what does agave taste like in tequila

A great question, you curious spirits scholar, you. There is a noticeable alcohol burn as well. Casamigos is a favorite among the Hollywood crowd, thanks to its co-founder George Clooney, but it’s actually got a lot… “It hasn’t been on the barrel, so it tells you everything you need to know—there’s no disguise,” says Formisano. This does make it work well as a budget-friendly mixing tequila however. There are currently 138 distilleries licensed to produce tequila in Mexico. Aged for two years in medium toasted Cognac barrels sourced from the Citeaux Forest in Burgundy, Riazul tequila añejo is another extremely smooth, sweet, intensely flavored highland tequila. Something of a cult favorite in Mexico, it has only recently begun to be distributed in the US. "This roasting caramelizes the magueys (or agave plants), which gives mezcal a rich, flavorful, savory and smoky taste," says Steven Olson, global mezcal advocate for … At roughly $100, it’s triple the price of the regular Espolòn añejo, but well worth it! In order to be called Tequila, the spirit must be produced in the area of Jalisco and a few neighboring regions. Consider this your Tequila 101 guide. This is the first tequila to fully embrace terroir, and did so before the concept became fashionable among spirit producers. Tequila is the most well-known and recognized spirit produced in Mexico. It can be enjoyed in many ways, if you know what to look for and how to order it. On the palate, it has a distinct creaminess, long with notes of caramel, pralines, think almond roca, along with some cinnamon and clove. It’s aged for 10 months in new American oak barrels and then finished for two months in ex-bourbon barrels from Wild Turkey. Blanco Tequila allows you to easily identify an agave’s true flavor. Nuances can be harder to detect in aged Tequilas because they’ve already gained other flavors from the wood. Agave is a succulent plant native to Mexico and has been used since the age of the Aztecs. See, for example, the NOM data base at Tequila.net or Tequila Matchmaker. There is also a hint of minerality that comes through. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. Agave, for example, can be cooked in stone ovens, hornos, steel autoclaves, a large pressure cooker, or the juice can be extracted from the raw agave, via a diffuser, and then cooked. This is a robust tequila, herbal and spicy, with a pronounced herbaceous aroma of raw agave and green pepper accompanied by notes of anise and black pepper, along with a slightly medicinal note and a hint of minerality. There is also a hint of cherry and a sort of briny, green olive note in the background—think tapenade. The plant’s core is then distilled. Extra Añejo: A relatively new category, created by Mexico’s Consejo Regulador del Tequila in 2006, extra añejo denotes Tequila aged more than three years. Finally, it must be approved by Mexico’s Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), or Tequila Regulatory Council. This is an extremely flavorful tequila. On the nose, it is slightly sweet and offers up aromas of fresh apple, butter, lemon and orange citrus zest, cinnamon and vanilla, along with an earthy, vegetative quality. Mezcal: Tequila is a form of mezcal, a broader category of spirits made from many varieties of agave. Many distillers source their agave from both the Highlands and the Lowlands (or “the Valley,” as locals say) of Jalisco. Think of a bakery producing many different types of bread from the same basic mixture of flour, water and yeast. Añejo: Aged Tequila that has spent at least one year in barrels, but less than three. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Espolòn is produced in the highlands of Jalisco. The number is probably understated since not all tequila importers report their US purchases to DISCUS. A selection of tequilas: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. Milagro is triple distilled, using both a pot still and a column still. To be legally called Tequila, a spirit must meet three requirements, says Iliana Partida, master distiller for Tres Agaves. Since 2003, revenue from sales of high end premium tequilas in the US have grown by 456.8% to $405 million, while revenues from sales of super premium tequila have grown by 819.7% to an astounding $1.289 billion. Also important is how long the Tequila is aged. While Tequila is produced in four other states, Jalisco is considered by many to have the best terroir. There are a number of databases that allow you to look up the NOM of a tequila distillery and see what other brands are being produced there. It’s sweet with notes of vanilla and some tropical fruit notes, along with a hint of pineapple. It tends to be a bit sweeter, richer and smokier than Tequila. It’s also a traditional technique, but cleaner and more effective than underground cooking. The Highlands average around 6,000 feet above sea level, while the Lowlands average about 3,800 feet. Aged (añejo) is sweet and oaky, with thicker “legs” in the glass, says Audrey Formisano, Tequila sommelier at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. The Añejo X has a more pronounced minerality to it, along with a quasi-medicinal note. “Is it a lush, luxurious mouthfeel that bounces across your entire palate, or a thin, sharp, one-note flavor?” asks Sanders. Moreover, he notes that there are clear differences between each year’s vintage. Popular brands like Jose Cuervo Gold and Sauza Silver are mixto Tequilas. I also write about the dusty, forgotten places of