In a colorful tale about tequila’s origins, our protagonist is neither man nor beast, but a spiky succulent that must meet its end for the sake of mankind. Perfectly poised at the top of Volcán de Tequila which, unlike other components of this story, is 100% real, it awaits its destiny as thunderclouds roll in...

During a storm unlike anything anyone has ever seen in those parts, a lightning bolt strikes said cactus straight through the ‘heart’ or its piña. Later, members of the indigenous Nahua tribe are amazed to find sweet nectar — with quite the kick, might we add — seeping from the plant. Thus was born tequila, a gift said to have been bestowed by the fertility goddess Mayahuel.

Scientifically known as Agave tequilana and colloquially called blue agave, the ‘sacrificial plant’ in the story is the only species of agave associated with authentic tequila. This fact alone distinguishes tequila from mezcal, which can be made from 40 to 50 kinds of agave.

Plant species aside, bona fide tequila must fulfill two other requirements: 1) its contents should have at least 51% blue agave, and 2) it must be made in Mexico, or more specifically, in the municipalities of Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and the state of Jalisco.

To cut a long story short, tequila goes through the following processes before meeting your glass: farming, cooking, extraction, fermentation, distillation, and aging. It is the last of these that largely determines the many types of tequila on the market.

A source of national pride for Mexico, the spunky spirit is as varied as the world of wines, and should be explored to be understood and appreciated.

Types of Tequila:

Cheat sheet:
Aging: 0 - 2 months
Color: Crystal clear
Flavor: Full-on herbal flavors

The youngest of tequilas is a feisty one, the reason being that it typically skips maturation altogether. Even aged tequila in this category only meets the oak barrel for 60 days at most, which isn’t nearly enough time to absorb color pigments from the barrels’ wood — hence its crystal clear color and moniker ‘blanco’ (white) or ‘plata’ (silver). This type of tequila does well in cocktails with lots of components.

Cheat sheet:
Aging: 2 months - 1 year
Color: Amber tint
Flavor: Strong herbal taste and soft barrel notes

The ‘teenager’ of the tequila family might have had a little ‘rest’ in oak barrels but is still full of attitude. Serve it in cocktails with fewer ingredients in order to appreciate its flavor. An alternative is to enjoy it as it is.

Cheat sheet:
Aging: 1 - 3 years
Color: Honey-hued
Flavor: Brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla

With age comes experience, or in the case of tequila, complexity. Approachable enough to sip on its own, añejo tequila also rewards the drinker with interesting notes. As such, you don’t want to water it down with any mixers. At most, add a little water or serve it on the rocks.

Cheat sheet:
Aging: 3 years or more
Color: Deep amber
Flavor: Similar to añejo but richer

The most premium tequila is much like añejo tequila but has more pronounced characteristics. To make things even more interesting, it is sometimes transferred from one barrel to another, allowing it to absorb more notes — like an artist immersing him or herself in several areas of specialization.