Main Differences between Tequila and Other Forms of Alcohol


Alcoholic beverages come in many kinds; we have whiskeys, beer, wine, champagne, vodka, rum, scotch, gin and tequila. The alcoholic content varies from drink and drink and is wholly dependent on how these beverages are prepared and what their contents are. Now it is true that every alcoholic beverage is different from each other and tastes different too, but if we dig deeper into the manufacturing secrets of tequila and the processing restrictions, it can be seen that there are significant differences between other alcoholic beverages and the best tequilas in Mexico.

Every individual alcohol variant is sourced from a single source of origin. For example, beer is made from cereal grains that are distilled and fermented to bring out the signature taste of beer. Whiskey and scotch made of grain mash ferment sourced from barley, rye, wheat, corn etc. depending on which of these grows in the locations where whiskey is processed. Rum is made of sugarcane juices that are distilled and aged. Vodka is primarily made of juices fermented from grains, potatoes and some other fruits. And finally, we have the best tequilas in Mexico that are made from the blue agave plants.

Now every drink has its own source material, so what makes tequila different? Barley and corn from which whiskey and scotch are made are available worldwide, making those beverages capable of being manufactured almost anywhere in the world. Many countries worldwide host grape vineyards, making wines and champagnes another widely available product. The same goes for vodka, rums, gins and brandy; the source materials are available in many different countries.

But not in the case of tequila. While tequila also has a unique source material in terms of the blue agave plant, these plants are exclusive to just a few locations in Mexico, and they don’t grow anywhere else in the world. The best tequilas in Mexico are usually aged for 3+ years and made from agave plants that are mature after half a decade, making tequila manufacturing a very intricate process with no margin for error.

The limited availability of blue agave plants make tequila a drink that is exclusively manufactured in Mexico, both due to geographical constraints and a law passed by the Mexican government making Tequila illegal to be made anywhere else outside Mexico. Mexico exports 100% of the tequila sold worldwide, although other countries are allowed to import tequila in barrels and bottle them locally.

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