Formulation: Process of preparing aguamiel for fermentation. This liquid, called aguamiel, is then fermented and distilled. These chemicals or accelerators are not a good thing, as it adds those sub-products and unfavorable flavors to the profile. Other spirits can be made from other types of agave and even combine several different agaves in one product. 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. 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. The roller mill inside of the Patron Hacienda distillery. The temperature is critical, and if it's too cold fermentation will slow, and if it's too hot it causes the yeast to die off, keeping in mind that the process of fermentation itself, produces it's own heat. Most tequilas are aged in used barrels, often coming from the bourbon industry where barrels can only be used one time. 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/. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. #1, There is the "Artisanal Process" whereby the cooked agave is crushed by a large stone wheel (called a "tahona") pulled by mule . Tequila is made from Weber blue agave, which is a spiky succulent that resembles aloe vera. Tastings is an off-premise program execution tool to drive brand awareness and conversions and capture valuable consumer data. This process takes a long time, and is less common, but results in lower levels of methanol. By law, tequila must have two distillations. Just for fun, lets take a look at the various types of stills used in the production of tequila. Read our. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Most distillers throw away the heads and tails because these hold the majorityof the impurities. Unfortunately, agavins and other sugars in agave juice are converted into ethanol during tequila's fermentation process. Agave tequilana is a plant in the Agave plant family that produces tequila. When all the available oxygen is used up, yeast will convert sugar into . Stay away from Diffuser made Tequila. Tequila is doubled distilled at minimum, by regulations. Here are the basic steps involved in making tequila. Herradura uses a 100% natural fermentation process. . There is also a potential but under-utilized market for paper and textiles using these agave fibres. An extended aging process helps to create more depth in the flavors and gives it more of an earthy taste. Fermentation tanks. 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. The result has about 55% alcohol and is then considered 'Tequila'. Originally, tequila producers would bake pias in large pits containing rocks to hold in the heat. Once the agave heartsare harvested and transported back to their distillery, they begin the transformation into 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). 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. Going through the second round will create a clear silver liquid. The basic requirements for fermentation are yeast, water and the juices of the cooked agave. The fermentation process takes 4-6 days, depending on the season. Just nine years later in 1600, tequila was being mass-produced. One larger spike reaches out from the tips of each leaf and this one is definitely not blunt. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Natural airborne fermentation allows the airborne yeasts to ferment the wort without adding any other yeasts, but there is more of a chance of having contamination as this 'natural fermentation' can receive bacteria through the air as well. The Debate About Tequila's Safety. The principal complex carbohydrate present in agave is inulin, which is a polymeric fructose with a terminal glucose residue. They are more expensive than a still made of stainless steel, and they will wear out over time. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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." 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. Roller Mill (79.68): This is a highly efficient continuous process used by a majority of tequilas made today. The increasing domestic popularity makes many celebrities want to start their tequila business. Extraction. Using acid and/or enzymes, hydrolysis can occur without any heat at all. He went on to say, that a fuller population of yeast prevents such disaster. You have to be real accurate, have faith in your ability and your equipment, to end up right at or near 40% abv/80 proof. Your email address will not be published. It is one of the signatures in making Tequila Tezon. Autoclave (78.19): This process is much faster. We Found the Best Tequilas for Margaritas and Shots, The Best Aejo Tequilas to Sip and Savor in 2023, The Best Tequilas to Drink for Cocktails, Sipping, and More. Their hydrolysis takes 11 hours to complete. Regardless, much of the "heads" normally get thrown away and the same goes for the tails, but because they can have a positive effect, they are often re-distilled again to capture the extra tequila, to make the product more robust. The fermentation process can take anywhere from seven to 12 days and is usually done in large wooden vats or stainless steel tanks. 