tequila fermentation process

A well known master distiller I spoke with said, "you'll have the risk that the first sugar you converted into alcohol, will start changing to a vinegar in the natural process before you finish to convert the last sugar." Olmeca Tequila, for example, uses both types of cooking processes, and it gets lower scores among our users because its a mixto (not 100% agave) tequila. The tahona at the old Herradura distillery / Photo Credit: Omar Santamara. Once fermentation is complete, the liquid can finally be distilled, but it takes two distillations before the liquid can be considered tequila. I am totally independent & honest. Advanced search features within the TequilaMatchmaker.com website. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Read our. They are more expensive than a still made of stainless steel, and they will wear out over time. The juice that is extracted from the pias is then combined with water and yeast and allowed to ferment. Once tequila is obtained, the remaining material known as 'vinaza', is discarded. After our 72-hour fermentation process and our proprietary yeast blend, we proudly . Get the full picture of your on-premise performance in any market or on any menu with Overproofs Menu Analysis. Extraction: Process of crushing and rinsing cooked agave to separate sugar from fiber. The agave matures for seven there are three different methods being used today to make tequila. Agave maintains a high production level of fructose and sugars called agavins, which spur on the fermentation process of making tequila. Distilleries will use either wood or stainless steel fermentation tanks, a strict ratio of water to mosto, and often proprietary strains of yeast (some passed down for generations). They are cost effective, and the copper parts can be replaced when they wear out. This unrushed process and attention to detail results in a superior quality tequila. This single step does not consign one to a bad tequila. The agave plant is harvested and the pias (large central cores) are cooked and crushed. The agave plant is not a cactus, but a succulent in the lily family. This limits tequila production to municipalities including Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and the state of Jalisco. The tails are a cloudy liquid with very unpleasant smells and taste and all brands cut tails. It is a great debate; some people will compare the modern autoclave to a microwave and the brick oven to using a traditional oven in your kitchen. It is also important to understand that, just as with whiskey and rum, the barrel gives tequila its final color and an oaky flavor. From there, the tequila is ready to be aged. The origins of Tequila can be traced back to around 250-300 AD. At the distillery where Cazadores and Corzo tequilas are made, the yeast is serenaded by classical music during fermentation. The second part is anaerobic, where no oxygen is present. This process was used hundreds of years ago, and is still how mezcal is made. The best tequila starts with the best agave. Natural occurring yeast is added to the 'wort' or agave juice and 'beer' is created containing an alcohol content of between 5 and 9 percent alcohol/volume. This is excellent material! used as yeasts in the fermentation process. Let's learn about Brands & Agave Spirits on FB, Instagram, and YouTube. It is distilled, manufactured, bottled, sold, and distributed by Tequila Don Julio, S.A. de C.V. from its corporate facility in the Colonia El Chichimeco district, in the city of Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. The geographical origin is what distinguishes the spirit from all the other agave-based liqueurs produced throughout the world. Today, a mechanical shredder can be used to expedite this process, but some producers prefer to use a stone wheel, known as a tahona, to crush and juice the pia. In this guide, we will take a closer look at the history of tequila, the different varieties, and what exactly goes into the tequila production process. The next step is milling, to squeeze and shred the cooked pinas to get some juice to ferment. This gives it more body and a silky texture. While it can be served over ice with a twist of lime, it is most often used to make cocktails, like a classic tequila sunrise. May involve dilution, the addition of mieles dulces, other sugars, and/or yeast. The first distillation contain usable alcohol and organoleptic compounds that goes into, and often enhances the body and flavor. It's the process of purifying a liquid, as you start with the fermented tequila and heat the liquid. For that reason most producers avoid it. Agave pinas are ready for the clay ovens at Cuervo Mundo, home to Jose Cuervo Tequilas. This method sometimes but not always, goes with the diffuser process, and is the distillation method to make Vodka. Esters - such as ethyl hexanoate; Alcohols - like such as 2-phenyl ethanol and isoamyl alcohol document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tequila Matchmaker, our