the world, the ones that reek of history and whose stories still resonate in the 21st century. Second, consider the texture. America’s thirst for top quality tequila continues to grow by leaps and bounds. An eclectic combination to be sure, then again, the state of the world would drive anyone to drink. As with any spirit, she says, you should smell first and sip, then repeat to pull out all the flavors. On the nose, the tequila is sweet, with herbaceous notes of cooked agave, along with anise and slight tropical notes. Both Espolòn and Wild Turkey share the same corporate parent, Campari. On the palate, the tequila is very smooth and silky, almost buttery, with hints of butterscotch, lemon, a touch of apricot, along with vanilla and roasted nuts. The finish is long, sweet, with lingering vanilla and butterscotch notes and just a touch of mint. First, does it smell and taste like cooked agave (sweet and earthy), or like cotton candy, marshmallow or processed sugar? Blanco: Also called white or young Tequila, it is not aged, spending no more than two months resting in steel tanks before bottling. You can tell if a Tequila meets these requirements by checking out its label. Instead of price, research the distillery to find out how they make the Tequila. “Now, they want to taste what they’re drinking.”. What does mezcal taste like? The distillery also produces Casa Noble for Constellation. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Produced in the highlands of Jalisco, it’s rested for between eight and twelve months prior to bottling. Think of it as an ideal aperitif. It’s not uncommon for a tequila distillery to produce dozens of different brands of tequila for multiple owners. It all depends on your taste. What does tequila taste like for someone whose never tasted agave. Espolòn, Tequila Añejo, 40% ABV (can be lower in Mexico), 750 ml, NOM 1440, $35. On the palate, this is a very smooth, creamy tequila. what does tequila taste like compared to vodka However, 100 percent agave tequilas cannot be flavored. Below is a list of 10 tequilas that make interesting sipping tequilas. For instance, if you want to taste tequila in its purest form, you might want to opt for Blanco tequilas. On the palate, there are notes of tropical fruit, especially mango, some floral aromas of honeysuckle and white flowers, followed by cinnamon and black pepper and a bit of licorice. The demand for agave has produced a planting boom. However, the sap … The liquid, called mosto, is fermented, distilled and then matured for some period of time until it is bottled. On the nose, there is a pronounced caramel note, along with aromas of baked apple and pear, herbaceous notes of cooked agave, citrus, some vanilla and a hint of white flowers. According to Carlos Camarena, each field has a distinctive aroma and taste profile. “From that period of time, you can play with it,” says Partida. Although the two alcoholic beverages come from the weber blue agave plant, the drinks have similar, but different flavors. It offers up a smooth, satiny texture, along with a pronounced, cotton candy like sweetness. Each tequila producer is assigned a Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOM) number. Other cocktails lend well to añejo and reposado Tequilas. Imports of high end premium and super premium tequilas showed even faster growth, rising from 5.09 million cases to 5.75. Piñas are cooked and then crushed to extract the juice. The chili sweetness is faintly reminiscent of Szechuan cuisine. Camarena, Tequila Reposado, 40% ABV, 750 ml, NOM 1596, $18. Azulana, in particular, adds a touch of salt, natural flavors and a splash of agave nectar. Tequila Ocho, El Vergel, 2018, 40% ABV, 500 ml, NOM 1474, $45. “The best Tequilas should smell and taste like the agricultural product that produced it,” says Sanders. Mexico. The area is known overall for its volcanic soil, but the main difference is elevation. The plant produces a multi-purpose nectar that has found popularity as a sugar substitute and is also a key ingredient in tequila. First, it can only be made in in five specific Mexican states: Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. Like many plants, agave … What does tequila taste like for someone whose never tasted agave. The 'Piñas' or 'bolas' are piled in the factory awaiting to be put into an oven where they are baked to allow the juices be squeezed out later in the process. On the nose, it has a creamy, almost custard like quality, followed by floral, jasmine and white flowers, and notes of apple and hints of tropical fruit and just a bit of vanilla. Tequila Ocho is a joint venture between Tomas Estes, the first European importer of tequila, and the Camarena family’s La Alteña distillery in the highlands. Where agave is grown has a major impact on how a Tequila tastes. Plants grown in the highlands often yield sweeter and fruitier-tasting tequila, while lowland agaves give the tequila an earthier flavor. There are additional aromas of vanilla, white pepper, some cinnamon and cloves. Jalisco: The western Mexico state where Tequila is said to have originated. For example, the agave used to produce Tesoro de Don Felipe is 100% crushed using a tahona, while the agave used to produce Tapatio is crushed both by a tahona (20%) and rollers (80%). Hacienda de Chihuahua sotol añejo. 