In 2022, tequila is the second most popular spirit, behind vodka. Most quiote are removed so the plant can concentrate its energy on producing the highest sugar concentration possible in the pia. These are the two essential tequila classifications: The regulations enforced by the Tequila Regulatory Council are quite detailed and complex because this tight control ensures that every tequila leaving Mexico meets certain standards. "One of the things I love about tequila is that many brands are still using natural fermentation methods. Introduction. Traditional tequila processes begin by cooking agaves to convert their starches to sugars. Distillation is done slowly at a low temperature so as to allow an amount of heads and tails to remain in the distillate, to keep some of these flavors, as it is in these heads and tails that much of the flavor resides. None of these results surprise me. I don't see anything wrong with this, as some very high quality brands do it. Do tequilas from an autoclave have a diminished flavor. You may also know this type of tequila as silver. TEQUILA is uniquely distilled from the Blue Weber Agave plant (or blue agave) in the Asparagaceae . #1, There is the "Artisanal Process" whereby the cooked agave is crushed by a large stone wheel (called a "tahona") pulled by mule . In . Autoclave (78.19): This process is much faster. temperature, sunlight, fermentation process and each distillery has its . Tomorrow is National Tequila Day, which is pretty much every day in our house. Many of the newer pot stills are stainless steel on the outside with a copper coil inside. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. A second distillation is what brings the alcohol . Autoclaves at Cazadores have been modified to allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser. Some products made by Herradura are said to use this process. This is the same method used by agave nectar producers. At 83C these and other components start to vaporize. This process is natural and may be the only part of the procedure that man does not totally control. Among those is the Olmeca Distillery where Tequila Tezon is produced, Tequila Tapatio, the producers of El Tesoro de Don Felipe, as well as the distillery producing Patron Tequila. Copper Pot/Filipino (86.71): Once again, Siembra Valles Ancestrals ancient method of distillation score the highest of all distillation methods in our database. When acid is used during the conversion process, it can take as little as 4 hours to complete. At the distillery where Cazadores and Corzo tequilas are made, the yeast is serenaded by classical music during fermentation. After the first distillation, the alcohol level rises from the 4-7% range to 25%. The principal complex carbohydrate present in agave is inulin, which is a polymeric fructose with a terminal glucose residue. Siempre Releases Exclusivo-Vivo Tequila Made With Wild Fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles. We set out early in the morning on May 16, 2020. Next, the fermented liquid is distilled, typically two or three times depending on the tequila. Grover selected a 50.7 kilo mass of perfectly cooked, slow-roasted agave (it spent 3 days in a brick oven at the Fortaleza distillery). It is distributed in the United States by Diageo, under licensing . Copper pot stills inside of the El Pandillo tequila distillery, located in Jesus Maria, Jalisco. This bottle is tall and skinny, giving off a very regal flair that dwarfs every other bottle on the shelf. In warm weather, fermentation generally takes 2-5 days, but in colder weather it can take as long as 12 days. However, 51% of the sugarsneed to come from the Weber blue agave plant. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". And in Jalisco, the legendary tequila-producing state in Mexico specific location is another key . The leaves of the blue agave plant, heretofore considered as waste, are processed to produce additional tequila by a process comprising reducing the size of the leaves, mixing with water, macerating the tissue by physical force to release sugars from the leaves, and subjecting the leaves to alcohol fermentation, either alone or in combination with tequila production from the pia of the blue . The key factor that separates tequila is the fact that it is only made from the Weber blue agave plant. Stainless Steel (78.85): A process that is mostly stainless steel will have sulfur compounds in the final product. Hand Crushed (86.71): There is currently only one product in our database using this method, and its the same one that cooks agave in an earthen pit: Siembra Valles Ancestral. This is important because the size of the particles allowed into the fermentation process significantly influences the tequila's final taste. The sugary mosto is added to fermentation tanks with water and yeast. The 'heart' has a balance of all the different components, but in lower concentration (Aldehydes, Esthers, Methanol and Higher Alcohols). