World Tequila Day is back! It’s a day where fans of tequila will be celebrating the world over. For the uninitiated, there’s a world of brands to discover and a range of famous Mexican spirit-based drinks to try.
If you’re getting involved, get with some friends and share your cocktails on social with the hashtag #nationaltequiladay. You can also look at the hashtag for inspiration. But a great starting point is Jose Cuervo Especial.
Cuervo was the first producer of tequila in the world. Jose Antonio de Cuervo y Valdes acquired land from the King of Spain in 1758 and began producing tequila, before Mexico became an independent republic. In 1795, his air, Jose Maria Guadalupe de Cuervo, began selling the first Vino Mezcal de Tequila de Jose Cuervo after receiving the first official charter from the King of Spain to produce tequila commercially.
Produced in the area around the town of Tequila in the Jalisco area of Mexico, tequila is made from the blue agave plant and Mexico’s national drink. It was originally known as mezcal wine, there are a number of different categories of tequila including: Blanco tequila a white unaged Tequila. Joven tequila and unaged golden tequila flavoured with sugar syrup or caramel. Reposado tequila is aged between 2 months to 1 year in oak barrels. Anejo tequila aged between 1-3 years, also in oak barrels. And finally, extra Anejo tequila aged for a minimum of three years.
World Tequila Day’s Origins
National Tequila Day first started in the USA and Mexico and is celebrated with a number of tequila festivals and tours of tequila distilleries along what is known as the tequila trail in Jalisco. In recent years the celebration has also been adopted in the UK due to the rising popularity of the drink. On national Tequila day in the UK, although celebrations are smaller than in the USA, you will find tequila on offer in many bars and supermarkets.
Responsible for some of our best loved cocktails, The Tequila Sunrise, The Margherita, The Long Island Iced Tea to name a few, July 24th has been set aside each year to celebrate Tequila.
Jose Cuervo Paloma, Tequila Day Cocktail Suggestion:
Ingredients:
- 1 part Jose Cuervo Especial Silver
- 1 part grapefruit juice
- 1 part soda water
- 1 teaspoon per glass of superfine sugar
- Lime for garnish
Method: Cut lime wheels. Run one lime wheel around the rim of glass then dip the glass into salt. In glass, add ice, Jose Cuervo Tradicional® Tequila Plata, grapefruit juice, and superfine sugar. Stir ingredients and pour in soda.
Garnish: Garnish the glass with a fresh lime wheel. Enjoy!
Fun tequila fact:
According to The Guinness Book of World Records, the most expensive bottle of tequila ever sold went to a private collector for $225,000. The bottle was made out of white gold and platinum, and contained six year-aged tequila worth $2,500.
