Tequila, the agave-derived spirit born within the Mexican city that shares its title, has lengthy been related within the UK with poor-quality photographs. However that’s previous information. After years of being sidelined and misunderstood, tequila is now one of many fastest-growing spirits classes within the UK, with a rising variety of customers recognising it as a flexible and scrumptious craft spirit – one to be loved and savoured.
Consejo Regulador del Tequila – the organisation accountable for defending the drink’s denomination of origin – reported that 1.7m litres of tequila had been shipped to the UK in 2020. John Vine, spirits purchaser at Waitrose, says that the corporate noticed tequila gross sales develop by greater than 127% from 2019 to 2021. “Superstar endorsements from individuals similar to George Clooney and Kendal Jenner have helped elevate consciousness of the class and herald a brand new viewers,” he explains. “Individuals are more and more realising that it's versatile, refreshing in cocktails, and never only for photographs.”
Carlos Fontoira, head of bars at boutique Mexican restaurant chain El Pastor, says that it’s a pattern he’s seen first-hand. “Through the years at El Pastor I’ve witnessed our friends getting extra into tequila,” he says. “They’re transferring away from considering of it as just for photographs and beginning to think about its potentialities as a premium sipping spirit. They’re additionally extra prepared to strive totally different tequila cocktails.”
However why has it taken British drinkers so lengthy to embrace Mexico’s signature spirit? “I feel tequila has all the time been the odd one out for customers within the UK,” says Daniele Umoette, ambassador for el Jimador’s 100% blue agave tequila. “Shoppers within the UK are extra used to scotch, gin and rum due to the historic ties this nation has with such spirits.”
Tequila, notably el Jimador, is worthy of observe although, Umoette says. “El Jimador is produced at Casa Herradura, our distillery within the city of Amatitán, Mexico. Regardless of being comparatively younger as a model [launched in 1994], we've got 152 years of distilling information from our sister model Herradura. El Jimador is a 100% agave tequila and that speaks volumes about its high quality. Its wild fermentation additionally contributes to producing its stunning flavour.”
The share of agave – a succulent, which is usually mistaken for a cactus attributable to its spiky leaves – is the distinction between a poor-quality tequila and an excellent one, explains Ruben Aceves, international model ambassador of Casa Herradura. “When tequila is constituted of 100% agave, it means there are not any different sugar sources inside it. So, if a tequila has solely 51% agave juices, the opposite 49% may be from any impartial spirit, from whichever fermentable supply similar to corn, wheat, sugar cane, or a mix of them. And this may be performed with out having to elucidate it to the patron.”
Equally, the method and high quality management of the person distillery is significant to the tip outcome. At el Jimador’s iconic distillery, as an example, the manufacturing course of begins with seven-year-old agave crops, that are harvested by hand by jimadors (farmers). “We then run the agave by means of blades to chop it into very tiny items and run these by means of the diffuser; it is a very environment friendly milling system which extracts all of the attainable agave juice,” says Aceves. “After a diffusion course of, agave juice is collected and cooked in stainless-steel strain cookers. This hundreds the candy agave juice with sugar.”
The following step is fermentation, which at el Jimador is a totally pure course of, utilizing solely wild airborne yeast from the agave plantations and fruit bushes surrounding the distillery. “After fermentation is finished in our open tanks, we get a 6% ABV [alcohol by volume] agave juice. Now the sugar is gone, and the alcohol seems with plenty of stunning, tasty flavours and a novel aroma that’s straightforward and nice to take pleasure in.”
From right here, the liquid is distilled twice, the minimal requirement for a tequila, leading to a 55% ABV blanco tequila that’s clear, flavourful, and clean. It’s then made into a spread of various ABVs, relying on every nation’s guidelines.
“As soon as the ABV is adjusted with clear, stunning water, it’s aired for some hours after which bottled as a blanco or despatched to ageing if it'll be a reposado or añejo. The ageing course of for el Jimador is finished in white American oak barrels, that are specifically made for us,” Aceves provides. “The barrels are made in Kentucky USA; they're toasted, charred and have a 200-litre capability.” Aceves feels passionately that it’s this chain of small particulars and high quality management that makes el Jimador so particular, with such a definite and scrumptious profile.
So, what’s probably the most fashionable approach to take pleasure in tequila in accordance with the specialists? In fact, a zingy margarita made with freshly squeezed lime juice is all the time in style – actually, analysis discovered that it was the second most Googled cocktail recipe within the early months of the UK’s first lockdown. Nevertheless, for a extra genuine expertise, Umoette suggests the Paloma, Mexico’s most popular tequila cocktail. “This drink is a mix of tequila, pink grapefruit juice, agave syrup, a squeeze of lime and a splash of soda water, served in a salt-rimmed highball glass,” he explains. “The citrus and brilliant notes from our wild fermentation complement the peppery and spicy flavours of the Mexican delicacies superbly, making it an ideal cocktail for sharing with meals.”
Nevertheless you select to drink it, Vine urges that you just begin with a high-quality, genuine tequila. “If you're it for cocktail-making, you need to go for a blanco or reposado. For sipping, you’re an añejo,” he says. “And all the time, 100% blue agave ought to be your start line.”
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