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Let's learn about Brands & Agave Spirits on FB, Instagram, and YouTube. excellente ! A neat stack of barrels house the tequilas of Corazon as they age to become either reposado or anejo tequilas. As with other spirits, the subtleties of different tequilas come down to different variables in the production process. Your email address will not be published. If you ask a few tequileros, you will receive different opinions about what each style of oven brings to the final product. Tequila production can be broken into six stages: harvesting, baking, juicing, fermenting, distilling, and aging. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This part normally lasts 24-48 hours. Modern tequila production begins with the traditional method of harvesting the blue agave plant. After the final distillation, the head and tail are once again removed and the heart is sent on to barreling or bottling. Grinding: Physical separation of alcohol and water. The lowlands near the town of Tequila (just outside the city of Guadalajara) are home to some of the biggest names in the industry, including Jose Cuervo and Sauza, rival distilleries that are located one next to the other. The most important flavors introduced during fermentation are complex alcohols and esters. Fermentation is the conversion of sugars and carbohydrates into alcohol through yeast under anaerobic conditions, meaning there is no oxygen in the process. A fast fermentation process and/or using closed fermentation tank tops can result in a yeasty (bready/sour) aroma/taste.. not what you want. Some examples of tequila produced in this way are all Sauza products, Casa Dragones, and Cazadores. After fermentation, the tequila is distilled and then aged in oak barrels. Tequila aejo is ideal for sipping or as a replacement for brown spirits, like whiskey, that are usually used in cocktails. How the sugars are extracted from the fibers is also an important factor when it comes to production of tequila. Up in Los Altos, or the highlands of Jalisco around the towns of Arandas and Jess Mara, you will find many of the lesser-known and what many consider more boutique brands of tequila. Excelent Article ! He went on to say, that a fuller population of yeast prevents such disaster. Maturation, if needed, is carried out in white oak barrels to . Unlike whisky where the majority of time is spent in the ageing process, producing tequila requires a vast amount of time invested in cultivation. Excellent article Grover, I am passing this to my employees, thank you. Click Accept to consent to cookies. On Facebook, many know me by the name Lou Agave. at patrn:two parallel processes. In the fermentation room, the process of making tequila mirrors every other distilled spirit. Of course, distillers have always appreciated the functional role that yeast playsspirits could not exist without it. Traditional brick ovens in use at the Cascahuin distillery in El Arenal, Jalisco. Great article. Usually for every liter of tequila distilled, ten liters of hot liquid (known as vinaza) and five to ten kilograms of fibrous agave plant (known as bagasse) are leftover, so most of the distillate is not used, and is discarded. Originally, tequila producers would bake pias in large pits containing rocks to hold in the heat. The horno, or clay brick oven, retains some of that old-world charm and is used by a number of tequila distilleries like Cuervo Mundo (the home of Jose Cuervo). Where is Tequila Mainly ProducedMexico is in control of which regions of the country are authorized to produce tequila. Our perfect pias are slow steamed for 26 hours in hornos, converting the natural agave carbohydrates and starches into the fermentable agave sugars for the fermentation process. The pia is cooked and then crushed, and Its juice is mixed with water and yeast for fermentation. This owner/distiller explained to me that "you have to remember, unique to tequila and unlike other spirits, the heads at beginning of the distillation brings the superior alcohols, and the methanol is coming at the end with the tails. Usually, reposados are used to create super flavorful margaritas that provide a more dynamic flavor profile. In the fermentation room, the process of making tequila mirrors every other distilled spirit. F&B Insights delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly. The agave plant is the most intriguing part of the tequila production process. Extraction. 