Skip to main content

The Rich History of Tequila: A Homage to Nature and Culture

Tequila has been growing in popularity since the early 2000s and it seems there is no sign of it slowing down. After all, tequila is among the most widely consumed liquors on the planet. But what is it exactly?

Tequila is a fermented drink made only from the blue agave plant. It is similar to pulque, the precursor to tequila and mezcal. Pulque is also made from the agave plant and has a milky white viscous appearance. Another agave plant product is mezcal but its production involves dozens of varieties of agave plants.

Related Videos

Related Guides

The Spanish were responsible for the distilling and mass production of tequila. Since then, its popularity has continued to grow. It became so popular that in 1974, the Mexican government decided to protect the name Tequila and limited the production of tequila to only a handful of regions in Mexico. This means you cannot call tequila “tequila” unless it is made from the town of Tequila or in one of the designated states in Mexico.

Where Did Tequila Come From?

Santiago de Tequila, better known as Tequila, is the birthplace of the fermented drink made from the blue agave plant. Although people inhabited the area around Tequila, it was officially founded in the 1500s by Franciscan monks. It didn’t receive city status until the mid-1800s after the Mexican War of Independence.

Tradition has it that each night at 9 p.m., the priest blesses the town by ringing the church bell three times and presents a holy cross to the cardinal points. Every townsperson stops what they are doing and stands for the blessing. The television, radio, or whatever they are using is turned off during the blessing.

The city of Tequila was named a Pueblo Mágico, or Magical Town in 2003, which led to it becoming a World Heritage Site in 2006. The Tequila Route is a tourist destination that was also organized in 2006 to promote the popular drink. The only museum dedicated to tequila was established in 2000. The Cultural Center has a spot on the corner of the town square and is across the street from Cholula Original Hot Sauce.

On the route, you can take the Tequila Express train through tequila country and tour the lands. There are also several tourist attractions along the way. You can visit the only hotel and working distillery located at Matices Hotel de Barricas and sleep in a giant tequila barrel. Tequila is just west of Guadalajara and is also the sister city of Cathedral City, California. Cathedral City holds an annual celebration named Taste of Jalisco every year.

The World’s Top 5 Selling Tequilas

These tequilas are actually produced in the state of Jalisco, in or around the town of Tequila. Some of them have storefronts to visit, taste, and of course, buy a bottle of tequila while visiting the town of Tequila. Tequila can range from very cheap to luxury priced. A bottle of tequila once made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records for selling at the highest price of $225,000.

Read more: Best Tequilas Under $20

Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo is the number one tequila worldwide by volume of sales. It is a Mixto tequila which means it is made from 51% or more agave and roughly 49% fermented sugar cane juice.

Patrón

The brand handcrafts their barrels, bottles, and corks. They are considered a premium brand because of the popularity and marketing strategies.

1800

1800 is owned by the Jose Cuervo brand and is actually named after the year they began aging tequila in oak casks.

Don Julio

Don Julio is the largest brand of tequila even though Jose Cuervo is the number one company by sales. It is named after its founder and his sons created the brand to celebrate their father’s 60th birthday. It is distilled twice but goes directly to bottling instead of aging in barrels. To celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary, they created Tequila Don Julio 70. This tequila is distilled twice, aged for 18 months in American white oak barrels and then charcoal filtered to highlight the crisp agave flavor.

Sauza

Sauza was founded by Don Cenobio Sauze and passed down to his son, and then his grandson creating a legacy brand that was known for being one of the highest quality tequilas in the world.

How to Drink Tequila

There are several ways to drink tequila and the most popular by far is the margarita. When not using tequila for margaritas, the other option is to drink it neat, mostly from a shot glass. Tequila is becoming more and more popular and bartenders are finding new ways to incorporate tequila into their repertoire.

On a side note, the Mexican government approved National Tequila Day in 2018, which is celebrated throughout the country on the third Saturday in March. In the United States, we of course celebrate Cinco de Mayo but we also have our very own National Tequila Day which is held on July 24. Three great occasions to enjoy a nice tequila-based cocktail no matter how you like it.

Read more: Best Tequilas for Margaritas

Editors' Recommendations

Here are a half dozen Irish liquors worth trying (that aren’t whiskey)
St Patrick's Day doesn't have to always mean green beer and whiskey. Here are six other Irish liquors to look into.
6 Must-Try Irish Spirits

With St. Patrick's Day on the horizon, the masses tend to gravitate towards the standard Irish drinks. You know, a finger or two of whiskey and a Guinness to wash it all down. As tasty as the popular options are, Irish liquor has much more to offer in terms of intriguing fermented liquids.

From interesting gins and smooth cream liqueurs to things you've probably never heard of (Poitín), we've put together a half-dozen Irish liquors worth checking out this March and beyond. They offer new flavor profiles and reveal a country with way more to its name than just lagers, stouts, and whiskies. If you're looking for Irish drinks this St. Paddy's Day and perhaps tired of the same old, read on.

Read more
This is how to mix cocktails with honey for a flavorful drink
Honey is a great way to add a little sweetness and texture to a cocktail. Here's how to mix with the stuff.
Buckwheat Honey Old Fashioned on table.

Like tasty maple syrup or demerara, honey is a great cocktail ingredient that can impart flavor and sweetness. With much more character than, say, simple syrup, honey can improve drinks across the board, from a steaming Hot Toddy to a Bee's Knees cocktail.

We like a nice dose of honey in everything from a great hot cocktail to a classic bourbon creation like an Old Fashioned. But not just any honey will do and, often, you don't just want to throw it in last minute. Instead, honey can be prepped a bit so it can enter a drink seamlessly. Moreover, you can source some delicious higher-end honey that will offer lovely floral components and easy-to-mix-with flavors. Here's how to mix cocktails with honey.

Read more
How to make Ranch Water the right way for a day-drinking gem
Looking for a refreshing beverage suitable for functional day-drinking? Search no more, ranch water is here.
Refreshing Cold Tequila Ranch Water Cocktail with Lime.

If there was ever a beverage built for day drinking, it's Ranch Water. The simple cocktail, born in Texas, can take the sting out of the hottest days and refresh you to the core, without knocking you out with an abundance of alcohol.

We're still hibernating our way through winter but the days are getting longer and, soon enough, the warmth will return. When that happens, you'd be wise to have some Ranch Water on hand for you and yours. Lighter than a Margarita and far more interesting than plain water, the drink resides in a happy middle ground. Better, it'll tackle your thirst and keep you functional.

Read more