History of Tequila

Perhaps the single most popular alcoholic drinks in the world is Tequila, especially in the United States and of course Mexico. Tequila was originated in 1656 near a city called Tequila first made by the Aztec people. Today, Tequila is made and imported from Mexico to locations all over the world.

Tequila is from the agave plant and the Aztec people called it octli. Later on the plant became known as pulque. Although Tequila is known to have been around for a long time before, the Spanish came in and made it what we all know it as today. The drink started to become mass produced by a man named Don Pedro Sanchez de Tagle. He was the Marquis of Altamira and he had a factory where he made Tequila in a territory of Jalisco.

The Tequila that is so popular and well known today is different then what Don Pedro Sanchez de Tagle had produced. It wasn't until the early 1800's that today's Tequila was produced. It was mass produced in the city of Guadalajara in Mexico. At this time the first manufacturer with a license was Jose Cuervo who had gotten the rights to a large chunk of land that was given from the King of Spain.

It wasn't until 1821 that the life of Tequila really came alive. It took the freedom of Mexico for Tequila to break out. Once Mexico gained independence Tequila was up for grabs. The plants that were used to make Tequila are known as agave plants. These are the plants that were planted on the big chunk of land that was given to Jose Cuervo. Even back in the 1800's there was more then ten thousand barrels of Tequila being sold just in the city of Guadalajara alone.

Even today, Jose Cuervo is the number one manufacturer of Tequila and they have an outstanding export market. Most other Tequila companies are still on the rise because they established much later then Jose Cuervo did.

In 1944 there was the first ever regulated tequila which is ran by a non profit group within the Mexican government. It says that any product with the name "tequila" must be made from distilling agave and it must be done in a state called Jalisco. Since then there has been upgraded standards through present time. All tequila must not be made from anything less than 51% agave tequiliana Weber, variety azul. The best tequila is made from pure blue agave. The group that regulates the tequila industry is a non profit organization called the Chamber of Tequila Producers.
There are main standards of Tequila which are Blanco, Gold, Reposado and Anejo.

Blanco Tequila which also known as Silver is a traditional Tequila. This is a strong type of tequila and is white or silver. Oro also known as Gold tequila is added with other flavors including caramel. Oro tequila is the best tequila for frozen margaritas. Reposado tequila is a more expensive and rare tequila compared to the others. It is an amber color and it has a wood type flavor. Anejo tequila is aged tequila in white oak casks. This type also has an amber color and a wood type flavor.

The four categories of tequila listed above are within the two main categories of tequila. The first category is known as Tequila 100% Agave which is made from 100% pure blue avage. This type could be any of the above tequilas except for Gold. The other category is just Tequila which can be made with at least 51% blue agave. This type can be any of the four categories of tequila that is listed above.

Tequila is one of the most historic drinks that are available to man today. There are premium tequilas such as Patrone and classic tequilas such as the famous Jose Cuervo. All over Mexico and the United States there is not a single bar that doesn't have tequila in their bar. It started with a field in Mexico and now it is a custom for many to drink and produce the alcoholic drink known as Tequila. With such high standards today, it is no wonder that so many enjoy Tequila all over the world.