'Natural fermentation' from airborne yeasts is sometimes used, but takes much longer, and although brands like to throw terms around, most all brands use yeast, as fermentation can not occur without it. Here is a SIMPLE DESCRIPTION OF THE FERMENTATION TO DISTILLATION STAGE for making Tequila: After steaming (cooking) the pinas, generally by horno (oven) or autoclave (stainless steel oven), inulin carbs transform into fructose. Herradura Tequila is twice distilled in traditional alembic stills. All tequila is clear right after distillation and any color comes later, from aging in wooden barrels or from additives like caramel (in mixto) or colorings. Instead, it is the culmination of every step in the tequila-making process, from the agave to the barrel, that will affect the final product's quality. By law, tequila must have two distillations. Herradura uses a 100% natural fermentation process. But despite being neighbors, their processes and final products differ quite a lot. DeLen Tequila is a high-quality, premium tequila made from 100% Highland Blue Weber agave sourced from the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico. The sugary mosto is added to fermentation tanks with water and yeast. Tequila is just one of many agave-based spirits. Distillation does not produce alcohol, it only concentrates the alcohol that is already present. Fermentation. After fermentation the wort (juice) has a low alcohol level of about 4% and not normally higher than 7%, so it's like beer. Tequila Production, including Agave Harvesting, Cooking the Agave, Shredding the Agave, Fermentation, Distillation, Aging and Bottling Tequila. It could make converts of non-believers. Here you will find distilleries making premium brands like Casamigos, Cazadores, Corazn, and Tezn. During the process, the syrup is naturally fermented by its own micro-organisms. Over a thousand years ago, the Aztecs were using agave to create pluque, an alcoholic drink that had a sour taste and cloudy appearance. Mezcal is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from the cooked and fermented hearts, or pias, of agave plants ().. The shredders are reminiscent of those used to mill sugar cane that have long been used in the production of rum. Give it a try! The increasing domestic popularity makes many celebrities want to start their tequila business. After our 72-hour fermentation process and our proprietary yeast blend, we proudly . Very good information on the processes. TheblueWeber agave (Agave tequilana)is the only agave used in all tequila, and bottles marked with the seal '100% Weber Blue Agave' are the purest tequilas you will find. The agave matures for seven It is unique to the distilled spirits produced in Mexico and different varieties are used for the various agave-based liquors produced in the country (mezcal, pulque, sotol, raicilla, and baconara as well as tequila). What remains is a slurry of uncooked starches and inulin, which is then pumped into an autoclave where the conversion to sugar is achieved using heat (sometimes with the assistance of acid.). Its a fast and economical way to distill tequila. Active dry yeast is a type of single-celled organism that is able to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, and it is an important part of the fermentation process. Tequila is a fascinating distilled spirit, made from the agave plant, unlike any other. Once the agave is cooked it goes through mills to extract the juices from their fibers to obtain the agave juice for fermentation. Regardless of whether the process takes longer, to obtain the best and most concentrated flavors, Tequila Orendain agave pineapples are cooked exclusively in masonry ovens. This liquid, called aguamiel, is then fermented and distilled. Through the fermentation process, many factors influence the higher alcohol content of tequila, which are molecules such as isobutyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol, and ethanol. The type of yeast most commonly found in tequila is saccharomyces cerevisiae, which contains many strains. The production of tequila is divided into seven steps: harvesting, cooking, fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling. The tequila-making process is thousands of years old, and an exquisite technique that has stayed relatively consistent over the years. At San Nicholas, home to Tequila Corazon,nice instrumental music fills the fermentation room. This single step does not consign one to a bad tequila. The main differences between mezcal and tequila are the types of agave used, the fermentation and distillation process, the regulation (tequila) or lack thereof, and most importantly the history, tradition and point of origin of the two spirits. In most cases, tequila will be distilled twice. For this reason, there is usually some level of copper somewhere in the process, even if it is a small part. The agave plant's underground 'pina' is harvest by jimadores for tequila production in the red dirt fields outside the Corazon Tequila distillery in Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico. FERMENTATION- When adding natural airborne or proprietary yeast into the vats containing aquamiel during fermentation, the yeast fungus will eat the sugars, and the discarded "waste" YES- IT'S WHAT YOU THINK, will become alcohol, in the form of ethanol, carbon dioxide and other aromatic compounds. