The Four Essential Characteristics of a Perfect Tequila Distillate

A perfect distillate avoids impurities in the product and allows you to create quality tequila. Distillation is one of the essential processes in tequila production, in charge of determining each variety's alcohol content and characteristics.

Below we tell you the four characteristics of a perfect distillate to make high-quality tequilas that we apply at Casa Sauza.

1- Supervision of qualified technicians

A complex process that requires a great deal of experience. It is essential to have qualified professionals responsible for monitoring each stage of the distillate.

Technicians must check the times, pressure, and temperature of the different stages of the distillate at all times since they are variables that can affect the final product.

At Casa Sauza, we have very efficient equipment and automated processes. Still, our professional team is responsible for all the variables to obtain quality products.

2- A 2-step distillation

To be considered tequila, this product must have a double distillation. At Casa Sauza, we call these processes: destruction and rectification.

The destruction is carried out in the distillation columns. Here the water is eliminated, and the alcohol of the must obtained in the fermentation process is concentrated.

In the second step of distillation and rectification, the product is placed in stills to obtain the "heart of tequila," a high-quality product.

3- Make the cuts correctly

During the distillate rectification process, product cuts are made to separate it into three batches: heads, hearts, and tails. The heart is what will ultimately be transformed into tequila, while the heads and tails are discarded.

This batch distillation eliminates the product's defects, and the necessary adjustments are made to obtain the desired alcohol content.

Defining when to make these cuts is crucial to obtain a heart of tequila without impurities. And the stakes are not all the same but vary for each brand or type of tequila.

Making the cuts incorrectly can lead to products known as "Headed tequila" or " Taled tequila," which change the properties and taste of the real tequila and is considered a defective product.

4- Comply with NOM-006

To label our bottles with the word "tequila," we must comply with NOM-006, which specifies the characteristics and conditions that this product must have. This regulation regulates details of the tequila production process, such as the distillate and the permitted alcohol content.

One of the rules we must comply with is having a double distillate, which allows us to obtain a higher-quality product. In addition, the product must go through quality controls and gas chromatography verifications to comply with NOM-006.

At Casa Sauza, in addition to ensuring we comply with regulations at every stage of the process, we also conduct sensory evaluations of our products with panelists and certified tasters to ensure that you always get the best tequila.