The tanks are wide open and exposed to the outdoors - and that adds to the fermentation process, letting the tequila breathe," Kissick said. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This stage is also when many of the core flavor compounds in a tequila are born. Brands who use diffusers typically dont like to talk about it. The agave harvest is hard work and the jimadores who work the field and pry each plant from the ground make quick work of the job. A longer fermentation normally creates a fuller more robust bodied tequila. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Read our. The fermented mosto (or wash)is 4-10% alcohol and the goal is to distill it to a concentration of around 55%. The agave matures for seven Bellagave then uses a slow fermentation process (48-60 hours) and is double distilled in pot stills. 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. Tequila production can be broken into six stages: harvesting, baking, juicing, fermenting, distilling, and aging. The limits are +-.5% abv except for the limits of 35% abv Minimum and 55% Max. Overproof is the only AI-driven business intelligence and strategic planning platform for the beverage alcohol industry. Esters - such as ethyl hexanoate; Alcohols - like such as 2-phenyl ethanol and isoamyl alcohol But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In order for tequila to be tequila, it has to be produced in one of the five areas in Mexico from which it's allowed: Michoacan, Tamaulipas, Guanajuanto, Nayarit, and Jalisco, the most famous and where most tequila comes from. The tequila is then infused with natural flavors and reduced to 70 proof for an easy drinking . This fermented juice is then distilled into the final product (in pot or column stills, depending on the producer), bottled and sold. Its production consists of harvesting the agave, pilling the agave leaves, cooking the agaves heads, milling and extracting the agave juice, and the subsequent fermentation, distillation and tequila aging processes [10, 11].One specific characteristic of the tequila 100% agave production is that Agave tequilana Weber blue . 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. Tequila is made from the core of the Weber blue agave plant. But, in honor of this annual event, we thought it would be fun to dig into the Tequila Matchmaker database and pull out some statistics that will make you firmly establish your tequila geek credentials at any gathering. This unrushed process and attention to detail results in a superior quality tequila. Yeasts thrive in warmer temperatures and so fermentation is carried out more quickly in the summertime. There is also a potential but under-utilized market for paper and textiles using these agave fibres. 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. 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? Climate, rainfall, harvesting methods, fermentation styles, and overall production all play a major role in the spirit's flavor profile. A well known master distiller I spoke with said, "you'll have the risk that the first sugar you converted into alcohol, will start changing to a vinegar in the natural process before you finish to convert the last sugar." A longer fermentation normally creates a fuller more robust bodied tequila. Step 2. Diffuser (67.1): A fully-diffuser product tends to score lower across the board, and we suspect that this is more about the speed of hydrolysis (as explained above) than the actual form of extraction. 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). About 15% of water is added in but not much more, or the yeasts won't do their thing. must fermentation and usually rely on spontaneous or pure Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain inoculation. It is one of the signatures in making Tequila Tezon. Olmeca Tequila, for example, uses both types of cooking processes, and it gets lower scores among our users because its a mixto (not 100% agave) tequila. This part normally lasts 24-48 hours. We then calculated the average rating score for each of these processes. Once the agave heartsare harvested and transported back to their distillery, they begin the transformation into tequila. The result has about 55% alcohol and is then considered 'Tequila'. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they used their knowledge of the distillation process to purify the original drink and turn it into what we now know as tequila. Above ground, long spikes grow in rosettes. Heres the Proof. In this process, blasts of high-pressure water are used to remove the fibers from raw agave. fermentation time, and, most importantly, the period of aging desired. Average fermentation requires 48- 60 hours. 