Tequila / Mezcal / Sotol / Raicilla

Question 1

What is the CRT?

Answer 1

Consejo Regulador del Tequila

This is the regulating body of Tequila.

Question 2

What is used to make Tequila?

Answer 2

Blue Agave must make up 51% minimum of the fermentable sugars of Tequila.

aka:
- Tequilana Weber
- Maguey Azul
- Agave Tequiliana
.

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100% Blue Agage Tequila must be….wait for it…at least 100% min Blue Agave.

The fermented “wine” of the cooked heart, or Piña, of Blue Agave is what is used for Tequila.

The Piña are steamed, shredded, and then pressed to get the base juice. This is fermented with yeast to make the base “wine”.

Question 3

What states have approved Tequila regions?

Answer 3

Jalisco
(this is the heart of Tequila)

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Guanajuato

Nayarit

Michoacán

Tamaulipas
(non-contiguous with rest of the regions)

Question 4

What is the aging requirement of

Reposado Tequila?

Answer 4

60 days min aging

1 year maximum aging

==========

aka:
Aged Tequila** -or- **Rested Tequila

Question 5

What is the aging requirement of

Anejo Tequila?

Answer 5

1 year min aging

3 years max aging

==========

aka:
Extra Aged Tequila

Question 6

What is the aging requirement of

Extra Anejo Tequila?

Answer 6

3 years min aging

==========

aka:
Ultra Aged Tequila

Question 7

What are the aging levels of Tequila?

Answer 7

Blanco
(aka: Silver)
- sees no aging. bottled right after distillation.

Oro
(aka: Gold -or- Joven)
- this is a blend of Blanco and another “Aged+” tequila

Reposado
(aka: Aged -or- Rested)
- 60 days to 1 year aging before bottling

Anejo
(aka: Extra Aged)
- 1 to 3 years aging before bottling
- 600 Liter maximum Cask size
- Casks must be French, or White Oak

Extra Anejo
(aka: Ultra Aged)
- 3 years min aging before bottling
- 600 Liter maximum Cask size
- Casks must be French, or White Oak

Question 8

What is Abocado in Tequila?

Answer 8

The proces of softening the flavor of Joven/Gold Tequila.

This is done by adding one or more of the following ingredients:

- Caramel color
- Oak natural extract
- Glycerin
- Sugar syrup
.

These may NOT be added to:

- Reposado / Aged / Rested
- Anejo / Extra Aged
- Extra Anejo / Ultra Aged

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Question 9

What may Tequila be aged in?

Answer 9

For aged styles of Tequila they may be aged in Oak Casks.

These casks may either be French Oak -or- White Oak.

For Anejo/Extra Aged, and for Extra Anejo/Ultra Aged Tequilas the maximum size for these casks is 600 Liters.

Question 10

What is a palenque?

Answer 10

A Mezcal distillery.
(in Oaxaca?)

Question 11

Besides Azul, name 5 different types of agave allowed in Mezcal production?

Bonus points: Describe them and their attributes

Answer 11

* Cuishe
-upright, and as narrow as fence posts

* Tobalá
-broad-bellied;

* Tepeztate
-blue-green with wide, spiky leaves
(Smithsonian?)
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/race-save-mezcal-from-world-oaxaca-180984899/

* Coyote

* Azul

* Verde

* Cenizo

* Espadin

* Jabali

* Pichumel

* Mexicano

* Ancho

Question 12

What types of agave are allowed in Mezcal production?

Answer 12

* Cuishe
-upright, and as narrow as fence posts

* Tobalá
-broad-bellied;

* Tepeztate
-blue-green with wide, spiky leaves