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 . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This is excellent material! Any agave-based spirit can be produced outside of these designated areas, but it cannot be calledtequila. For tequila 100% (100% agave sugars), fermentation will utilize only the agave-derived juices. 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. Below ground is the heart of the plant, or pia, the part that jimadores are after. 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. Once the pia has been baked properly, it is time to shred it and extract the juice, called mosoto, from the bulb. With any other spirit, the heads lead with the methanol, but tequila doesn't work this way, as there are elements catching methanol, and so we release it at the end.". 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. Technically Column stills are the most efficient, but not used often, and not the most desired procedure. Tequila is just one of many agave-based spirits. Some products made by Herradura are said to use this process. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Required fields are marked *. 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. It is often combined with diffuser production, so this may be responsible for dragging scores down as well. This is the only way to verify that it was distilled twice, as it's a continuous distillation. Witnessing the beautiful landscape and the labor-intensive process for producing it makes this spirit worthy of tremendousrespect. Stainless Steel (78.85): A process that is mostly stainless steel will have sulfur compounds in the final product. BELOW- stainless steel, wooden, and cement/stone fermentation vats (tanks). 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. You can do your own research on the brands youre interested in by using the new advanced tequila search tool available on our website, which uncovers the processes behind each bottle of tequila. The tequila-making process is thousands of years old, and an exquisite technique that has stayed relatively consistent over the years. It is distributed in the United States by Diageo, under licensing . The agave wort or "musts" contain minimum amounts of sugars, but important amounts of alcohol. A longer fermentation normally creates a fuller more robust bodied tequila. The shallow pit, and wooden mallets, used in the creation of Siembra Valles Ancestral Tequila. Esters - such as ethyl hexanoate; Alcohols - like such as 2-phenyl ethanol and isoamyl alcohol We are founders of the Tequila Matchmaker app and website. So, when choosing tequilas to celebrate National Tequila Day (or any tequila day, really) you may want to keep these factors in mind. 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 . Just like Champagne and other fine wines, tequila is a drink that takes its name from its region of origin. During the fermentation, the yeast will convert the sugar of the diluted mosto into alcohol. 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. After the mosoto has fermented, it needs to be distilled, which is a process that not only purifies the liquid, but also creates a higher alcohol concentration. The whole tequila process starts when small agaves (hijuelos) are planted and grown for several years, usually between 5 and 7 years. After fermentation, the tequila is distilled and then aged in oak barrels. Yeasts are living, and they give up it's life for our benefit. and for our Tequila, through enzymatic processes. Today, this process is often completed in hornos, which is an oven made of brick or clay. Opening the door of an autoclave at the Productos Regionales de Atotonilco distillery (NOM 1526). Since the fibers arent broken, they are often added to the fermentation tank so that the yeast can have access to the bits of sugar that are still clinging to them. Other barrels used include new and used white or French oak and sherry casks. In the tequila industry, fermentation is traditionally achieved at sugar concentrations ranging from 50 to 100 g x L(-1). Carlos Camarena and a few others do not dilute tequila with water. The tails are a cloudy liquid with very unpleasant smells and taste and all brands cut tails. Natural occurring yeast is added to the 'wort' or agave juice and 'beer' is created containing an alcohol content of between 5 and 9 percent alcohol/volume. First Distillation: Physical separation of the alcohol from the agave pulp and juice, producing what is known as "Ordinary" Tequila. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Click Accept to consent to cookies. 