Unit 6 - Lesson 5 - Agave & Tequila

Question 1

What is most tequila sold?

Answer 1

unaged “blancos”

Question 2

What does wood do to tequila

Answer 2

add consistency

Question 3

Who regulates tequila?

Answer 3

Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT)

Question 4

How many ages classes for tequila and name them

Answer 4

5

1. Blanco (Silver or white)
2. Gold/Joven
3. Reposado
4. Anejo
5. Extra Anejo

Question 5

What is Gold/Joven Tequila

Answer 5

2 types

1. Smoothed with caramel, sugar, oak extract, etc
2. Adding blanco tequila usually Mixto

Question 6

What are usually Mixto and what is it

Answer 6

Mixto - where the base fermentables did not come from the use of 100% agave.

Usually Gold/Joven Tequila

Question 7

What is Abocado

Answer 7

refers to the process of smoothing or softening tequila. eg Joven Abocado (yong and smoothed)

Question 8

What is Reposado

Answer 8

Aged 2-12m no larger than 600L

Question 9

Anejo

Answer 9

known as “extra aged” Oak casks
600L
1-3 years

Question 10

Extra Anejo

Answer 10

Or Ultra Aged Anejo - New Category
Small ultra premium
600L in oak over 3 years

Question 11

What do the 3 aged tequila’s use for wood?

Answer 11

French or American oak

Question 12

What are the two oak species used for French Oak

Answer 12

Quercus robur,which has a wide grain, and

Quercus petraea,which is comparatively tight grained.

Question 13

What grain barrels yield faster extraction?

Answer 13

Wide grain since more porous

Question 14

Other types of casks?

Answer 14

Standard bourbon or French wine

Toasted, charred, new, etc

Question 15

How often used?

Answer 15

Several times since shorter storage than say whisky

Question 16

Why is oak extraction quicker in MX?

Answer 16

Avg temps Jan 17° C

24° C in August

Question 17

Loss per year

Answer 17

10% pa

Question 18

Starting ABV for Tequila

Answer 18

55% ABV

Question 19

What happens because of lower ABV when 1st barreled at 55%?

Answer 19

Higher alcohols decrease.

Acids, esters, and aldehydes all increase.

Question 20

What happens with blended Tequila?

Answer 20

Marries and aged a bit longer

Then reduced with distilled water until bottle strength

Question 21

Name other spirits than Tequila

Answer 21

mezcal, sotol, raicilla,

Question 22

Are mezcal producers barreling?

Answer 22

Not many since the expense is too high and not traditional