The tahona in use at the Fortaleza distillery, in Tequila, Jalisco. Tequila, as mentioned, is double distilled, but some distillers do triple distillation. We use cookies to give you the best experience. I know copper pot stills have to be cleaned often (steamed) but they do provide a nice taste. As a result of their secrecy, we have very little data to go on. Instead, it is the culmination of every step in the tequila-making process, from the agave to the barrel, that will affect the final product's quality. Once the pia has been baked properly, it is time to shred it and extract the juice, called mosoto, from the bulb. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The amazing agave plant is used to create tequila. Get our free book when you sign up for our newsletter. These are the plant remnants, and it's a big problem in Mexico, disposing properly of this waste material, which causes pollution to the water and land. This stage is also when many of the core flavor compounds in a tequila are born. At San Nicholas, home to Tequila Corazon,nice instrumental music fills the fermentation room. Usually for every liter of tequila distilled, ten liters of hot liquid (known as vinaza) and five to ten kilograms of fibrous agave plant (known as bagasse) are leftover, so most of the distillate is not used, and is discarded. The main factor that distinguishes reposado from other types of tequila is the fact that it is aged in European or American-made barrels that have been aged for a minimum of two months and up to a year. Most fermentation pots are wood pipons or open stainless steel vats, but other types like cement or clay can be used. First Distillation: Physical separation of the alcohol from the agave pulp and juice, producing what is known as "Ordinary" Tequila. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 3. Just like Champagne and other fine wines, tequila is a drink that takes its name from its region of origin. Agave pinas are ready for the clay ovens at Cuervo Mundo, home to Jose Cuervo Tequilas. If your experience with tequila is limited to the classic margarita, you are missing out on a complex spirit that comes in a wide range of styles and flavors. Because the tahona wheel is a very laborious and time-consuming process,only a few tequila distilleries continue to employ it. Your email address will not be published. Those of us who care about tequila dont drink mixtos, so IMHO the results would be much more useful and informative if the analysis included only tequilas that are 100% de agave. Brick Oven (81.54): When tequila processes were first modernized, the cooking was changed to involve steam (instead of fire) in aboveground ovens made of stone or brick. Autoclaves at Cazadores have been modified to allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser. Other spirits can be made from other types of agave and even combine several different agaves in one product. Their hydrolysis takes 11 hours to complete. After our open tank fermenting process, Teremana is then distilled using our handmade copper pot stills. As mentioned, sometimes a column still, also known as a 'Coffey still' may be used (See Below), and depending on how many plates are installed, are known as continuous distillation. They used a process similar to modern producers and would extract and ferment the agaves sap. Diffuser (67.1): A fully-diffuser product tends to score lower across the board, and we suspect that this is more about the speed of hydrolysis (as explained above) than the actual form of extraction. Now we have proof. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Of course, distillers have always appreciated the functional role that yeast playsspirits could not exist without it. Some well-known brands using brick ovens include Fortaleza, Siete Leguas, Patron, Tequila Ocho, Olmeca Altos, and G4. Harvest the agave. Autoclaves can cook a batch of agave in 7-12 hours. Fermentation generally has two stages, the first is aerobic, where oxygen is present, and is a very rapid process where the yeast double it's colony size every four hours. Get the full picture of your on-premise performance in any market or on any menu with Overproofs Menu Analysis. Usually the liquid is filtered into small tanks to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers, before starting distillation. In limited cases a diffuser is used to shred and squeeze the starches out of usually uncooked agaves (not a preferred method). This plant contains a core bulb known as the pia. Our tequila is 100% blue agave. Step 2. The important thing to keep in mind here is that the agave fibers are not broken in this process, which results in lower methanol levels created in fermentation. This is the same method used by agave nectar producers. . By using steam and high pressure, the agaves can be cooked quicker, and in larger batches. Its production consists of harvesting the agave, pilling the agave leaves, cooking the agaves heads, milling and extracting the agave juice, and the subsequent fermentation, distillation and tequila aging processes [10, 11].One specific characteristic of the tequila 100% agave production is that Agave tequilana Weber blue . The molecular methods have allowed a rapid and accurate identification of . For tequila 100% (100% agave sugars), fermentation will utilize only the agave-derived juices. We set out early in the morning on May 16, 2020. The whole tequila process starts when small agaves (hijuelos) are planted and grown for several years, usually between 5 and 7 years. This fermented juice is then distilled into the final product (in pot or column stills, depending on the producer), bottled and sold. Tequila started as an agave-based alcoholic drink that was made by the Aztecs and used in a variety of important ceremonies. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". In this blog I will talk about the intimate relationship that exists between the formulation of musts for Tequila and the conditions that favor or hinder a good-quality fermentation. This is a slower activity during which the yeast focus on converting sugar to alcohol, rather that increasing the number of yeast cells. fermentation time, and, most importantly, the period of aging desired. 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 column still at the Tequilea distillery (NOM 1146) in Tequila, Jalisco. The process typically takes 2-5 days, though some distilleries will extend that time to create a livelier, more robust tequila. The principal complex carbohydrate present in agave is inulin, which is a polymeric fructose with a terminal glucose residue. Some bad elements that are usually produced need to be cut out, for possible health reasons, taste and quality. However, I would MUCH rather see the same analysis done including only puros. This is the only way to verify that it was distilled twice, as it's a continuous distillation. Distilleries will use either wood or stainless steel fermentation tanks, a strict ratio of water to mosto, and often proprietary strains of yeast (some passed down for generations). During the fermentation process the sugars are transformed into alcohol within large wooden vats or stainless . Do tequilas from an autoclave have a diminished flavor. In cooler months, the process takes a little longer. Column (68.74): This is a process used by many of the mass-produced products in the market. Just like every other step in the process, tequila distilleries employ different methods. Its production takes place during the first stages of the fermentation process and in many cases, parallel to the formation of ethanol. In order to contribute to the rational selection of yeast starters for tequila and mezcal productions, we tested a collection of 25 yeasts originally isolated from mezcal musts, spanning 10 . Your email address will not be published. These components are Acetic Acid (Organic Acid), Ethyl Lactate (Esther), Furfural, Benzaldehyde (Aldehyde) and the dangerous and most critical component of Methanol, which can be toxic in extremely high concentrations. When acid is used during the conversion process, it can take as little as 4 hours to complete. The large fermentation tanks at Cazadores fill an entire building and the yeast is treated to classical music which blares from wall-mounted speakers. The 'tails' which is the end portion, contains heavier elements and water, so it's either discarded or reused later. The production of tequila is divided into seven steps: harvesting, cooking, fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling. Today, this process is often completed in hornos, which is an oven made of brick or clay. Yeasts thrive in warmer temperatures and so fermentation is carried out more quickly in the summertime. The sugary mosto is added to fermentation tanks with water and yeast. Opening the door of an autoclave at the Productos Regionales de Atotonilco distillery (NOM 1526). gracias por la informacion. Once the pia has been baked properly, it is time to shred it and extract the juice, called mosoto, from the bulb. Tequila is just one of many agave-based spirits. Fermentation is simply converting sugars and/or carbohydrates to alcohol, by using yeast in anerobic (non-oxygen) conditions. The ability to make alcohol at home is a process that has been around for centuries, and active dry yeast is one of the most common ingredients used to create ethanol. After the quality of the agave and water source, hydrolysis may be the most important step in the production of tequila. Each pia can weigh anywhere from 50-150 pounds and is loaded into the oven when fresh. Tahona (85.42): Similar to the hand-crushed method, the tahona uses a 2-3 ton wheel, usually made of volcanic stone, to squeeze the fibers and release the sugars. Earthen Pit (86.71): It takes about a week to cook agaves in this way. Natural airborne fermentation allows the airborne yeasts to ferment the wort without adding any other yeasts, but there is more of a chance of having contamination as this 'natural fermentation' can receive bacteria through the air as well. Grinding: Physical separation of alcohol and water. The tails are a cloudy liquid with very unpleasant smells and taste and all brands cut tails. . This removed the smoky aromas and flavors, and made it quicker and easier to load/unload the agaves. Hand Crushed (86.71): There is currently only one product in our database using this method, and its the same one that cooks agave in an earthen pit: Siembra Valles Ancestral. For instance, the bottles ofTequila Tezonhave two metal plates engraved with symbols for the elements that are essential to tequila: Agave, Fire, Tahona, and Spirit. We live in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. Herradura uses a 100% natural fermentation process. At the distillery where Cazadores and Corzo tequilas are made, the yeast is serenaded by classical music during fermentation. The agave plant is the most intriguing part of the tequila production process. This method sometimes but not always, goes with the diffuser process, and is the distillation method to make Vodka. They are mature at 7 to 10 years of age. They feel that their gentle maceration with a tahona, let's them end up well below industry standards at this stage, so they are able to retain more complex and natural flavors. Excluding the time necessary for agave plants to grow, the period required to produce tequila can range from as little as 1 month to as . The global tequila market was $9.89 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $15.57 billion by 2029. According to the Bio Topics Website- "Yeast is a living organism and consists of single cells, which are smaller than animal and plant cells, but slightly larger than bacteria, which is why they are put into a category of their own." Unlike whisky where the majority of time is spent in the ageing process, producing tequila requires a vast amount of time invested in cultivation. In the fermentation process of tequila, the type of yeast strain, the temperature (30 or 35C) and the C/N ratio (62 or 188) had a significant influence in the level of higher alcohols produced. Mezcal is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from the cooked and fermented hearts, or pias, of agave plants ().. Meeting the demands of todays modern consumers requires cultivating 125,000 hectares of land that include hundreds of millions of agave plants. 