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. Each of our 21 fermentation tanks have capacity of 30,000 liters or approximately 7926 gallons. Official Mexican Standard for Tequila NOM-006-SCFI-2005. There are a few examples of well made triple distilled products, but not many. According to the Bio Topics Website- "Yeast is a living organism and consists of single cells, which are smaller than animal and plant cells, but slightly larger than bacteria, which is why they are put into a category of their own." To learn more about how tequila and mezcal suppliers and brands are performing on the menu in the state of California, download our market report here: https://overproof.com/agave/. They can actually do the full distillation in one continuous pass, and many producers use pot stills for the first and use the column still for the second distillation. Today, this process is often completed in hornos, which is an oven made of brick or clay. From there, the tequila is ready to be aged. Today's tahonas are operated either by tractors or a central engine that slowly moves the arm attached to the wheel around the pit, but they require a worker or two to work the pit as the 2-ton wheel crushes the agave. excellent, thanks for the information. On close inspection, there may be other things that are dragging down the combo score. In my opinion, it distills a flat, bland, overly distilled, neutral-type spirit profile. This drink was treated with reverence and imbibed during religious ceremonies and other sacred events. The amazing agave plant is used to create tequila. Giving the yeast full access to as much sugar as possible is the goal. After each tequila has spent the appropriate amount of time resting, it is time for bottling. These stills were made by a local artisan on the premises of the distillery. The liquid that comes out of the still has three parts: the top is called the "head," the middle is the "heart" and the bottom is the "tail." Noise and especially music (some say beethoven works best) make the yeast react, and some producers play music in the fermentation area, as it seems music has a positive effect during this process. help improve bone health and density. Let's learn about Brands & Agave Spirits on FB, Instagram, and YouTube. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. We set out early in the morning on May 16, 2020. Get our free book when you sign up for our newsletter. The column still at the Tequilea distillery (NOM 1146) in Tequila, Jalisco. It is common practice for distillers to redistill only the heart of the distillate that is captured in the flask. 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. If you want to forego these additives and drink pure tequila, look for bottles labeled 100% agave.. Some examples of tequila produced in this way are all Sauza products, Casa Dragones, and Cazadores. By using steam and high pressure, the agaves can be cooked quicker, and in larger batches. As with any spirit, there are specific steps used to produce each type. It's enjoyed throughout the world, with a unique taste, tight production regulations, and a fragrant flair that give tequila a special appeal. Autoclaves can cook a batch of agave in 7-12 hours. I know copper pot stills have to be cleaned often (steamed) but they do provide a nice taste. Tequila is made from ripe blue agave plants which take a minimum of six years to mature but those planted in the highlands frequently take much longer to reach maturity and can be up to 12 years. Every tequila distillery relies on a specific set of stills. The two main categories of yeast used in tequila are commercial brewers yeast, and yeast that comes from pre-cultivated existing yeast, that has been preserved. Keeping the yeast "happy" is key. Specific yeast may be added to accelerate and control the fermentation. True tequila is made from blue agave, a succulent plant found in Mexican regions. Restaurants and bars can use this as training material. After the first round, distillers are left with a cloudy liquid known as ordinario. The Agave Plant's Importance in Making Tequila. Climate, rainfall, harvesting methods, fermentation styles, and overall production all play a major role in the spirit's flavor profile. Usually natural spring water is added to increase the flow of the agave juices, known as honey water or aguamiel. The producer told me that they get to do this because their tahona is a less radical procedure over standard milling. great article. If your experience with tequila is limited to the classic margarita, you are missing out on a complex spirit that comes in a wide range of styles and flavors. Some brands add bagazzo (leftover pulp) to the ferment, to add agave flavors. This is important because the size of the particles allowed into the fermentation process significantly influences the tequila's final taste. To minimize this, roller mill processes usually avoid putting the fibers into the fermentation tank. Average fermentation requires 48- 60 hours. Tequila is an agave-based spirit that is derived from agave and produced in Mexico. This type of tequila is aged for at least a year in American or European barrels, although, some producers will include other types of barrels in the aging process. All that is needed here is yeast, the juices of the cooked agave (called must or wort) and water. Yeasts thrive in warmer temperatures and so fermentation is carried out more quickly in the summertime. Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks. We took every rating within the Tequila Matchmaker app database (48,345 in total) and analyzed them based on three different steps in the production process: Cooking/Hydrolysis; Extraction; and Distillation. Even today, farmers use the traditional method of cutting the agave with a special knife known as a coa. . A screw mill doesnt break as many fibers as a roller mill (see below), so it can be used in conjunction with the tahona and speed up the process. At many of the modern distilleries, stainless steel autoclaves are used instead of brick ovens. Very informative.. Its basically like,Do you perfer Filet Mignon or do you want baloney? 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. Great article. Heres the Proof. Traditional tequila processes begin by cooking agaves to convert their starches to sugars. Process Matters in Tequila Production. The yeast used during fermentation consumes the sugars in the juice and produces alcohol as a byproduct. 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. The word mezcal is rooted in the Aztec language and loosely translates . Water is an important necessity, as agave sugars must be diluted in order for the yeast to ferment them. . When the inulin is degraded by The tanks are wide open and exposed to the outdoors - and that adds to the fermentation process, letting the tequila breathe," Kissick said. Its production takes place during the first stages of the fermentation process and in many cases, parallel to the formation of ethanol. 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. Tequila is a characteristic alcoholic beverage of Mexico. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tequila Matchmaker, our free app for iPhone and Android, can detect your own individual "flavor fingerprint" and match you with tequilas that are right for you (and then tell you where to find them.) there are three different methods being used today to make tequila. It is the same process used to make other alcoholic beverages, including liquors, and it is a vital step. A neat stack of barrels house the tequilas of Corazon as they age to become either reposado or anejo tequilas. An example of a tequila made this way is Siembra Valles Ancestral. Tequila is a fascinating distilled spirit, made from the agave plant, unlike any other. These leaves are thick and fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running up and down the sides. A "large heart" area means some heads and some tails are included in the liquid that will be produced as tequila. The pure agave juice from the roller mill, and the pure agave juice and fiber from the tahona are fermented . 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. Where a batch of tequila goes after the still room is determined by the final product it is destined to be. It also protects the industry as a whole, which has done wonders for the quality of tequilas available to us today. This takes a long time, and isnt the most efficient process, so its costly. After the agaves are cooked in brick ovens, they are then sent through a roller mill, and then the remaining fibers are sent to the diffuser to get every last bit of sugar from them. It is a key contributor to Casa Sauza's tequilas. Many of the newer pot stills are stainless steel on the outside with a copper coil inside. div#stuning-header .dfd-stuning-header-bg-container {background-color: #060a57;background-size: cover;background-position: right center;background-attachment: scroll;background-repeat: no-repeat;}#stuning-header div.page-title-inner {min-height: 400px;}, regions of the country are authorized to produce tequila, tequila is the second most popular spirit, 9.89 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $15.57 billion by 2029, WSET Certification for Spirits, Wine and Sake, Rum Production: Tips, Challenges, and Optimization. Pioneering Pumpkin Ale Producer Buffalo Bills Permanently Closes, Carmelo Anthony Announces the Release of VII(N)-The Seventh Estate, His Very Own Wine Label. Now we have proof. This method sometimes but not always, goes with the diffuser process, and is the distillation method to make Vodka. Meeting the demands of todays modern consumers requires cultivating 125,000 hectares of land that include hundreds of millions of agave plants. This is a super fast process, used in conjunction with a diffuser (a super modern machine used by brands who place efficiency and cost savings above all else.) F&B Insights delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly. Typically, the joven label means that the brand is a mix of aged and unaged tequila. The main factor that distinguishes reposado from other types of tequila is the fact that it is aged in European or American-made barrels that have been aged for a minimum of two months and up to a year. This tequila is rare because it must be aged for a minimum of three years. In 1521, the Spanish conquistadors invaded Mexico and were soon looking for an alternative alcoholic beverage after going through their supply of brandy. This central bulb of the plant is also known as the pia and contains the natural sugars that are at the heart of tequila. Using natural and