The Agave for All seminar, dropped at ELEVATE by Proximo Spirits and Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, included an intro to tequila, together with its origins from the agave plant and the way it influences the trade right now.
The spirit’s roots date again to 1532, when the Spanish moved north into Mexico and encountered native individuals often known as the Tiquili. Their lands have been full of the blue agave succulent, tequila’s principal ingredient.
In 1600, the Marquis of Altamira constructed the primary industrial distillery within the city of Tequila, close to present-day Jalisco. By 1893, after what was dubbed “Mezcal brandy” gained quite a few awards and reward on the Chicago World’s Truthful, vino de Mezcal de tequila was renamed Tequila to assist distinguish it from different mezcal wines that have been produced in different elements of Mexico. Tequila had formally arrived.
The Margarita made its approach onto the scene in 1936, after a barkeep named Madden supposedly made an unintended tequila swap whereas crafting a Brandy Daisy. As the story goes, the Irishman’s model of the Daisy—or margarita, in Spanish—grew to become a neighborhood favourite. Jose Cuervo’s promoting introduced the margarita mainstream by 1964, and right now, it’s America’s hottest cocktail.
In 1974, “tequila” grew to become the mental property of Mexico, and 4 years later, it was the primary Mexican product to obtain an appellation of origin. In 1994, the regulation of tequila was transferred from Mexico’s commerce division to the brand new El Consejo Regulador del Tequila—and each tequila and mezcal stay the world’s sole spirit class that may solely be produced in a single nation.
By 2020, tequila’s market share was at an all-time excessive because of its reputation within the U.S. and all over the world. It’s now used each day for extra than simply fundamental margaritas and palomas, and quite a few agave-focused bars are opening throughout the US.
