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Tequila is having its second – and we’re not speaking about that on the spot of panic between the salt and the lime. A distilled spirit like cognac or whiskey, tequila is supposed to be savored – not shot. In spite of everything, agave in Latin means noble, and tequila has lengthy been revered as a cultural heritage in Mexico.
Like wine is to France, tequila is to Mexico. The soil the place agave vegetation are grown influences its tasting notes, from grassy and earthy to contemporary minerality and even sweetness. It is no marvel tequila has an appellation of origin, and to convey out aromatics and taste traits, tequila even has its personal RIEDEL glass that’s just like a champagne flute.
Based on award-winning mixologist Juan Coronado, who works for Mijenta, a carbon-neutral artisanal tequila, most Mexicans say {that a} sip of tequila is the closest factor to a kiss.
With an enormous enhance in international demand1 and rising costs from celebrity-endorsed manufacturers, right here’s the right way to rejoice and savor Mexico’s proud cultural custom.
Tequila Is A part of Mexico’s Cultural Heritage
For these on the path of probably the most genuine tequila, go to its supply: the magical city of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico. A fast 45-minute drive from Guadalajara, Tequila is a captivating historic village full with cobbled streets and steeped in legend and folklore.
A UNESCO World Heritage Web site, the city dates again effectively past 1530. Picturesque rows of cloud-like blue-green agave vegetation rise within the distance alongside volcanic fields, making a dreamlike panorama. The birthplace of tequila, you’ll discover a whole lot of award-winning small-batch manufacturers, not all of that are exported.
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Mundo Cuervo affords quite a lot of tequila-centric experiences, from visiting agave fields with a jimador – a conventional farmer tasked with harvesting the cactus – to barrel tasting and an expert guided tasting expertise. Right here, you’ll uncover the 5 classifications of tequila: blanco (silver) and joven (gold) are the youngest varieties which can be minimally aged. Aged varieties, in the meantime, vary from reposado to añejo, aged between a yr and three. Further añejo is beneath barrel a minimal of three years. After the tasting, you’re invited to mix your individual tequila and take it dwelling in a hand-blown glass souvenir bottle.
Keep within the coronary heart of Tequila’s previous city at Lodge Photo voltaic de las Ánimas, subsequent to the church of Santiago Apostol. Its charming structure is typical of Seventeenth- and 18th-century Mexico, and the rooftop views of the Tequila Volcano and agave fields are mesmerizing.
Extra Magical Tequila Experiences
Even if you happen to don’t make it to Tequila, many Mexican accommodations nonetheless provide extraordinary tequila tasting experiences. The Fairmont Mayakoba in Quintana Roo simply launched a Tequila Cruise on a non-public electrical boat for as much as 4 folks. Sail by means of the crystal clear blue-green waters of a freshwater lagoon as a Tequila Grasp takes you thru a blind tequila tasting paired with conventional Mexican delicacies. Whereas weaving by means of the limestone jungle waterways, the Tequila Grasp trades spotlights with the boat captain, highlighting the wildlife of the lagoon.
Vallarta Tequila Tastings within the historic tropical metropolis of Puerto Vallarta affords sommelier-styled artisanal tequila tasting in genuine places within the previous city. Not your common tequila, artisanal varieties together with smoky darkish añejos and unique additional añejos, deep-diving into tequila’s totally different taste profiles. Pairings with handmade goodies are additionally accessible, completely combining two important parts of Mexican terroir.
Tequila Tasting a Bit Nearer to Residence
Even with out journeying exterior of the U.S., you may pay a go to to Jose Cuervo’s touring Pop Up Agave Bar.
It’s no secret that the method of constructing tequila produces roughly 1 million tons of used agave fibers per yr, which might ordinarily go to waste. Jose Cuervo’s Agave Undertaking is on a mission to alter that.
The primary-ever bar produced from upcycled agave debuted in Los Angeles and can be touring main cities nationwide all yr lengthy. Dedicated to creating tequila sustainable, the Agave Undertaking transforms what was an agave byproduct into trendy barware together with glassware, coasters, and biodegradable straws, to not point out hats and different clothes. And that is only the start. The Agave Bar reveals tequila lovers simply how giving and the agave plant actually is.
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Sources
1. https://www.businesswire.com/information/dwelling/20210906005044/en/World-Tequila-Market-2021-2028-Tequilas-Evolution-as-a-Drink—ResearchAndMarkets.com
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