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. F&B Insights delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly. Over a thousand years ago, the Aztecs were using agave to create pluque, an alcoholic drink that had a sour taste and cloudy appearance. The second and usually the last distillation takes 3-4 hours. An agave plant can grow to a height of 5-7 feet and have a similar span. When the 'head' comes out of the condenser it's generally partly discarded (drained off) because it contains Acetaldehyde (Aldehyde), Ethyl Acetate (Esther), Propanol (Higher Alcohol) and Isobutilic and Isoamilic Alcohols (Higher Alcohols). So, when choosing tequilas to celebrate National Tequila Day (or any tequila day, really) you may want to keep these factors in mind. How the sugars are extracted from the fibers is also an important factor when it comes to production of tequila. Creating great tasting cocktails at home is easy once you have some recipes. For years weve been saying process matters, and that each choice made during the production process will find its way into the finished product. The increasing domestic popularity makes many celebrities want to start their tequila business. Standards must be upheld and met for any tequila brand that wants to be sold under this title. . It is a great debate; some people will compare the modern autoclave to a microwave and the brick oven to using a traditional oven in your kitchen. You may also know this type of tequila as silver. The Debate About Tequila's Safety. Who Owns DeLeon . Because the tahona wheel is a very laborious and time-consuming process,only a few tequila distilleries continue to employ it. Experts expect the tequila market to expand to over $15 billion by 2029. It also protects the industry as a whole, which has done wonders for the quality of tequilas available to us today. Very good information on the processes. Autoclaves at Cazadores have been modified to allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser. We use cookies to give you the best experience. Formulation: Process of preparing aguamiel 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. Giving the "Vivo" to the tequila is the "mosto vivo" fermentation process compared to . 3 Amigos Tequila fermentation process begins with small amounts of yeast that is added to the extracted sugars that are fused in large stainless steel tanks to start and control the fermentation process. It's the process of purifying a liquid, as you start with the fermented tequila and heat the liquid. In this work, the behaviour of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (isolated from the juices of the Agave tequilana Weber blue variety) during the agave juice fermentation is compared at different sugar concentrations to determine if it is feasible for the industry to run . Click Accept to consent to cookies. During the fermentation process the sugars are transformed into alcohol within large wooden vats or stainless . We are founders of the Tequila Matchmaker app and website. Usually the liquid is filtered into small tanks to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers, before starting distillation. Siempre Releases Exclusivo-Vivo Tequila Made With Wild Fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles. Sourcing the Agave. In this guide, we will take a closer look at the history of tequila, the different varieties, and what exactly goes into the tequila production process. The liquid in the cucurbit is heated or boiled, and the vapour rises into the anbik, where it cools by contact with the walls and condenses, running down the spout into the receiver. To truly experience the complexities of this sophisticated type of tequila, sip it neat or over ice. . It's enjoyed throughout the world, with a unique taste, tight production regulations, and a fragrant flair that give tequila a special appeal. TEQUILA is uniquely distilled from the Blue Weber Agave plant (or blue agave) in the Asparagaceae . Grinding: Physical separation of alcohol and water. Traditional brick ovens in use at the Cascahuin distillery in El Arenal, Jalisco. 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. Each pia can weigh anywhere from 50-150 pounds and is loaded into the oven when fresh. 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. Roller Mill (79.68): This is a highly efficient continuous process used by a majority of tequilas made today. The principal complex carbohydrate present in agave is inulin, which is a polymeric fructose with a terminal glucose residue. 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. Extra-aejo tequila: Tequila aged at least three years in oak barrels of no more than 600 liters. Some examples of tequila produced in this way are all Sauza products, Casa Dragones, and Cazadores.. Diffuser (59.41): By far the lowest scoring products are those that convert their products using the diffuser alone, without the use of heat. After fermentation the wort (juice) has a low alcohol level of about 4% and not normally higher than 7%, so it's like beer. Made from 100% blue agave, Tequila Cazadores undergoes a seven-step sustainable, zero-waste production process that includes double distillation, double fermentation and careful maturation. One larger spike reaches out from the tips of each leaf and this one is definitely not blunt. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". During fermentation, the alcohol content of the tequila increases and the flavor and aroma of the tequila develop. This liquid, called aguamiel, is then fermented and distilled. Any agave-based spirit can be produced outside of these designated areas, but it cannot be calledtequila. However, 51% of the sugarsneed to come from the Weber blue agave plant. Let's learn about Brands & Agave Spirits on FB, Instagram, and YouTube. For a distillate to be termed a tequila at least 51% of the fermentable sugars in the mosto must originate from agave. Horno is the traditional, old world 'time tested' cooking method. The 'heart' has a balance of all the different components, but in lower concentration (Aldehydes, Esthers, Methanol and Higher Alcohols). It does not store any personal data. Will you write one that speaks to the fermentation process? Their hydrolysis takes 11 hours to complete. Those of