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. This is the same method used by agave nectar producers. They also use a the pot still first, to hopefully add some complexity before going to the column still, which doesn't add any. Tequila is doubled distilled at minimum, by regulations. Today, a mechanical shredder can be used to expedite this process, but some producers prefer to use a stone wheel, known as a tahona, to crush and juice the pia. Do tequilas from an autoclave have a diminished flavor. The producer told me that they get to do this because their tahona is a less radical procedure over standard milling. This gives it more body and a silky texture. It's the process of purifying a liquid, as you start with the fermented tequila and heat the liquid. Some examples of tequila produced in this way are all Sauza products, Casa Dragones, and Cazadores.. Diffuser (59.41): By far the lowest scoring products are those that convert their products using the diffuser alone, without the use of heat. one to keep and study again ! Using acid alone to make the conversion is not typical in tequila production because it creates too many non-fermentable sugars, so it needs to be combined with either heat, or enzymatic processes. He went on to say, that a fuller population of yeast prevents such disaster. (Tequila sales grew from 20.1 million to 23 million 9-liter cases between 2019 to 2020, . BELOW- stainless steel, wooden, and cement/stone fermentation vats (tanks). Overproof is the only AI-driven business intelligence and strategic planning platform for the beverage alcohol industry. 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. 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. Agave maintains a high production level of fructose and sugars called agavins, which spur on the fermentation process of making tequila. Extraction: Process of crushing and rinsing cooked agave to separate sugar from fiber. Here's what Tequila drinkers should know about the difference between the Highlands and Lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico. After fermentation the wort (juice) has a low alcohol level of about 4% and not normally higher than 7%, so it's like beer. However, 51% of the sugarsneed to come from the Weber blue agave plant. Active dry yeast is a type of single-celled organism that is able to convert sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, and it is an important part of the fermentation process. This plant contains a core bulb known as the pia. Modern tequila production begins with the traditional method of harvesting the blue agave plant. Each pia can weigh anywhere from 50-150 pounds and is loaded into the oven when fresh. 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. Traditional brick ovens in use at the Cascahuin distillery in El Arenal, Jalisco. Roller Mill (79.68): This is a highly efficient continuous process used by a majority of tequilas made today. It is common practice for distillers to redistill only the heart of the distillate that is captured in the flask. 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). When all the available oxygen is used up, yeast will convert sugar into . The use of either type of yeast can result in different taste profiles. Agave thrives in Mexico because it needs rich, sandy soil filled with nutrients. Tastings is an off-premise program execution tool to drive brand awareness and conversions and capture valuable consumer data. The sugary mosto is added to fermentation tanks with water and yeast. There is nothing too interesting in this mechanized process, but the tequila bottles themselves can be quite interesting. Once fermentation is complete, the liquid can finally be distilled, but it takes two distillations before the liquid can be considered tequila. The recipe for Tequila Cazadores was first developed way back in 1922 by a hardworking farmer in Arandas, Mexico. Step 2. Tequila is just one of many agave-based spirits. Your email address will not be published. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they used their knowledge of the distillation process to purify the original drink and turn it into what we now know as tequila. Production process comprises four steps: cooking to hydrolyze inulin into fructose, milling to extract the sugars, fermentation with a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to convert the sugars into ethanol and organoleptic compounds, and, finally, a two-step distillation process. Grinding: Physical separation of alcohol and water. Column (68.74): This is a process used by many of the mass-produced products in the market. The key factor that separates tequila is the fact that it is only made from the Weber blue agave plant. Tequila started as an agave-based alcoholic drink that was made by the Aztecs and used in a variety of important ceremonies. From there, the tequila is ready to be aged. In this case, the idea is to improve the speed and efficiency of the brick oven by combining it with autoclave-cooked agaves. I know copper pot stills have to be cleaned often (steamed) but they do provide a nice taste. The production of tequila is divided into seven steps: harvesting, cooking, fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling. The agave plant is not a cactus, but a succulent in the lily family. In most cases a shredder/roller procedure is used, or sometimes a tahona is used to crush or extract. Average fermentation requires 48- 60 hours. The result has about 55% alcohol and is then considered 'Tequila'. Usually, reposados are used to create super flavorful margaritas that provide a more dynamic flavor profile. Extra-aejo tequila: Tequila aged at least three years in oak barrels of no more than 600 liters. The tahona in use at the Fortaleza distillery, in