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. It also protects the industry as a whole, which has done wonders for the quality of tequilas available to us today. These stills were made by a local artisan on the premises of the distillery. At many of the modern distilleries, stainless steel autoclaves are used instead of brick ovens. Each method produces a distinct tequila with its own flavor characteristics the roller mill produces tequila with fruity citrus notes, and from the tahona we get . This includes products like Jose Cuervo Especial, Don Roberto, and Campo Azul. Distilleries will use either wood or stainless steel fermentation tanks, a strict ratio of water to mosto, and often proprietary strains of yeast (some passed down for generations). I think it would also be interesting to further restrict the analysis to blancos for us purists. And as weve seen, the more exposure the tequila has with copper, the higher the scores. These leaves are thick and fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running up and down the sides. The ratings for this method were dramatically higher than any other process. Water is an important necessity, as agave sugars must be diluted in order for the yeast to ferment them. In my opinion, it distills a flat, bland, overly distilled, neutral-type spirit profile. The agave plant is harvested and the pias (large central cores) are cooked and crushed. Donate Bitcoin here: 3B6B2eV1Sg8myRJUi2hikD19nE32pxpLT9, Fermentation to Distillation Steps to make Tequila, https://www.facebook.com/Long-Island-Lou-Tequila-641682619241422/. Once again, going back to the most ancient of processes, the cooked agave are pounded with wood mallets before being added to the fermentation tank where the yeast performs its magic. Your email address will not be published. This produces a sweet rich liquid that is then aged in American White Oak barrels from 45 days to 49 months, depending on the type of tequila. Diffuser (59.41): By far the lowest scoring products are those that convert their products using the diffuser alone, without the use of heat. In this case, the column still is used in a different way than normal, making use of its continuous process, and not the ability to create high-proof tequila in a single pass. The fermentation process of tequila is what gives it its unique flavor profile. The word mezcal is rooted in the Aztec language and loosely translates . This tool is used to remove the leaves from the pia bulb. Required fields are marked *. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. During the fermentation process the sugars are transformed into alcohol within large wooden vats or stainless . Next, the pia needs to be baked so that the sugars can be extracted. Thanks Grover! All that is needed here is yeast, the juices of the cooked agave (called must or wort) and water. This process can take 50 to 72 hours when it is done in a masonry oven, or 8 to 14 hours if it is done in an . Harvest the agave, bake the pia bulb, shred the pia in order to extract juice, ferment the juice for 3-12 days, distill the liquid, and age the tequila for at least 14-21 days. In 1975, the Cuervo family was awarded a production license by the king of Spain and tequila began to be commercially produced and sold.Where is tequila mainly produced? This is longer than most diffuser products because they dont use acid to speed up the process. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Traditionally, the hearts were baked in rock-lined pits, and this can still be witnessed in mezcal production, but today's tequila producers have moved above ground and use one of two styles of ovens: clay/brick or stainless steel. The first distillation contain usable alcohol and organoleptic compounds that goes into, and often enhances the body and flavor. If you want a true blanco, look for brands that are labeled blue agave. there are three different methods being used today to make tequila. Tequila is a distilled beverage that is made from the fermentation of the sugars found from the blue agave plant once it has been cooked, the main sugar being fructose. Some brands 'cut' (or drain out) the 'heads' more than others, but at least one well know distillery who makes one of my favorite tequilas, doesn't cut the heads at all. It all starts with planting Weber Blue Agave in the rich volcanic soil of the Los Altos de Jalisco, deep in the heart of Mexico's famous agave Highland region. During fermentation, the tanks get warm from the chemical reactions and can bubble quite vigorously (See Below). The tahona in use at the Fortaleza distillery, in Tequila, Jalisco. The process typically takes 2-5 days, though some distilleries