Fun Facts About the Tequila for Your Cinco de Mayo Scorpion Shot
In honor of Cinco de Mayo coming up this Sunday, last week's blog featured Savage Cocktail Inspiration for Cinco de Mayo and this week we're highlighting an excellent liquor to use for your scorpion shots - tequila! First, a few very interesting facts about this awesome drink followed by the different types you can use to shoot a Savage Scorpion.
Bet You Didn't Know That...
Tequila or Mezcal?
Tequila is mezcal but mezcal is not tequila. Sounds confusing, but it's really not. Mezcal is a liquor that is made from the maguey plant, which is a form of agave. It can be made using a variety of different agave plants, but tequila can only be made with blue agave.
It's Only Tequila If...
Not only must tequila be made with only blue agave, but it must contain at least 51% blue agave to be classified as tequila. If it is made with 100% blue agave, then it is a true tequila. When it is made up fo 51%-99% blue agave, it is technically called a mixto tequila.
Made in Mexico
Just like champagne is only sparkling wine unless it's made in Champagne, France, true tequila is required to be made in specific areas of Mexico. Any types that are made outside of those areas are actually referred to as an agave spirit.
No Worms in Tequila
Even though many people think it's tequila that you "shoot the worm" with, it's actually mezcal. The gusano (the worm) is the larva of one of two types of moths known as maguey worms that live in the agave plants used to make mezcal. Those worms are overrated anyway in our opinion. Now a scorpion shot sounds a lot more savage!
Tequila Comes From a Lily
Even though the blue agave plant looks like a cactus, it's not. Instead, it is a member of the lily family.
It's a Long Slow Process
Certain desert conditions must be present for the blue agave plant to grow. Once you have those, it can take about 8 years before the plant is mature enough to harvest. They don't regenerate either. Once you pick it, a new blue agave must be planted in its place if you want to make more.
Types of Tequila
We mentioned earlier that true tequila is made up of 100% blue agave and the rest is considered a mixto tequila. Generally, you will find that type bottled in the following categories.
Blanco
Also knows as white or plata (silver,) this type of tequila is bottled or stored immediately after distillation. If it is aged at all, it is less than 2 months, usually in stainless steel tanks. 100% agave blanco tequila is harsher than other varieties with the bold flavors of the distilled agave up front.
Gold
Colorings and flavorings are typically added prior to bottling to give the liquid its gold appearance. These are less expensive and often used for making mixed drinks. Other types of gold or "joven" tequila can be the result of blending blanco with a reposado or anejo, which keeps the spirit's 100% agave classification.
Reposado
This type of tequila is aged from 2-12 months in oak barrels. Those wooden barrels give it a golden hue and add to the flavor of the agave. Different types of wooden barrels can give the tequila different flavors, such as whiskey, cognac, or wine barrels.
Anejo
Aged anywhere from 1-3 years, this type must be kept in wooden barrels that do not exceed 600 liters. The flavor achieved after that long of a wait is smoother, richer, and more complex and the color is more of an amber.
Extra Anejo
This one is ultra-aged, kept in barrels for a minimum of 3 years. These barrels also may not be over 600 liters. This particular classification was only established 12 years ago in the summer of 2006. The extended aging process makes the tequila much darker in color and quite possibly the smoothest, richest tequila you have ever tasted. After the aging process, the alcohol content must be diluted by adding distilled water.
Bet You Didn't Know That...
Tequila or Mezcal?
Tequila is mezcal but mezcal is not tequila. Sounds confusing, but it's really not. Mezcal is a liquor that is made from the maguey plant, which is a form of agave. It can be made using a variety of different agave plants, but tequila can only be made with blue agave.
It's Only Tequila If...
Not only must tequila be made with only blue agave, but it must contain at least 51% blue agave to be classified as tequila. If it is made with 100% blue agave, then it is a true tequila. When it is made up fo 51%-99% blue agave, it is technically called a mixto tequila.
Made in Mexico
Just like champagne is only sparkling wine unless it's made in Champagne, France, true tequila is required to be made in specific areas of Mexico. Any types that are made outside of those areas are actually referred to as an agave spirit.
No Worms in Tequila
Even though many people think it's tequila that you "shoot the worm" with, it's actually mezcal. The gusano (the worm) is the larva of one of two types of moths known as maguey worms that live in the agave plants used to make mezcal. Those worms are overrated anyway in our opinion. Now a scorpion shot sounds a lot more savage!
Tequila Comes From a Lily
Even though the blue agave plant looks like a cactus, it's not. Instead, it is a member of the lily family.
It's a Long Slow Process
Certain desert conditions must be present for the blue agave plant to grow. Once you have those, it can take about 8 years before the plant is mature enough to harvest. They don't regenerate either. Once you pick it, a new blue agave must be planted in its place if you want to make more.
Types of Tequila
We mentioned earlier that true tequila is made up of 100% blue agave and the rest is considered a mixto tequila. Generally, you will find that type bottled in the following categories.
Blanco
Also knows as white or plata (silver,) this type of tequila is bottled or stored immediately after distillation. If it is aged at all, it is less than 2 months, usually in stainless steel tanks. 100% agave blanco tequila is harsher than other varieties with the bold flavors of the distilled agave up front.
Gold
Colorings and flavorings are typically added prior to bottling to give the liquid its gold appearance. These are less expensive and often used for making mixed drinks. Other types of gold or "joven" tequila can be the result of blending blanco with a reposado or anejo, which keeps the spirit's 100% agave classification.
Reposado
This type of tequila is aged from 2-12 months in oak barrels. Those wooden barrels give it a golden hue and add to the flavor of the agave. Different types of wooden barrels can give the tequila different flavors, such as whiskey, cognac, or wine barrels.
Anejo
Aged anywhere from 1-3 years, this type must be kept in wooden barrels that do not exceed 600 liters. The flavor achieved after that long of a wait is smoother, richer, and more complex and the color is more of an amber.
Extra Anejo
This one is ultra-aged, kept in barrels for a minimum of 3 years. These barrels also may not be over 600 liters. This particular classification was only established 12 years ago in the summer of 2006. The extended aging process makes the tequila much darker in color and quite possibly the smoothest, richest tequila you have ever tasted. After the aging process, the alcohol content must be diluted by adding distilled water.
There are lots of different types of tequila to choose from, but in our opinion, the very best tequila is any one with Savage Scorpions inside! As a matter of fact, they are great in any type of liquor and pretty incredible on some food items too. Give them a try and find out for yourself. #HowSavageAreYou!
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