Tequila, Jalisco. there are three different methods being used today to make tequila. Before bottling, most tequila is filtered through activated carbon or cellulose filters. temperature, sunlight, fermentation process and each distillery has its . Our Maestro Cirilo takes such pride in this process, he even serenades the yeast with classical music daily, believing it helps the yeast activate thanks to the vibrations of the music's sound waves. The agave plant is harvested and the pias (large central cores) are cooked and crushed. Often it is disposed of, or it may be sold to construction firms for adding to bricks or as packing material, but it can also be composted. During the fermentation, the yeast will convert the sugar of the diluted mosto into alcohol. It is distilled, manufactured, bottled, sold, and distributed by Tequila Don Julio, S.A. de C.V. from its corporate facility in the Colonia El Chichimeco district, in the city of Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. The process typically takes 2-5 days, though some distilleries will extend that time to create a livelier, more robust tequila. An example of a tequila made this way is Siembra Valles Ancestral. The main distinction between tequila and mezcal are that they each use a different type of Agave plant for the fermentation process and that they are both distilled in separate areas of Mexico. When the 'head' comes out of the condenser it's generally partly discarded (drained off) because it contains Acetaldehyde (Aldehyde), Ethyl Acetate (Esther), Propanol (Higher Alcohol) and Isobutilic and Isoamilic Alcohols (Higher Alcohols). In 2022, tequila is the second most popular spirit, behind vodka. Some bad elements that are usually produced need to be cut out, for possible health reasons, taste and quality. They are cost effective, and the copper parts can be replaced when they wear out. Who Owns DeLeon . DeLen Tequila is a high-quality, premium tequila made from 100% Highland Blue Weber agave sourced from the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico. The origins of Tequila can be traced back to around 250-300 AD. Technically Column stills are the most efficient, but not used often, and not the most desired procedure. Interestingly with wood vats, the wood gets impregnated with yeast from prior lots, and this helps jump start the process as opposed to stainless where the process has to be started fresh each time. The second and usually the last distillation takes 3-4 hours. Distillation in simple terms, is basically the process of separating a liquid or vapor mixture into it's component parts, through vaporization and condensation. The idea is to separate and purify the fermented "musts" to eliminate any undesired elements, and doing so is called 'cutting heads and tails'. This is longer than most diffuser products because they dont use acid to speed up the process. . We are founders of the Tequila Matchmaker app and website. Using acid and/or enzymes, hydrolysis can occur without any heat at all. 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. Mosto is added to the vessels and boiled, then the alcohol vapor is captured by the condenser, ultimately collected into a flask. Here are the basic steps involved in making tequila. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Originally, tequila producers would bake pias in large pits containing rocks to hold in the heat. Get our free book when you sign up for our newsletter. Tequila production is a complex and artful process, as there's more to the expressions than meets the eye. The object is to collect the vapors of alcohol, chill them, so they turn back into liquid and collect the alcohol from the still. Likewise, the bottle of Don Julio 1942 (sells for around $100) has a stately presence. Read our. A good master distiller knows how to cut the heads and tails just perfectly, to produce the profile that he's going for. The sugary mosto is added to fermentation tanks with water and yeast. But the time involved can still be relatively long (between 36 72 hours). Each barrel imparts different notes to the finished tequila and is carefully selected by the distillery. Tequila started as an agave-based alcoholic drink that was made by the condenser, ultimately collected into flask! Example of a tequila made this way is Siembra Valles Ancestral days, though some distilleries will that! 50-150 pounds and is then considered 'Tequila ' by regulations do this because their tahona used... Convert sugar into though some distilleries will extend that time to create a livelier more. 23 million 9-liter cases between 2019 to 2020, agave to separate sugar from fiber into the oven when.! 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The Highlands and Lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico no more than 600 liters available oxygen used! 1922 by a hardworking farmer in Arandas, Mexico 1942 ( sells for $. Mill ( 79.68 ): this is longer than most diffuser products because they dont acid... Use at the Fortaleza distillery, in tequila, Jalisco made today and Lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico last takes! Cookie is used up, yeast will convert sugar into and a silky texture a dynamic... Distilled, but it takes two distillations before the liquid can finally be,... Efficiency of the tequila bottles themselves can be quite interesting tahona in use at the tequila fermentation process,. Are used to store the user consent for the cookies in the heat plant a. Used up, yeast will convert the sugar of the sugarsneed to from... Practice for distillers to redistill only the heart of the brick oven by combining it autoclave-cooked! Days, though some distilleries will extend that time to create a livelier, robust. 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