us who care about tequila dont drink mixtos, so IMHO the results would be much more useful and informative if the analysis included only tequilas that are 100% de agave. These leaves are thick and fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running up and down the sides. The shallow pit, and wooden mallets, used in the creation of Siembra Valles Ancestral Tequila. If left untouched, the plant will grow a tall spire called aquiotefrom the center which can reach heights of 15 feet or more and produce flowers. The agave plant is harvested and the pias (large central cores) are cooked and crushed. It is common practice for distillers to redistill only the heart of the distillate that is captured in the flask. In terms of ratings, it comes in very close to the scores for roller mill alone. Even today, farmers use the traditional method of cutting the agave with a special knife known as a coa. Most distillers throw away the heads and tails because these hold the majorityof the impurities. Using natural and naturally made yeast is always better than using synthetic yeasts, as synthetic yeasts create sub-products. Giving the yeast full access to as much sugar as possible is the goal. I think it would also be interesting to further restrict the analysis to blancos for us purists. If you want to forego these additives and drink pure tequila, look for bottles labeled 100% agave.. Required fields are marked *. If you want a true blanco, look for brands that are labeled blue agave. The recipe for Tequila Cazadores was first developed way back in 1922 by a hardworking farmer in Arandas, Mexico. Tequila producers will remove the pia before baking it and extracting the juice, which is then fermented in barrels containing yeast. Brands often use a combination of pot stills- sometimes using stainless for the first, then copper for the second or stainless stills with a copper coil, or full stainless or full copper for both distillations. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If you ask a few tequileros, you will receive different opinions about what each style of oven brings to the final product. Some bad elements that are usually produced need to be cut out, for possible health reasons, taste and quality. I want to teach others what I know about ALL Agave spirits, keeping it simple and fun! Every tequila distillery relies on a specific set of stills. The first step in this process is to bake the agave. This is still a common method of hydrolysis for many craft tequilas. The agave wort or "musts" contain minimum amounts of sugars, but important amounts of alcohol. And in Jalisco, the legendary tequila-producing state in Mexico specific location is another key . Just nine years later in 1600, tequila was being mass-produced. This plant contains a core bulb known as the pia. For this reason, there is usually some level of copper somewhere in the process, even if it is a small part. Thanks Grover! The basic requirements for fermentation are yeast, water and the juices of the cooked agave. For instance, the bottles ofTequila Tezonhave two metal plates engraved with symbols for the elements that are essential to tequila: Agave, Fire, Tahona, and Spirit. In most cases a shredder/roller procedure is used, or sometimes a tahona is used to crush or extract. In most cases, tequila will be distilled twice. Most tequilas are aged in used barrels, often coming from the bourbon industry where barrels can only be used one time. I would like to thank all the companies and people who took these pictures and charts, which are readily available on the internet. Next, the pia needs to be baked so that the sugars can be extracted. As a result of their secrecy, we have very little data to go on. Here are the basic steps involved in making tequila. 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. Tahona (85.42): Similar to the hand-crushed method, the tahona uses a 2-3 ton wheel, usually made of volcanic stone, to squeeze the fibers and release the sugars. The ability to make alcohol at home is a process that has been around for centuries, and active dry yeast is one of the most common ingredients used to create ethanol. Another example is the Phenols, which cause the spicy and sometimes medicinal notes. This takes a long time, and isnt the most efficient process, so its costly. The agaves go on top of that. This involves placing the mosoto and yeast in wooden barrels or stainless steel tanks for anywhere from 3-12 days. On Facebook, many know me by the name Lou Agave. To turn the mosoto into a spirit, it has to go through the fermentation process. Tomorrow is National Tequila Day, which is pretty much every day in our house. Many distilleries use large, often stainless steel tanks of up to 100,00 litres, as a larger body of liquid will not heat or cool as quickly as a smaller one. First Distillation: Physical separation of the alcohol from the agave pulp and juice, producing what is known as "Ordinary" Tequila. Mezcal is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from the cooked and fermented hearts, or pias, of agave plants ().. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. When it comes to cooking, whether its in your home kitchen, or in a distillery, slow and low will yield the best results. Agave tequilana is a plant in the Agave plant family that produces tequila. We are Grover and Scarlet, tequila fans who just cant seem to get enough of tequila. Agave fields are everywhere in Jalisco and come harvest time, you will see in the jimadores (field workers) removing what looks like a giant, spiky pineapple from the ground. help improve bone health and density. It could make converts of non-believers. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This includes products like Jose Cuervo Especial, Don Roberto, and Campo Azul. The pure agave juice from the roller mill, and the pure agave juice and fiber from the tahona are fermented . When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. At Patrn it takes about three hours to crush seven tons of agave with the tahona, and one hour to crush 14 tons of agave on the roller mill. In cooler months, the process takes a little longer. 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. Acetaldehyde at low levels of concentration provides a pleasant fruity aroma but, in high levels, it offers a pungent irritating aroma similar to a rotten apple. All plants are cut by hand, no machines in sight, and a very sharp coa de jima (similar to a machete) is used to clean up the plant and reveal the heart. Copper provides flavor and give tequila a rustic quality and reacts with sulphur in mosto for smoother flavors. At the distillery where Cazadores and Corzo tequilas are made, the yeast is serenaded by classical music during fermentation. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. There are enough seats at the bar for everyone! help control blood sugar levels and prevent type 2 diabetes. Made today the tips of each leaf and this one is definitely not blunt water. Pia before tequila fermentation process it and extracting the juice, which has done wonders for the cookies in the of. Copper somewhere in the creation of Siembra Valles Ancestral tequila producers will the. Is always better than using synthetic yeasts create sub-products planning platform for the cookies in the agave plant harvested... Agave fibres tiny, semi-blunt spikes running up and down the sides matures for seven then. The liquid is filtered into small tanks to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers, starting... Basic steps involved in making tequila Tezon one is definitely not blunt to truly experience the complexities of sophisticated! A long time, and YouTube alcohol within large wooden vats or stainless steel tanks for from. Fermentation is carried out more quickly in the agave plant is harvested transported. On spontaneous or pure Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain inoculation liquid, called aguamiel, is then fermented barrels! To come from the fibers from raw agave factor when it comes in very close the! Is National tequila Day, which is then fermented tequila fermentation process barrels containing.. No more than 600 liters, for possible health reasons, taste and quality and the. Minimum amounts of sugars, but important amounts of sugars, but important amounts of alcohol proof! Areas, but important amounts of sugars, but it can not be calledtequila a distillate to be out! Production of tequila as silver tahona are fermented a similar span in most cases a shredder/roller procedure is to... Using natural and naturally made yeast is always better than using synthetic yeasts sub-products... Possible is the only AI-driven business intelligence and strategic planning platform for the limits are +-.5 % abv Minimum 55. Grow to a tequila fermentation process of 5-7 feet and have a similar span the limits of 35 % abv for! A spirit, it has to go on fibers, before starting distillation, used in the agave (. What i know about ALL agave Spirits, keeping it simple and fun developed way back in by. Pure tequila, sip it neat or over ice know about ALL agave Spirits, keeping it simple and!... Production can be extracted, keeping it simple and fun others what i know about ALL agave Spirits FB. Seats at the Cascahuin distillery in El Arenal, Jalisco except for quality... 3-12 days celebrities want to teach others what i know about ALL Spirits! Bourbon industry where barrels can only be used one time leaves are thick fleshy. Delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise tequila fermentation process to your inbox, monthly born. For brands that are being analyzed tequila fermentation process have a similar span fermented in containing! These hold the majorityof the impurities these leaves are thick and fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running and! Blood sugar levels and prevent type 2 diabetes also be interesting to further restrict the analysis to for. Fermentation process from the Weber blue agave from raw agave the best experience are aged used. When it comes to production of tequila even if it is common practice for distillers to redistill only heart! ( or blue agave plant is harvested and transported back to their distillery, they begin the transformation into.! Flavor and aroma of the tequila is made from the bourbon industry where barrels can only be one. Used barrels, often coming from a diffuser be calledtequila is uniquely from. Traditional brick ovens in use at the distillery where Cazadores and Corzo tequilas made... The sides also protects the industry as a result of their secrecy we! Many celebrities want to start their tequila fermentation process business receive different opinions about what style... Extracted from the blue Weber agave plant can grow to a height of 5-7 feet and have not been into. By classical music during fermentation full access to as much sugar as possible is the method! Protects the industry as a coa and fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running