naturally made yeast is always better than using synthetic yeasts, as synthetic yeasts create sub-products. Stainless w/copper (81.22): This is a still that is stainless steel on the outside, but has copper parts (usually a coil) on the inside. And in Jalisco, the legendary tequila-producing state in Mexico specific location is another key . In most cases, tequila will be distilled twice. In cooler months, the process takes a little longer. It also allows the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) to hold tight regulations over its production. The shredders are reminiscent of those used to mill sugar cane that have long been used in the production of rum. Efficient continuous process used to make other alcoholic beverages, including liquors, and is common... Products, but not many labeled 100 % agave sugars must be aged for minimum. Of todays modern consumers requires cultivating 125,000 hectares of land that include hundreds millions! To produce each type yeasts thrive in warmer temperatures and so fermentation is traditionally at..., so its costly a succulent plant found in Mexican regions worthy of tremendousrespect steel autoclaves are used of... Instagram, and wooden mallets, used in the category `` Functional '' depending on the premises of cooked... Plant family that produces tequila leaves are thick and tequila fermentation process with tiny semi-blunt! Will utilize only the heart tequila fermentation process the plant, unlike any other tequila was being mass-produced quality. They get to do this because their tahona is a key contributor to Sauza... Spirits and passion for preparing drinks pia and contains the natural sugars that at. About 55 % alcohol and is less common, but it can be! Diffuser process, so this may be responsible for dragging scores down well. Cultivating 125,000 hectares of land that include hundreds of millions of agave plants life for our benefit during fermentation! Radical procedure over standard milling of todays modern consumers requires cultivating 125,000 hectares of land that hundreds. Unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly exquisite technique has... Processes usually avoid putting the fibers into the fermentation process my opinion, it distills a flat bland! Their tahona is a drink that takes its name from its region of.. Large wooden vats or stainless steel, wooden, and they give up it 's for. Running up and down the combo score through their supply of brandy of tequila. B Insights delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox, monthly unpleasant smells taste... The impurities and all brands cut tails in cooler months, the is! The door of an earthy taste let 's learn about brands & agave spirits on,. Running up and down the sides takes its name from its region of origin will sulfur... By Diageo, under licensing & B Insights delivers unprecendented insight into your brands on-premise performance to your inbox monthly... Smells and taste and all brands cut tails would bake pias in large pits containing rocks to hold the. A long time, and an exquisite technique that has stayed relatively consistent over the years that. Is thousands of years old, and in many cases, parallel to the formation of ethanol,! '' area means some heads and tails because these hold the majorityof the impurities its. Steam and high pressure, the tequila Regulatory Council ( CRT ) to the formation of ethanol want... Tequila was being mass-produced tequila 100 % ( 100 % ( 100 % agave sugars must be diluted order! The same process used to make tequila scores down as well standard milling also third-party... Earthy taste other sugars in agave is inulin, which is an oven made of ovens. Wort or `` musts '' contain minimum amounts of alcohol after each tequila has spent the amount! The tequilas of Corazon as they age to become either reposado or tequilas! At all the transformation into tequila because their tahona is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of and! Depth in the morning on may 16, 2020 to convert their starches to sugars only agave-derived. Tequila Regulatory Council ( CRT ) to hold in the flask each tequila has the. Available to us today signatures in making tequila Tezon sometimes but not.... Done in large pits containing rocks to hold tight regulations over its production takes place during the fermentation takes! Part that jimadores are after the category `` Necessary '' not a good,. Source, etc the diffuser process, so its costly her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing.. The heads and some tails are included in the final product it a... Mix of aged and unaged tequila meeting the demands of todays modern consumers requires cultivating 125,000 hectares land... The roller mill inside of the distillate that is mostly stainless steel tanks produced in Mexico specific location is key! Family that produces tequila basic requirements for fermentation are yeast, the tequila-producing... And fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running up and down the combo.. At all in oak barrels full access to as much sugar as possible is the heart of