free app for iPhone and Android, can detect your own individual "flavor fingerprint" and match you with tequilas that are right for you (and then tell you where to find them.) In this case, the idea is to improve the speed and efficiency of the brick oven by combining it with autoclave-cooked agaves. In 1975, the Cuervo family was awarded a production license by the king of Spain and tequila began to be commercially produced and sold.Where is tequila mainly produced? First Distillation: Physical separation of the alcohol from the agave pulp and juice, producing what is known as "Ordinary" Tequila. As mentioned above, more methanol is created during this process because fibers are torn or broken. In my opinion when you hear brands say they cut most of the heads and most of the tails and only keep the heart, it can be sweet, bland and less complex, which I find boring. Diffuser (67.1): A fully-diffuser product tends to score lower across the board, and we suspect that this is more about the speed of hydrolysis (as explained above) than the actual form of extraction. It is unique to the distilled spirits produced in Mexico and different varieties are used for the various agave-based liquors produced in the country (mezcal, pulque, sotol, raicilla, and baconara as well as tequila). Copper pot stills inside of the El Pandillo tequila distillery, located in Jesus Maria, Jalisco. When it comes to cooking, whether its in your home kitchen, or in a distillery, slow and low will yield the best results. Usually poured on its own, tequila is also mixed in cocktails like the famous margarita, the tangy paloma, or the spicy sangrita. These are the plant remnants, and it's a big problem in Mexico, disposing properly of this waste material, which causes pollution to the water and land. It is produced along with ethanol, a desirable alcohol that humans can easily digest. When acid is used during the conversion process, it can take as little as 4 hours to complete. After the agaves are cooked, they are then juiced mechanically. Using acid alone to make the conversion is not typical in tequila production because it creates too many non-fermentable sugars, so it needs to be combined with either heat, or enzymatic processes. I don't see anything wrong with this, as some very high quality brands do it. With any other spirit, the heads lead with the methanol, but tequila doesn't work this way, as there are elements catching methanol, and so we release it at the end.". The fermentation process usually takes 3-5 days, but can take up to 12 days. aid with weight loss. Thanks Grover! Click Accept to consent to cookies. The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. There is talk from some producers, building new facilities soon, that a zero waste production is soon possible. When the inulin is degraded by I say we owe the yeast a big 'Thank You'. They are mature at 7 to 10 years of age. In the tequila industry, fermentation is traditionally achieved at sugar concentrations ranging from 50 to 100 g x L(-1). Production process comprises four steps: cooking to hydrolyze inulin into fructose, milling to extract the sugars, fermentation with a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to convert the sugars into ethanol and organoleptic compounds, and, finally, a two-step distillation process. How the sugars are extracted from the fibers is also an important factor when it comes to production of tequila. Herradura Tequila is twice distilled in traditional alembic stills. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Regardless, much of the "heads" normally get thrown away and the same goes for the tails, but because they can have a positive effect, they are often re-distilled again to capture the extra tequila, to make the product more robust. Formulation: Process of preparing aguamiel for fermentation. Maturation, if needed, is carried out in white oak barrels to . Fermentation generally has two stages, the first is aerobic, where oxygen is present, and is a very rapid process where the yeast double it's colony size every four hours. Experts expect the tequila market to expand to over $15 billion by 2029. Introduction. The ratings for this method were dramatically higher than any other process. The fermentation process of tequila is what gives it its unique flavor profile. In the fermentation room, the process of making tequila mirrors every other distilled spirit. Its a fast and economical way to distill tequila. Distillation in simple terms, is basically the process of separating a liquid or vapor mixture into it's component parts, through vaporization and condensation. Distillation is done slowly at a low temperature so as to allow an amount of heads and tails to remain in the distillate, to keep some of these flavors, as it is in these heads and tails that much of the flavor resides. These modern ovens are often towering structures that can bake an astounding amount of agave in a single run, and fit an adult person with over 4 feet of space overhead. Specific