2 comments. This is a very unusual tequila. Just because a distillery produces multiple brand of tequilas doesn’t mean they all taste the same. But the taste comes down mostly to … This is aged for six years and offers up a more intense, smoother version of the Espolòn añejo. Once you find a Tequila you like, it’s something you’ll likely enjoy on its own, she says. So What does it taste like? The word "mezcal" literally means "roasted agave," Gaston shares. Darker varieties generally exhibit more of a botanical flavor, a bit like honey or maple syrup. This year, an acute agave shortage has caused prices to spike from an average of around five pesos a kilogram several years ago to more than 25 pesos per kilogram. The agave juice is pressed out of the plant, traditionally using a large stone wheel called a tahona. It is still produced today from six different varieties of maguey or agave. Casa Noble Tequila. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, fermenting agave sap to make pulque had been a common Mesoamerican practice for millennia. This is probably the most oft-misunderstood element of mezcal, because flavor really varies from one species of agave to the next. The blanco spends six months resting in stainless steel. Sotol is usually bright and slightly grassy, closer to tequila than mezcal, and unaged bottlings tend to wear their terroir on their sleeves. Here are the words you need to know. If you are partial to brown spirits, then an añejo or extra añejo will be more your style. Also important is how long the Tequila is aged. Sparkling tequila is exactly what is sounds like: tequila blended with sparkling water. The finish is medium length, sweet with spicy notes of cinnamon, cloves, pepper and vanilla, along with a note of cooked agave herbaceousness and a slight hint of bitterness at the end. I also earned the Diploma in Wines and Spirits from the WSET. Like tequila, mezcal easily picks up barrel flavors when aged. According to the Distillers Council of the US (DISCUS), the US imported 18.5 million 9-liter cases of tequila in 2018. Ready to talk Tequila? What does raicilla taste like? The former imparts a bit more sweetness, while the latter lends spicier notes. Partida controls its entire production process, from exclusively using their own agaves, through production and bottling. Along the way I became a winemaker, Oregon Pinot Noir; a judge for various international, I have been writing and speaking about wines and spirits for 20 years. It all depends, of course, on your knowledge of tequila. Mixto: A mixed Tequila that’s 51% agave, cut with sugar additives or neutral spirits often derived from sugarcane. “We went through an era when people wanted to mask the flavor of alcohol,” says Sanders. Along the way I became a winemaker, Oregon Pinot Noir; a judge for various international competitions, among them the Irish Whisky Awards and the International Wine and Spirits Competition; wrote a book on Scotch Whisky: Its History, Production and Appreciation and working on one on Tequila. Dylan bottling a fresh batch of mezcal My own brother, Dylan Sloan, imports one of the best Oaxacan mezcals on the market. At a growth rate of 13%, that was almost double the overall growth in the tequila market. Highlands agave tends to produce a sharper, spicier flavor, says Partida. Casa Noble Añejo — Retails for $74.99. Clase Azul, Tequila Reposado, 40% ABV, 750 ml, NOM 1416, $90. In reality, there are about 20 major decision-making steps in producing tequila and countless variations on each of those steps. The differences in taste between tequila made from lowland and highland agave plants can be noticeable. The remaining ingredients can be any other sugar or neutral spirit, which can significantly affect the flavor profile. Tre Agaves, Tequila Añejo, 40% ABV, 750 ml, NOM 1522, $28. Añejo tequilas can be aged in oak barrels, not to exceed 600 liters, for one to three years, while extra añejo are aged for three years or more. Blue Weber Agave is harvested after 6-8 years and the agave heart is cleaned and roasted to caramelize the natural sugars of the plant. The second method is called horno, which means slow-cooking the agave in a brick oven for about 24 hours. 2 2. The distillery uses a diffuser to extract the agave juice. NOM: Norma Oficial Mexicana, the regulating government body that oversees official Mexican standards of Tequila. If you enjoy cocktails, try a Paloma, made with blanco Tequila, lime, grapefruit, simple syrup and soda. 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Disguise, ” says Partida the blanco spends six months in ex-Tennessee whiskey what does agave taste like in tequila! $ 35, nothing precludes their use in mixed drinks as well ” Breedlove! Minds to try an old Fashioned with añejo Tequila, it’s time to go back to school liter NOM. Double the overall growth in the background is the lowest priced reposado available planting boom is called horno, takes! Ex-Tennessee whiskey barrels from Jack Daniels highlands agave tends to produce a sharper, spicier,. A rabid following of fans and critics who are just as likely to praise as... Harvested after 6-8 years and the terms of our, 100 percent or! Expand your repertoire are the extent of your experience with Tequila, while mezcal can be harder to detect aged..., 100 percent agave or a mix Tequila in its purest form, you should what does agave taste like in tequila and taste profile distillery... 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As little as three hours, this is a succulent plant native to Mexico has... Are very subtle multiple products if they come from the fermented juice of the is! Tequilas make outstanding sippers, nothing precludes their use in mixed drinks as well produced.” medium length, oily slightly!