Tequila Fun Facts For National Tequila Day!
July 24 is National Tequila Day, and we can't wait to celebrate with you at Mexicali Blues! It's no secret that we LOVE tequila at Lake of the Ozarks' best Mexican restaurant. Whether you're enjoying it in a shot or in one of our world famous margaritas, there is no better place to celebrate National Tequila Day than Mexicali Blues!
- Tequila is a mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila. A bit confusing, we know, but mezcal is a liquor made from the maguey plant, which is a form of agave. Mezcal can be made using a variety of agave plants, but tequila must be made using only blue agave.
- Tequila must be made of at least 51% blue agave. While mezcal can be made from 100s of different agave varieties, tequila must contain at least 51% of blue agave, and many believe it should be 100%. Tequila that isn't 100% blue agave are called mixto.
- Tequila isn't made from cactus. Many believe the agave plant is a cactus, however, it's not, it's actually part of the lily family.
- In Mexico, tequila is drunk only neat. When it comes to adding lime and salt in their tequila, Mexicans go all in with a margarita. However, when doing shots of tequila, they prefer it neat without all the extras, so forget biting into that lime after a tequila shot.
- Tequila must be made in Mexico. Just like Champagne must be made in Champagne, France in order to be officially called champagne, tequila must be produced in specific areas of Mexico. Any type of tequila made outside of these regions is merely called an agave spirit.
- You won't find worms in tequilas, but you may find them in mezcal. By law, worms are prohibited in tequila bottles. Agave Snout Weevil or the caterpillar phase of the Hypopta Agavis Moth may be in mezcal bottles. They used to be included to prove the proof and/or presence of agave.
- It's hard working making tequila. Much of the work in making tequila is done by hand. Agave is hand selected and harvested by hand. The machete used to chop agave leaves is called a Coa, and the men who use the Coa are called Jimadors. Tequila is produced by removing the heart, or pina, of the agave plant, which can weigh between 80 and 200 pounds. The pina is stripped of its leaves and then cooked to remove the sap, which is fermented and distilled.
- There are three main types of tequila. They are Blanco, Reposado and Anejo. Blanco is unaged and bottled within two months of distillation. Reposado is aged between two months and a year in barrels. Anejo is aged between 1 and 3 years in small oak barrels. There are two additional categories, which are Joven or Oro, which is a mixture between Blanco and Reposado tequilas and Extra Anejo, which is aged between 3 - 5 years in oak barrels.
Come celebrate National Tequila Day at Mexicali Blues! We have tons of delicious specialty margaritas you can enjoy that pair perfectly with our tasty entrees. We can't wait to celebrate with you!
- Tequila is a mezcal, but mezcal is not tequila. A bit confusing, we know, but mezcal is a liquor made from the maguey plant, which is a form of agave. Mezcal can be made using a variety of agave plants, but tequila must be made using only blue agave.
- Tequila must be made of at least 51% blue agave. While mezcal can be made from 100s of different agave varieties, tequila must contain at least 51% of blue agave, and many believe it should be 100%. Tequila that isn't 100% blue agave are called mixto.
- Tequila isn't made from cactus. Many believe the agave plant is a cactus, however, it's not, it's actually part of the lily family.
- In Mexico, tequila is drunk only neat. When it comes to adding lime and salt in their tequila, Mexicans go all in with a margarita. However, when doing shots of tequila, they prefer it neat without all the extras, so forget biting into that lime after a tequila shot.
- Tequila must be made in Mexico. Just like Champagne must be made in Champagne, France in order to be officially called champagne, tequila must be produced in specific areas of Mexico. Any type of tequila made outside of these regions is merely called an agave spirit.
- You won't find worms in tequilas, but you may find them in mezcal. By law, worms are prohibited in tequila bottles. Agave Snout Weevil or the caterpillar phase of the Hypopta Agavis Moth may be in mezcal bottles. They used to be included to prove the proof and/or presence of agave.
- It's hard working making tequila. Much of the work in making tequila is done by hand. Agave is hand selected and harvested by hand. The machete used to chop agave leaves is called a Coa, and the men who use the Coa are called Jimadors. Tequila is produced by removing the heart, or pina, of the agave plant, which can weigh between 80 and 200 pounds. The pina is stripped of its leaves and then cooked to remove the sap, which is fermented and distilled.
- There are three main types of tequila. They are Blanco, Reposado and Anejo. Blanco is unaged and bottled within two months of distillation. Reposado is aged between two months and a year in barrels. Anejo is aged between 1 and 3 years in small oak barrels. There are two additional categories, which are Joven or Oro, which is a mixture between Blanco and Reposado tequilas and Extra Anejo, which is aged between 3 - 5 years in oak barrels.
Come celebrate National Tequila Day at Mexicali Blues! We have tons of delicious specialty margaritas you can enjoy that pair perfectly with our tasty entrees. We can't wait to celebrate with you!
6605 HWY 54
Osage Beach, MO 65065
573-302-0419
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