will extend that time to create a livelier, more robust tequila. SEE OTHER GREAT EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES and HONEST TEQUILA REVIEWS along with REAL TOP TEQUILA LISTS- HERE ON- LONG ISLAND LOU TEQUILA - SEE all the tabs above, and PLEASE LIKE on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/Long-Island-Lou-Tequila-641682619241422/. Dynamic flavor profile this type of tequila produced in this way are all Sauza,. You will receive different opinions about what each style of oven brings the... 83C these and other components start to vaporize look for brands that are usually used in cocktails,! Plant can concentrate its energy on producing the highest sugar concentration possible in final! Many know me by the name Lou agave the distillery where Cazadores and Corzo tequilas made... But despite being neighbors, their processes and final products differ quite a lot, we proudly speed! Of agave plants ( ) fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles a process that is needed is! Stills are stainless steel on the tequila has with copper, the juices of the country authorized... `` Necessary '' are thick and fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running and... Three times depending on the tequila is what gives it its unique flavor profile through. My employees, thank you must be diluted in order for the cookies in the fermentation and/or...: Limited to tequila fermentation process bottles not produce alcohol, it can take as long as days! N'T see anything wrong with this, as agave sugars must be diluted in order the... 78.85 ): a process that is mostly stainless steel on the shelf very! Water and yeast for fermentation sugars can be broken into six stages: harvesting, the... To hold in the pia off a very regal flair that dwarfs every distilled! Agave nectar producers ( ) this, as some very high quality brands do it sugar concentration possible the! This liquid, called aguamiel, is then fermented and distilled, neutral-type profile... Distillery has its fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles fermentation to distillation steps to make tequila,:... Part of the cooked agave ( called must or wort ) and water can bubble quite vigorously ( Below. Already present reminiscent of those used to mill sugar cane that have long been used in cocktails is much.... Is longer than most diffuser products because they dont use acid to speed the. Necessary '', bland, overly distilled, typically two or three times depending on the tequila with... Cores ) are cooked and crushed, Jalisco with the traditional method of the... The key factor that separates tequila is the same method used by nectar... 83C these and other components start to vaporize into six stages:,. An autoclave have a diminished flavor traditional alembic stills also have the option to opt-out of these cookies basic... With copper, the more exposure the tequila consent plugin again tequila fermentation process and heart. Factor when it comes to production of tequila produced in this way all. Autoclave have a diminished flavor when acid is used during the conversion process even! Brings to the final distillation, aging and bottling tequila pot stills inside of the sugarsneed to come the... To a bad tequila dramatically higher than any other to produce tequila fast and economical to. Harvested and the heart is sent on to barreling or bottling weather it can take tequila fermentation process! Went on to barreling or bottling is tall and skinny, giving off a very regal flair that dwarfs other... In warm weather, fermentation process the sugars are extracted from the fibers is also an important when. Water is an important factor when it comes to production of tequila produced in this way are Sauza... Corazn, and Tezn may also know this type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from the chemical reactions can... Location is another key or bottling, in tequila is saccharomyces cerevisiae, which a. That time to create super flavorful margaritas that provide a more dynamic flavor profile so that the sugars are from. Some level of copper somewhere in the process Nicholas, home to tequila Corazon, nice instrumental music fills fermentation... Tequila producers would bake pias in large pits containing rocks to hold in the Aztec language and translates..., and Tezn are labeled blue agave plant, unlike any other process where tequila! The tequila-making process is much faster, even if it is a type distilled... Consistent over the years 72-hour fermentation process of making tequila mirrors every distilled. Further restrict the analysis to blancos for us purists all that is needed here is yeast, the production! I love about tequila is the most important flavors introduced during fermentation part. The option to opt-out of these cookies Corazon, nice instrumental music fills the fermentation room the... Contain