
Whether silver or gold, sipped, shot back, or mixed into a cocktail, tequila is a popular spirit here in the U.S. In honor of National Tequila Day, we’re diving into the history of tequila and sharing some of our favorite honey + tequila recipes.
Tequila as we know it today comes from a storied past that stretches back to the Aztecs, and possible even as far back as the prehistoric Meso-American Olmec civilization.1 From approximately 1000 B.C. to 200 A.D., the drink was known as pulque which was made by fermenting the sap from the agave plant and is depicted in ancient pictographs. Once the Spanish came to the area in the 1500s, they introduced distilling to the spirit-making process, resulting in a less cloudy drink known as mezcal, which is distilled from agave. Flash forward to 1758 and you have the Cuervo family (yes, the Cuervos of Jose Cuervo fame) as the first to begin distilling the tequila we know today commercially, followed by the Sauza family in 1873. By 1936 the drink most closely associated with tequila – the margarita – has been invented in a Tijuana bar run by an Irishman by the name of Madden. Fun Fact: the drink was originally called the “Tequila Daisy” but later became the margarita, which means “daisy” in Spanish.2
As the popularity of the spirit grew, Mexico worked to protect one of its most valuable assets by declaring “Tequila” as intellectual property of the country in 1974. This move led to the creation of the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), or the Tequila Regulatory Council, whose job it is to “ensure quality and promote the culture surrounding the spirit.”2 As part of its intellectual property claim, Mexico defined that tequila could only be produced in certain parts of Mexico, including:
- Michocoán
- Nayarit
- Guanajuato
- Tamaulipas
- Jalisco
Additional fun fact: the state of Jalisco produces approximately 90% of the world’s supply of tequila3, which is named after the city in which it was first distilled. Many celebrities have moved into the tequila space, including George Clooney (who sold his brand, Casamigos, in 2017), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Nick Jonas, and even Kendall Jenner, many of which are produced in Jalisco.4
So, what makes tequila different from mezcal? Simply put, it’s the plant that the spirit is distilled from. While mezcal is distilled from any of the various agave varieties, tequila is produced exclusively from blue agave, which Don Cenobio Sauza identified as being the best for making tequila.2 According to Tequila Sauza, there are two kinds of tequila that are determined by the sugars it is made up of:
- Tequila (or “Mixto” tequila) – made up of at least 51% sugars from the agave and the rest from cane sugar or corn syrup sugar
- 100% Pure Agave Tequila – made 100% from the sugar of the agave5
In addition to the two kinds, there are also five types of tequila, and they are identified by the CRT as:
- Blanco (silver/white)
- Joven (young/gold)
- Reposado (aged)
- Añejo (extra aged)
- Extra Añejo (ultra aged)3
You can read about each variety of tequila in this article from liquor.com.
So, you may be asking yourself, “Why is the National Honey Board telling me so much about tequila?” And that is a fair question, but you know that around here we don’t post things by accident, and we’re always going to bring it back to honey.
Whether it’s vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, tequila, or brandy, distilled spirits and honey pair together perfectly, turning any spirit into a more complex flavor experience for consumers. Honey’s use by distillers is increasing rapidly as spirit makers realize the ingredient’s versatility. More than just sweet, honey also adds a depth of flavor to any distilled spirit through its combination of simple and complex carbohydrates, minerals, and other properties. And honey brings the flavor. As the spirit category pushes the boundaries of flavor, honey represents an innovative yet timeless flavor to incorporate into distilled spirits. One example is Hornitos Spiced Honey by the Sauza Tequila Import Company, which is a sweet and spicy tequila with floral honey, rich vanilla, and a lingering spice finish. Have you had a chance to try it? Let us know in the comments.
As the honey-distilled spirits category continues to grow, there is also something to be said about creating memorable recipes with honey and any tequila you have on hand.
In addition to adding the perfect amount of sweetness to your favorite beverages, honey also adds depth to the most complex cocktail recipes by balancing and enhancing the flavor profiles of other ingredients. But honey’s benefits don’t end in the glass. It’s also an ideal ingredient for savory dishes because it helps tame the heat of spicy ingredients, like some of those fiery Mexican chilies. Make sweet and sour a little sweeter and keep your spice levels in check all with honey! From the classic margarita to tasty tacos, here are six of our favorite honey + tequila recipes.
We want to hear from you! How are you celebrating National Tequila Day? Let us know in the comments. And remember, however you celebrate, please do so safely and in moderation.
SOURCES:
1 Morillo, A. (2021, November 1). The tequila you know and love today dates back to the Aztec civilization. Delish. https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/a36167100/history-of-tequila/
2 Archibald, A. (2015, July 27). Everything you need to know about the history of tequila. Liquor.com. https://www.liquor.com/articles/history-of-tequila/
3 Denig, V., & Morgan, A. (2023, April 5). The differences between blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila. Liquor.com. https://www.liquor.com/tequila-types-5271471
4 Sommelier, & Sommelier. (2021, June 3). Which celebrities own tequila brands? Tequila - All things Tequila. https://tequila.co.uk/celebrity-tequila/
5 When was Tequila Born? Since When Does it Exist? (n.d.). https://www.casasauza.com/all-about-tequila/when-was-tequila-born-history-tequila