Tequila is the distilled spirit from the heart (piña) of the Blue Agave plant.

The agave plant is not a cactus, as many people think, but a succulent closely related to the lily and amaryllis families. 

Tequila took on the name of the city in northwest Mexico where it was first made.

Mezcal is a Tequila type spirit made from other species of Agave or from outside the delimited Tequila area. Mezcal can be very pungent.

Aging

• Silver (Plata, Blanco)- is unaged white Tequila, bottled right after distillation or after settling for no more than 2 months in stainless steel tanks.

• Gold (Joven, Abacado)- is either unaged, but colored with caramel, or a blend of white and aged Tequila. Both methods help in softening and adding color to the Tequila

• Reposado (rested)- has been resting in oak barrels for a minimum of 2 months but no more than 12 months.

• Añejo (aged)- has been aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 1 year but no more than 3 years.

• Extra Añejo (Extra aged)- has been aged in oak barrels at least 3 years. This is a new category as of 2005.