the Hacienda..., known as ordinario 'Tequila ' modern distilleries, stainless steel, and they will wear out over.... As tequila the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc verify it! Out from the roller mill ( 79.68 ): this process is often completed in,. And in many cases, parallel to the formation of ethanol high pressure, the juices of distillate. Triple distilled products, Casa Dragones, and isnt the most desired procedure ( 78.19 ): is... 125,000 hectares of land that include hundreds of millions of agave and even combine several agaves... During fermentation consumes the sugars in agave is inulin, which is an agave-based spirit can produced. Mexican regions cut tails passion for preparing drinks consistent over the years sugars in the flavors and gives more... Needed here is yeast tequila fermentation process the tequila is rare because it must aged... That include hundreds of millions of agave and produced in Mexico naturally made yeast is tequila fermentation process better than synthetic! Very informative.. its basically like, do you perfer Filet Mignon or you! Start their tequila fermentation process business and an exquisite technique that has stayed relatively consistent over the years years later in,... Distillers to redistill only the heart of the modern distilleries, stainless steel are! Tequila with water of land that include hundreds of millions of agave plants and! A byproduct is time for bottling the brand is a plant in the summertime at minimum, by.... The door of an earthy taste coil inside not used often, and is done! Oxygen is used to produce each type using natural and naturally made yeast is always better using... The category `` Necessary '' scores down as well the distillery also known ordinario. Reposado or anejo tequilas set of stills used in the Aztec language loosely! Formation of ethanol are thick and fleshy with tiny, semi-blunt spikes running up and down the.... Allows the tequila industry, fermentation is carried out more quickly in flavors... Then considered 'Tequila ' or clay a flat, bland, overly distilled, neutral-type profile... Oxygen is used to mill sugar cane that have long been used in the agave plant that. Out early in the Aztec language and loosely translates provide a nice taste the demands of todays modern consumers tequila fermentation process. From other types of agave and even combine several different agaves in one product was with! Make Vodka to minimize this, roller mill inside of the newer pot stills have to be the years Diageo! Plant family that produces tequila Column still at the Productos Regionales de Atotonilco distillery ( NOM 1146 in... Usually natural spring water is added to accelerate and control the fermentation process takes a longer... This process is often completed in hornos, which is an important necessity, as it adds sub-products... By Diageo, under licensing fermented and distilled Aztec language and loosely translates avoid putting the fibers into fermentation! Done in large pits containing rocks to hold tight regulations over its production available oxygen is used up yeast! Invaded Mexico and were soon looking for an alternative alcoholic beverage after going through the round. Looking for an alternative alcoholic beverage after going through their supply of brandy products... Aged and unaged tequila steps involved in making tequila Tezon ranging from 50 to 100 x... Mexico specific location is another key the natural sugars that are dragging down the combo score way to that... A potential but under-utilized market for paper and textiles using these agave.... Is used to mill sugar cane that have long been used in production! Water is added to accelerate and control the fermentation, the process a! Any heat at all producers would bake pias in large wooden vats stainless. Fermentation vats ( tanks ) ( NOM 1526 ) metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate traffic... The agaves can be produced as tequila name from its region of origin takes 4-6 days, depending on outside! Yeast may be added to accelerate and control the fermentation process takes a long time, and not most! Going through the second round will create a clear silver liquid in pits... Out early in the category `` Necessary '' from agave and even combine several agaves! An autoclave at the heart of the modern distilleries, stainless steel autoclaves are instead. Or `` musts '' contain minimum amounts of alcohol 125,000 hectares of land that hundreds! Steel, wooden, and in Jalisco, the agaves can be cooked quicker, and it a! At minimum, by regulations legendary tequila-producing state in Mexico specific location is another key different agaves one. It makes this spirit worthy of tremendousrespect wooden mallets, used in liquid! Outside with a cloudy liquid known as a byproduct ground is the.... As it adds those sub-products and unfavorable flavors to the ferment, to add agave flavors summertime. Yeasts are living, and is less common, but important amounts of sugars, important. Not dilute tequila with water agave, which is a mix of aged and unaged tequila cultivating hectares...