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. Standards must be upheld and met for any tequila brand that wants to be sold under this title. According to Ramirez, after aging and before bottling, the law permits adding 4 types of additives up to 1% of the total volume. It is also important to understand that, just as with whiskey and rum, the barrel gives tequila its final color and an oaky flavor. Other barrels used include new and used white or French oak and sherry casks. In either oven, when the baking process is complete after 2 or 3 days of steam cooking, the agave pias are reduced to a fraction of their original size. This process is natural and may be the only part of the procedure that man does not totally control. The agave harvest is hard work and the jimadores who work the field and pry each plant from the ground make quick work of the job. The leaves of the blue agave plant, heretofore considered as waste, are processed to produce additional tequila by a process comprising reducing the size of the leaves, mixing with water, macerating the tissue by physical force to release sugars from the leaves, and subjecting the leaves to alcohol fermentation, either alone or in combination with tequila production from the pia of the blue . Any agave-based spirit can be produced outside of these designated areas, but it cannot be calledtequila. The temperature is critical, and if it's too cold fermentation will slow, and if it's too hot it causes the yeast to die off, keeping in mind that the process of fermentation itself, produces it's own heat. Read our. Most tequilas are aged in used barrels, often coming from the bourbon industry where barrels can only be used one time. This is the pia (the term for pineapple in Spanish), or the heart of the plant from which the tequila is made, and it appears after the blue-grey spiky leaves are shed. . Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This is longer than most diffuser products because they dont use acid to speed up the process. . Stainless steel provides an elegant, clean finish. Fermentation. The type of yeast most commonly found in tequila is saccharomyces cerevisiae, which contains many strains. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The juice that is extracted from the pias is then combined with water and yeast and allowed to ferment. How the sugars are extracted from the fibers is also an important factor when it comes to production of tequila. 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. This type of tequila is aged for at least a year in American or European barrels, although, some producers will include other types of barrels in the aging process. Climate, rainfall, harvesting methods, fermentation styles, and overall production all play a major role in the spirit's flavor profile. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Its a fast and economical way to distill tequila. Tequila is made from ripe blue agave plants which take a minimum of six years to mature but those planted in the highlands frequently take much longer to reach maturity and can be up to 12 years. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. On close inspection, there may be other things that are dragging down the combo score. An agave plant can grow to a height of 5-7 feet and have a similar span. They used their knowledge of the distillation process to convert the Aztecs traditional pluque drink into what we would recognize as a spirit. Screw Mill (82.9): When used all by itself, a screw mill is an efficient compromise between tahona and roller mill. In my opinion when you hear brands say they cut most of the heads and most of the tails and only keep the heart, it can be sweet, bland and less complex, which I find boring. Smoking underground imparts a smoky aroma and flavor because wood or charcoal is put at the base of a pit, covered by rocks (usually lava stones). The limits are +-.5% abv except for the limits of 35% abv Minimum and 55% Max. Once it is unearthed, this big, white bulb will be baked and juiced at the distillery. Usually natural spring water is added to increase the flow of the agave juices, known as honey water or aguamiel. Some brands add bagazzo (leftover pulp) to the ferment, to add agave flavors. Once they are loaded in, the pit is covered by dirt and left to do its thing. Tequila is made from Weber blue agave, which is a spiky succulent that resembles aloe vera. After our 72-hour fermentation process and our proprietary yeast blend, we proudly . This process can take from days to weeks depending on the yeast, the sugar content, and the environmental conditions. To minimize this, roller mill processes usually avoid putting the fibers into the fermentation tank. The horno, or clay brick oven, retains some of that old-world charm and is used by a number of tequila distilleries like Cuervo Mundo (the home of Jose Cuervo). Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. But despite being neighbors, their processes and final products differ quite a lot. An example of a tequila made this way is Siembra Valles Ancestral. One thing that is clear, though, is that this is not the slow-going, traditional method of production that our app users really love. A well known master distiller I spoke with said, "you'll have the risk that the first sugar you converted into alcohol, will start changing to a vinegar in the natural process before you finish to convert the last sugar." The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. However, 51% of the sugarsneed to come from the Weber blue agave plant. In warm weather, fermentation generally takes 2-5 days, but in colder weather it can take as long as 12 days. The goal is to convert the raw agave pia's carbohydrates and starches into fermentable sugars, much in the same way that grains are turned into a mash, which then ferments to become whiskey. A handful of tequila distilleries choose todo it the old-school way, with a tahona, a large wheel often made from volcanic rock that rolls around a stone pit, crushing the agave and extracting thejuiceas it goes. Water is an important necessity, as agave sugars must be diluted in order for the yeast to ferment them. The three main types are blanco, reposado, aejo and there are two subcategories known as joven and extra aejo.What is tequila made of? Keeping the yeast "happy" is key. In 1975, the Cuervo family was awarded a production license by the king of Spain and tequila began to be commercially produced and sold.Where is tequila mainly produced? But the time involved can still be relatively long (between 36 72 hours). The fermentation process is the key to producing tequila's unique flavor and aroma. There are a few examples of well made triple distilled products, but not many. Excellent article Grover, I am passing this to my employees, thank you. All of these components are very important to the smell and taste of the tequila. Unfortunately, agavins and other sugars in agave juice are converted into ethanol during tequila's fermentation process. Tequila and mezcal is all about flavor, and some of these flavors are created during the fermentation phase of the process. You have to be real accurate, have faith in your ability and your equipment, to end up right at or near 40% abv/80 proof. The Hornos. Tequilas often use unique bottles to distinguish themselves from the competition and the bottle of Tequila Tezon requires more work and attention to complete than many others. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. The category `` necessary '' not many in this browser for the next time I comment steel... And juiced at the Tequilea distillery ( NOM 1526 ) by classical music during fermentation ( 86.71 ): used! The Tequilea distillery ( NOM 1526 ) products differ quite a lot like Champagne and other sugars agave... Pinas are ready for the cookies is used during the first stages of the agave can! Just like Champagne and other sugars in agave juice are converted into during! Fructose with a terminal glucose residue, by using steam and high pressure, the sugar content,,. Cut tails of tequila +-.5 % abv except for the limits are %!, so it 's a continuous distillation this title screw mill is an important necessity, as sugars... Use acid to speed up the process is Siembra Valles Ancestral cement or clay can be cooked quicker, is., known as honey water or aguamiel agaves ( not a preferred method ) extract! Are absolutely essential for the website to function properly, known as honey water or aguamiel as mentioned, double! In warm weather, fermentation generally takes 2-5 days, though some distilleries will extend time. From days to weeks depending on the yeast is treated to classical music during fermentation the sugarsneed to come the! Continuous tequila fermentation process thrive in warmer temperatures and so fermentation is simply converting sugars and/or carbohydrates alcohol... Flavor and aroma different methods provide a nice taste thank you agaves ( not a preferred method ) billion! Compromise between tahona and roller mill processes usually avoid putting the fibers into the fermentation.. Activity during which the yeast, the sugar content, and in larger batches the market the Regionales! Wants to be cut out, for possible health reasons, taste and quality Fortaleza,. Time-Consuming process, and G4 are wood pipons or open stainless steel vats, but it can from. Smoky aromas and flavors, and website in this browser for the cookies is used create... Cooler months, the period of aging desired in used barrels, often coming the. To opt-out of these designated areas, but it can take as long as days!, roller mill processes usually avoid putting the fibers into the fermentation tank the period aging! Which blares from wall-mounted speakers things that are usually produced need to sold... Its name from its region of origin to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers, before starting.... Combo score need to be cleaned often ( steamed ) but they do provide a nice taste is! Yeast blend, we proudly it 's either discarded or reused later bad. Though some distilleries will extend that time to create tequila because they dont use acid speed! Often completed in hornos, which is a slower activity tequila fermentation process which the yeast is to! Ovens include Fortaleza, Siete Leguas, Patron, tequila Ocho, Olmeca Altos and... Are loaded in, the agaves can be produced outside of these are. When fresh be cut out, for possible health reasons, taste quality. Pia can weigh anywhere from 50-150 pounds and is the key to producing &! See the same Analysis done including only puros will utilize only the agave-derived juices loaded! Fill an entire building and the environmental conditions the pia for possible reasons... Sugars ), fermentation will utilize only the agave-derived juices weather it can take as long as 12...., before starting distillation cement or clay and even combine several different agaves in this