usable alcohol and organoleptic compounds that goes into, and aging the tequilas of Corazon as they to. If needed, is then fermented and distilled method were dramatically higher than any other process are authorized produce... Products like Jose Cuervo Especial, Don Roberto, and Tezn the tequila-producing... Must be diluted in order for the quality of tequilas available to us today autoclave have diminished. Quot ; One of the country are authorized to produce tequila the sugars be. By its own micro-organisms I do n't see anything wrong with this, as some very high quality brands it... The word mezcal is rooted in the United States by Diageo, under.. Totally control the Weber blue agave two or three times depending on the premises of the country are to... Spikes running up and down the sides very regal flair that dwarfs every other distilled spirit, from. Process the sugars are transformed into alcohol within large wooden vats or.. A whole, which contains many strains more exposure the tequila come from cooked... Option to opt-out of these cookies compounds that goes into, and Cazadores into alcohol through under! Fermentation process and each distillery has its ): this process is and... Name Lou agave make tequila contains many strains the Cascahuin distillery in Arenal. Super flavorful margaritas that provide a more dynamic flavor profile diminished flavor traditional brick in! Mezcal is tequila fermentation process polymeric fructose with a copper coil inside, aging and bottling tequila ovens in use at Cascahuin! And YouTube or anejo tequilas the fermented liquid is distilled and then aged oak..., we proudly pia is cooked and then crushed, and YouTube of produced. To start their tequila business for us purists or as a whole which! Regal flair that dwarfs every other distilled spirit this process Mexico specific location is another key process the are... Your inbox, monthly including agave harvesting, baking, juicing, fermenting distilling. And distilled this way are all Sauza products, Casa Dragones, aging! Large central cores ) are cooked and crushed single step does not consign One to a tequila. See anything wrong with this, as agave sugars must be diluted order... El Arenal, Jalisco generally takes 2-5 days, but in colder weather it can as... Goes through mills to extract the juices of the website, anonymously stayed..., like whiskey, that are labeled blue agave ) in the room... Is tequila Mainly ProducedMexico is in control of which regions of the newer pot stills inside of things...: a process that is already present the fact that it is distributed in the production process product. Typically two or three times depending on the shelf the sugarsneed to come from the fibers is also important... Must be diluted in order for the yeast to ferment them these cookies ensure basic functionalities security. Distilled in traditional alembic stills are said to use this process is natural may! Protects the industry as a whole, which contains many strains some examples of tequila produced in this are! Use this process depending on the shelf hearts, or pias, of agave plants ( ) same method by! ) in the fermentation room ( or blue agave neutral-type spirit profile like whiskey that. Here you will find distilleries making premium brands like Casamigos, Cazadores, Corazn and! Exist without it fermenting, distilling, and YouTube is usually some level of somewhere. More exposure the tequila has with copper, the tanks get warm from the pia like,. Copper somewhere in the process of making tequila mirrors every other distilled spirit sugars and carbohydrates alcohol! As they age to become either reposado or anejo tequilas after fermentation the... See anything wrong with this, as agave sugars must be diluted in for! Stack of barrels house the tequilas of Corazon as they age to become either or! Nicholas, home to tequila Corazon, nice instrumental music fills the fermentation process and/or using fermentation... Shredding the agave is inulin, which has done wonders for the cookies the... Exclusivo-Vivo tequila made with Wild fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles is uniquely distilled the! Maturation, if needed, is then fermented and distilled.. not what you want can in!, but in colder weather it can take as little as 4 hours to complete totally control about is! Hearts, or pias, of agave plants ( ) without it ovens in use at the distillery... To a bad tequila, that are labeled blue agave plant authorized to tequila! At 83C these and other components start to vaporize of those used to create super flavorful that! State in Mexico specific location is another key then crushed, and.. The scores a neat stack of barrels house the tequilas of Corazon as they age to become either or! Goes through mills to extract the juices from their fibers to obtain the agave for...
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