Categories and Kinds of Tequila

por Karina Sánchez Karina Sánchez | Jan 4, 2022 7:30:19 PM

categories and kinds of tequila

Speaking of tequila, there could be many things that we could write or read about it. We could fill whole pages about this drink and then the historians would come and discuss if tequila was born in the municipality of Amatitán or in the one that bears its name, Tequila.

We would probably then find articles on which tequila house claims to have produced the first tequila in history and then we'd then hear the opinions of process experts and tequila lovers talking about the different processes that there are and their advantages and disadvantages. Truth is, I am neither of the above and yet, a little bit of all of them. And I do know what most consumers would like to know about drinking. And it is that 10 years of experience as a tour guide and then as an ambassador of our tequilas in Casa Sauza, have given me the fortune of meeting lots of people with such different and varied interests in this regard.


If you want to have simple and practical information on choosing which tequila is good for mixing with other drinks and which one is best to drink alone; on knowing what to mix it with or on how to choose the best tequila, as well as to know how to pair it with food, or even just to know how tequila is classified and which one is the one that you might be looking for, join me along these three blogs in which I will address these questions. Do not forget to download my ebook with some tips and cocktails recipes that are 100% easy to prepare, and some tequila details that you can include in your next meeting with friends.

I hope you enjoy it!

kinds of tequilas tequila sauza


Difference between mezcal, pulque and tequila

There is some confusion about the differences between mezcal, pulque and tequila. Putting it in a very simple way to remember, I would say that:

Mezcal can be made with around 140 different agave species and its process is much more traditional, so in its flavor we find mainly earthy and smoky notes. It is common to find a worm in some mezcal bottles, which has nothing to do with the notes of the drink.

Pulque, also known as aguamiel, is a fermented drink that is made from an specific agave variety known as "maguey pulquero" (agave salmiana) or agave Atrovirens. This drink does not go through a distillation process like tequila or mezcal do. From my point of view and my opinion about its taste, it is a kind of very strong flavored lechuguilla drink, not as smoked as mezcal.

Tequila is an alcoholic drink, product of the fermentation and distillation of the carbohydrates contained in the agave tequilana weber blue variety. Unlike the previous ones, this spirit can only be made from this specific species of agave that has a denomination of origin in 5 states of Mexico, so it its exclusively farmed and preserved at explicit places where the soil and climate conditions are the ones needed for its elaboration.

tequilana weber agave blue variety casa sauza


Categories and Kinds of Tequila

In my previous blog, I talk about the classification of tequila, its different kinds and categories, which I will elaborate a little further here.

According to the sugars that they are produced with, there are 2 categories of tequila:

  1. 100% Agave Tequila. Which is made from agave sugars only
  2. Mixed Tequila (Tequila MIXTO), whose correct name is just Tequila. It is made with two or more different kinds of sugars. At least 51% of those sugars must come from the agave plant, though.

Kinds of Tequila

There are 5 different kinds of tequilas according to its aging or maturation process:

 

1. White Tequila

They are usually the ones that are considered the "most pure" tequilas, since their contact with wooden barrels is minimal or even zero. After the distillation process, these tequilas are filtrated and its alcohol levels and notes are slightly adjusted to meet the master's distiller standards.

white tequila casa sauza


2. Young Tequilas

They are a product of mixing either white tequila with rested tequila or white tequila with vintage tequila.

3. Rested Tequila

Their aging or maturation process in pipones (large wooden containers) or in white american oak barrels, goes from at least 2 months and up to 11 months.

rested tequila casa sauza


4. Vintage Tequila

Its aging process takes place in wooden barrels only, being white american oak the most common kind of wood used for these barrels. Their aging process time goes from 12 to 35 months.

wooden barrels casa sauza


Since barrels are smaller than pipones (the liquid is more in contact with the wood than it is with pipones) and the maturation time of this tequila lasts longer than the rested tequilas one, their color turns into amber and may reflect some coppery shades.

vintage tequila casa sauza


5. Ultra Aged Tequila

These tequilas are also aged in wooden barrels but for an even longer period of time. Their maturation process goes from at least 36 months to as long as the master distiller indicates for its better taste. It is common to think that the longer the tequila is aged, the better, but that is not always the case, since what usually happens is that barrels become spicy over time (and so will the tequila).

ultra aged tequila casa sauza


Now that you know the categories and kinds of tequilas there are, I suggest that you read my next blog in which I will tell you about the sensory notes they each have so you can more easily identify the one that you might like best.

Come and visit Casa Sauza so you learn how do we produce the purest tequila in te market!

Which is the best tequila?

 

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