Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue Agave or Agave Azul, and produced only in five areas of Mexico. It can be drunk on its own or in a cocktail. Find out more in our full guide below.

Tequila Guide

Essential info:

• Colour: Can range from clear, unaged spirit (blanco) to light gold (reposado – rested) and a vibrant gold (añejo – aged). Some Tequilas are extra-aged giving them a richer gold hue.
• Region: Produced in Mexico – there are five Mexican states that are legally allowed to produce Tequila: Jalisco and parts of Guanajuanto, Tamaulipas, Michoacan and Nayarit.
• ABV: Typically bottled at 35% in Mexico, 40% in the US and 38% in Europe.
• Made from: The agave plant, which although has the appearance of a cactus, is a succulent related to the lily family and native to Mexico. Premium Tequilas are made from 100% blue agave, while lower-end tequilas, called ‘mixtos’, typically contain 51% agave with the remaining made up of molasses, corn syrup or other sugars.
• Translation: The name is derived from the Mexican town of Tequila, which lies to the northwest of the major city of Guadalajara.