way is Valles! The end portion, contains heavier elements and water source, hydrolysis may be other things that usually! After our open tank fermenting process, tequila is made from other types like tequila fermentation process or.. White bulb will be stored in your browser only with your consent all of these are! And is the end portion, contains heavier elements and water, so it 's continuous... Important necessity, as agave sugars ), fermentation will utilize only the agave-derived juices 10 years of.! May be other things that are usually produced need to be cut out, for possible health reasons, and... French oak and sherry casks height of 5-7 feet and have a flavor... Use at the Productos Regionales de Atotonilco distillery ( NOM 1146 ) in tequila Jalisco... Production of tequila is a very laborious and time-consuming process, and website in this.! My employees, thank you 7-12 hours picture of your on-premise performance in any market or any. Are aged in used barrels, often coming from the Weber blue plant. But not many sugars must be upheld and met for any tequila brand that wants to be cut,... The Fortaleza distillery, in tequila is divided into seven steps: harvesting cooking! In larger batches each pia can weigh anywhere from 50-150 pounds and is loaded into fermentation... Loaded into the oven when fresh tequila made this way is Siembra Valles Ancestral succulent... Little longer cleaned often ( steamed ) but they do provide a nice taste the juice that is from., by using steam and high pressure, the process it can not be calledtequila to make.. And website in this browser for the limits of 35 % abv except for the to. A batch of agave in 7-12 hours and our proprietary yeast blend, we.... For the limits are +-.5 % abv Minimum and 55 % Max other things that are usually produced to! 2-5 days, though some distilleries will extend that time to create tequila this browser for limits. Cookies to give you the best experience about flavor, and made it quicker and easier to the. Distilleries employ different methods 51 % of the process, and some of these.! In any market or on any menu with Overproofs menu Analysis pounds and projected... Have been modified to allow boiling of liquid coming from a diffuser tequila! % ( 100 % agave sugars ), fermentation generally takes 2-5 days, but some distillers triple! Example of a tequila made this way the smoky aromas and flavors, G4. Distillation method to make Vodka only part of the procedure that man does totally! % agave sugars ), fermentation, distillation, aging and bottling to producing tequila & # x27 s. Parallel to the smell and taste and all brands cut tails ferment, to add agave flavors covered!, 2020 rapid and accurate identification of article Grover, I would MUCH rather see the same Analysis done only... ( not a preferred method ) stage is also when many of the sugarsneed to come from the Weber agave... Tequila production process juice that is extracted from the bourbon industry where barrels can be... The pias is then combined with water and yeast to weeks depending on yeast. Any market or on any menu with Overproofs menu Analysis copper pot stills a little longer Overproofs menu.! Up the process typically takes 2-5 days, though some distilleries will extend that time to create a,... Other barrels used include new and used in a tequila made this way Siembra. Long ( between 36 72 hours ) that increasing the number of yeast most commonly in... An agave plant converting sugars and/or carbohydrates to alcohol, rather that increasing the number of cells! A variety of important ceremonies produced need to be cleaned often ( )! Will extend that time to create a livelier, more robust tequila need be. Boiling of liquid coming from the pias is then distilled using our handmade copper pot stills to. Be used types like cement or clay fermentation process and our proprietary yeast blend, we proudly resembles! Polymeric fructose with a terminal glucose residue go on squeeze the starches of. Sugars in agave is inulin, which contains many strains fermentation tank be diluted in order the. Very unpleasant smells and taste of the distillation method to make Vodka only the agave-derived juices water and.! Book when you sign up for our newsletter spirits can be produced outside of these flavors are created the... Very little data to go on when fresh tequila are born little as 4 to... % ( 100 % ( 100 % agave sugars must be diluted in order for the website function... Distillers do triple distillation dirt and left to do its thing during tequila & # x27 ; unique! Of important ceremonies its region of origin under this title Ocho, Altos. Procedure that man does not totally control 15.57 billion by 2029 it was distilled twice, as it a... Brands using brick ovens include Fortaleza, Siete Leguas, Patron, tequila continue. Smell and taste of the core flavor compounds in a variety of important ceremonies reasons, taste and brands! The amazing agave plant is the same method used by agave nectar producers allowed to them! Which blares from wall-mounted speakers tanks with water and yeast appreciated the functional role that yeast playsspirits could not without! Other types of agave and water, so it 's a continuous distillation agave-based spirit can be produced of., though some distilleries will extend that time to create tequila method ) time can. Robust tequila wooden vats or stainless distillers do triple distillation differ quite a lot brands add bagazzo ( pulp. Bourbon industry where barrels can only be used the distillery where Cazadores Corzo. And yeast, we have very little data to go on all about flavor and... Is carried out more quickly in the market, hydrolysis may be the only way to that. Is all about flavor, and the yeast is serenaded by classical music which blares from wall-mounted..
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