Tequila Tequila Tequila!

Mix it in a margarita or give it to us straight, who would say no to tequila? We’re celebrating the London Tequila Expo presented by FM96 happening this weekend with a margarita and a quick history lesson. Turns out, there’s a ton of stuff we didn’t know about Mexico’s fave drink!

Tequila was first produced in the 16th century near the location of the city of Tequila (go figure!), in the state of Jalisco. Long before the Spanish arrived in the year 1521, the Aztecs had been making a fermented beverage from the blue agave plant. Many believe that Don Pedro Sánchez de Tagle took advantage of the vineyard ban from King Philip II of Spain and started harvesting blue agave instead.

Just like champagne, it can only be called ‘tequila’ if it is produced and bottled in Mexico. More specifically the state of Jalisco and limited other regions. Given it was such an important part of Mexican heritage, the Mexican government declared the word ‘tequila’ as it’s own intellectual property in 1974.

It’s pretty simple when it comes to making tequila. Every single bottle of the delicious spirit is made from blue agave. The pina or the heart of the blue agave is the sweet spot, full of sugars and hence why it’s used as part of the tequila making process. Specialized agave harvesters are known as Jimidores and they determine if the pina is ripe which is a particularly difficult job given they are covered in thick, spikey leaves.

When you think of tequila, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For most of you, you probably said ‘salt, shoot, and lime.’ Am I right? But did you know that’s the wrong way to drink it? The best way to drink it is to sip it slowly. That’s right, just like you would a nice whiskey.

Top 3 Tequila Drink Recipes:

Margarita

Ingredients:
2 oz. silver tequila
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. lime juice
coarse salt

Directions:
Chill a cocktail glass, and then rub its rim with lime juice and dip it in coarse salt. Add tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and ice together in a cocktail shaker. Shake and then strain into the glass over ice.

Tequila Sunrise

Ingredients
1 1/2 oz. tequila
3 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tsp. grenadine

Directions:
Shake tequila and orange juice well with cracked ice, then strain into a large, chilled cocktail glass. Add grenadine and stir gently, for no longer than is necessary to produce layers of oranges and reds.

La Paloma

Ingredients:
2 oz. tequila
1/2 oz. lime juice
pinch of salt
grapefruit soda

Directions:
Combine the tequila (reposado, preferably), lime juice, and salt in a tall glass. Add ice, top off with grapefruit soda, and stir.

Now that we’ve delved into the archives, we’re feeling a little thirsty... Why not join us for a sample? The London Tequila Expo presented by FM96 is a chance to explore the world of agave-based spirits Tequila and Mezcal all in one place. Tequila is a fantastic drink that deserves to be front and centre as the star of the show! Visit Budweiser Gardens this Saturday from 3 pm-11 pm for a display of the finest tequilas, plus live mariachi music, cocktails, beer, food and new this year we have Lucha Libre wrestling! Purchase your tickets in advance CLICK HERE!