Be honest: What do you think of when we talk about tequila? For some of you, you might dry heave, remembering that one night you had one too many shots. For others, you may have never even tasted it yet, fearful over those drunken stories of the people who dry heave!
Well, what if we told you tequila is more than just strong alcohol that gets us hammered?
It actually has some flavors we can appreciate!
Hold up; what does tequila taste like?
Tequila comes in various flavors, depending on the brand, where the agave was grown, how long it’s aged, and who produced it. Surprisingly, the tequila may be fruity and sweet, while others have black pepper and oak notes!
Let’s delve deeper into the wonders of tequila and how their flavors came to be.
What is Tequila?
A lot of us know tequila simply as “that monstrous drink that has us wake up with raging hangovers.” Well, it’s much more than that and alcohol we can appreciate, like wine! (*)
Tequila is an alcoholic spirit made of Weber Azul, a cultivar of the blue agave plant. The plant is a succulent monocot, a relative of the aloe and yucoe, and native to the Jalisco region of Mexico. Only five Mexican states produce this liquor, with Jalisco being the most modern tequila production location.
Fun fact: Tequila is Mexico's most produced spirit and most popular liquor worldwide.
It’s a distilled spirit prevalent in the USA and Mexico used in cocktails or taken alone in shots, with its flavors and high alcohol content appreciated by many.
What Does Tequila Taste Like?
Again, tequila’s flavor would vary. There are different types of tequilas with different tastes, and we will discuss each of them. That way, you know what to order and taste test! (*)
1. Blanco Tequila
Blanco tequila, also known as silver or Plata tequila, is either aged for two months or bottled without aging. This type of tequila best represents the plant it’s made from, the blue agave.
Expect to taste notes of sea salt, black pepper, citrus, and spice. It has a harsh and bold flavor that makes the blanco a common addition to mixed drinks like margaritas or citrus-flavored cocktails.
Blanco tequilas are cheaper compared to aged tequilas.
2. Reposado Tequila
Reposado tequila is known as the rested tequila, aged between 2 and 12 months. It isn’t as harsh as the Blanco and has a sweeter flavor. This tequila’s flavor and color come from the oak barrels it was aged in.
Expect flavors like citrus, honey, chocolate, cinnamon, black pepper, and chiles. It’s a mix of sweet and spicy, so many people will have fun with its complex flavors!
Reposado tequila is a higher-end version of the Blanco, retaining similar flavor notes but having a smoother taste. It’s also earthier than the Blanco.
3. Anejo Tequila
Anejo tequila is a high-quality tequila known as vintage or extra-aged. This tequila is aged for up to three years, giving it a smoother taste and darker color than other tequila.
With the Anejo, expect a sweet, fruity, and earthy flavor as it maintains a peppery taste. It has various flavors like nuts, citrus, bananas, caramel, and oak!
4. Extra Anejo Tequila
This is a reasonably new tequila variety that needs to be aged for at least three years. Compared to other types of tequila, manufacturers add water to the mixture after the aging process.
As a result, you get the richest and smoothest flavor compared to the others. We can compare the taste of extra Anejo to bourbon and whiskey. It’s a costly variety usually drunk straight rather than mixed into cocktails to appreciate its flavor.
5. Gold Tequila
Gold tequila is also called the Joven. It’s a combination of the Blanco tequila with aged tequila and additives. Such additives would include ingredients like corn syrup or cane sugar so that you can categorize it as a mixto.
Additives would give this tequila the appearance that it’s pricier, but the taste and texture aren’t similar to tequila made from 100% blue agave plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got some questions left over after learning what tequila tastes like? Here are frequently asked questions:
1. Is tequila unhealthy?
Tequila is about 40-60% alcohol, depending on the brand and type. Alcohol can be harmful and causes inebriation when consumed too much. It can also lead to alcoholism and binge drinking. Moreover, it has a lot of calories in one shot, so that it may take a toll on your weight. (*)
Because of all that, it’s essential to avoid going overboard with your alcohol consumption and only drink how much you can take.
2. Are tequila and vodka the same?
No, these are not the same liqueurs! Tequila is blue agave, while vodka is made of water and ethanol. Tequila also tastes sweeter than vodka, as vodka has no flavor, tasting like extremely bitter water!
Furthermore, vodka has 50-95% ABV, while tequila is about 60%. You may get drunk off vodka quicker, but it depends on how much you drink.
3. What’s the best way to consume tequila?
There isn’t the best way to consume tequila, but there are different ways to do so! The most popular form of drinking tequila is through shots, either taken straight with lemon and salt or with mixers.
You can also make many cocktails with tequila to make it more enjoyable, especially if you love sweeter or fruitier flavors. There’s the shaken martini, juice highballs, or fruity margaritas!
Wrapping It Up
Surprisingly, tequila doesn’t only have a bitter taste from its strong alcohol content! When you are more focused on tequila’s flavor after a sip or shot, you’ll appreciate the flavors it offers.
We hope you got your answer to the question, “what does tequila taste like?” Now that you know the answer, it’s time to take your friends you for a taste test and see what tequila variety is the best!
