Known as silver tequila, it is usually colorless in its appearance and is aged for a short time, usually never seeing the inside of an oak barrel. This drink is more hot than mellow, hitting you with string flavors of agave, herbal notes, citrus, and other spices with its strong flavor profile making it a popular choice for cocktails as it pairs and elevates a wide selection of flavors.
Reposado
Aged for 60 to 364 days, this tequila is often left to mature in oak barrels for this period and sports a darker and richer color, with the wood also bringing color to this distilled tequila. Pulling tannins from the wood to create warm flavors of caramel and honey, it harmonized perfectly with the natural citrus and spice tones as it creates complex notes of vanilla, chocolate, vanilla, chili, and cinnamon. This spirit is often mixed with cocktails or taken over ice.