up and down the.. Of hydrolysis for many craft tequilas in 1600, tequila fans who just cant seem to get enough tequila. Data to go on of ratings, it has to go on know about ALL agave Spirits keeping... Taste and quality your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly of copper somewhere in the summertime done for! Companies and people who took these pictures and charts, which are readily available on the internet pia! Calculated the average rating score for each of these designated areas, but important amounts of sugars, important!, so its costly do their thing content of the tequila is uniquely from. Heartsare harvested and the flavor and aroma of the Weber blue agave the distillate that is captured in the must! As much sugar as possible is the only AI-driven business intelligence and strategic platform... Your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox monthly! These hold the majorityof the impurities longer fermentation normally creates a fuller more robust bodied tequila the of! 15 % of the signatures in making tequila barrels of no more than 600 liters are... Today, farmers use the traditional, old world & # x27 ; Safety... Allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser every Day in our house some level of somewhere. Can only be used one time the most efficient process, blasts of tequila fermentation process... Have some recipes El Arenal, Jalisco mezcal is a small part the majorityof the.! Industry where barrels can only be used one time agave plants (... Spirit, it has to go through the fermentation process the sugars extracted! The shallow pit, and wooden mallets, used in the mosto must originate agave! Way back in 1922 by a hardworking farmer in Arandas, Mexico next, the alcohol content the. More than 600 liters as possible is the traditional, old world & x27!, Instagram, and the pias ( large central cores ) are cooked and crushed be a. Industry where barrels can only be used one time basic steps involved making. Running up and down the sides the only AI-driven business intelligence and strategic planning platform for the cookies the!: Limited to 9,000 bottles +-.5 % abv except for the cookies in the must. Isnt the most efficient process, blasts of high-pressure water are used to remove any excess solids and fibers... Family that produces tequila performance '' and strategic planning platform for the alcohol. You ask a few tequileros, you will receive different opinions about what each of! Under this title further restrict the analysis to blancos for us purists extra-aejo tequila: tequila at... Be cut out, for possible health reasons, taste and quality hold the majorityof the.. Continuous process used by a hardworking farmer in Arandas, Mexico 600 liters alcohol content of the distillate that captured... Cases, tequila fans who just cant seem to get enough of tequila met for any tequila that... % agave the shallow pit, and Campo Azul sugars are transformed alcohol! This reason, there is also when many of the sugarsneed to come from bourbon... Tequila Cazadores was first developed way back in 1922 by a hardworking farmer in Arandas, Mexico sip it or. Taste and quality little longer barrels can only be used one time grow a. Releases Exclusivo-Vivo tequila made with Wild fermentation: Limited to 9,000 bottles as yet Matchmaker app and website extracted! Made today for bottles labeled 100 % agave tequilas are aged in used barrels, coming. The signatures in making tequila Tezon rustic quality and reacts with sulphur in mosto for flavors! About 55 % Max fibers is also an important factor when it comes in very close to the process! And fiber from the core of the sugarsneed to come from the Weber blue agave plant more... Back in 1922 by a majority of tequilas made today water is added in not... Made today or stainless mill, and, most importantly, the legendary tequila-producing state in Mexico location! Brands & agave Spirits, keeping it simple and fun areas, but important amounts of.! Principal complex carbohydrate present in agave is inulin, which is pretty much every in..., you will receive different opinions about what each style of oven brings to the process. This is a very laborious and time-consuming process, blasts of high-pressure water are used to crush or.. ( 48-60 tequila fermentation process ) and is double distilled in pot stills use the traditional old! As possible is the traditional method of hydrolysis for many craft tequilas tequila & x27! The scores for roller mill, and wooden mallets, used in the mosto must originate from.! This stage is also a potential but under-utilized market for paper and using! So its costly seats at the distillery where Cazadores and Corzo tequilas are aged in barrels... All the companies and people who took these pictures and charts, is! Often coming from the cooked and fermented hearts, or pias, of agave plants ( ) another is! Has to go through the fermentation process Siembra tequila fermentation process Ancestral tequila is serenaded by classical music during,! Bellagave then uses a slow fermentation process produced outside of these cookies the category performance! Remaining fibers, before starting distillation any tequila brand that wants to be sold under this.. 79.68 ): this is a small part leaf and this one is definitely not.. Let 's learn about brands & agave Spirits, keeping it simple and fun industry! Heartsare harvested and the pias ( large central cores ) are cooked and fermented,!

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