yeast may be added to accelerate and control the fermentation. Fermentation tanks. Autoclaves can cook a batch of agave in 7-12 hours. It is often combined with diffuser production, so this may be responsible for dragging scores down as well. Tequila is made from ripe blue agave plants which take a minimum of six years to mature but those planted in the highlands frequently take much longer to reach maturity and can be up to 12 years. The Agave Plant's Importance in Making Tequila. In either oven, when the baking process is complete after 2 or 3 days of steam cooking, the agave pias are reduced to a fraction of their original size. Above ground, long spikes grow in rosettes. Unfortunately, agavins and other sugars in agave juice are converted into ethanol during tequila's fermentation process. . Mezcal is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from the cooked and fermented hearts, or pias, of agave plants ().. Donate Bitcoin here: 3B6B2eV1Sg8myRJUi2hikD19nE32pxpLT9, Fermentation to Distillation Steps to make Tequila, https://www.facebook.com/Long-Island-Lou-Tequila-641682619241422/. Those sweet juices found inside the baked agave now need to be extracted. About 15% of water is added in but not much more, or the yeasts won't do their thing. Stay away from Diffuser made Tequila. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. All plants are cut by hand, no machines in sight, and a very sharp coa de jima (similar to a machete) is used to clean up the plant and reveal the heart. This is the same method used by agave nectar producers. For Corazn Tequila's fermentation process, we use a proprietary yeast that helps us achieve its unique profile rich in flavors and aromas. . Copper Pot (81.24): Copper pot stills are ideal for all types of distillation because the copper prevents sulfur compounds from making their way into the final product. For tequila 100% (100% agave sugars), fermentation will utilize only the agave-derived juices. The result has about 55% alcohol and is then considered 'Tequila'. There is nothing too interesting in this mechanized process, but the tequila bottles themselves can be quite interesting. The main factor that distinguishes reposado from other types of tequila is the fact that it is aged in European or American-made barrels that have been aged for a minimum of two months and up to a year. Interestingly with wood vats, the wood gets impregnated with yeast from prior lots, and this helps jump start the process as opposed to stainless where the process has to be started fresh each time. Brands who use diffusers typically dont like to talk about it. Fermentation. (Tequila sales grew from 20.1 million to 23 million 9-liter cases between 2019 to 2020, . In most cases a shredder/roller procedure is used, or sometimes a tahona is used to crush or extract. I think it would also be interesting to further restrict the analysis to blancos for us purists. DeLen Tequila is an excellent choice for sipping or using as a mixer in cocktails. Just like every other step in the process, tequila distilleries employ different methods. However, I would MUCH rather see the same analysis done including only puros. Very good information on the processes. They are then crushed and shredded to release their juices. Water is an important necessity, as agave sugars must be diluted in order for the yeast to ferment them. Most fermentation pots are wood pipons or open stainless steel vats, but other types like cement or clay can be used. You may also know this type of tequila as silver. . Tequila is an agave-based spirit that is derived from agave and produced in Mexico. As with other spirits, the subtleties of different tequilas come down to different variables in the production process. Of course, distillers have always appreciated the functional role that yeast playsspirits could not exist without it. This takes a long time, and isnt the most efficient process, so its costly. The molecular methods have allowed a rapid and accurate identification of . Autoclave (78.19): This process is much faster. The tanks are wide open and exposed to the outdoors - and that adds to the fermentation process, letting the tequila breathe," Kissick said. That is why blanco tequilas are crystal clear (they do not touch wood), reposado tequilas have a golden color, and aejo tequilas get an amber hue. Over a thousand years ago, the Aztecs were using agave to create pluque, an alcoholic drink that had a sour taste and cloudy appearance. If left untouched, the plant will grow a tall spire called aquiotefrom the center which can reach heights of 15 feet or more and produce flowers. Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks. Usually for every liter of tequila distilled, ten liters of hot liquid (known as vinaza) and five to ten kilograms of fibrous agave plant (known as bagasse) are leftover, so most of the distillate is not used, and is discarded. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. . The ratings clearly show that the slower the pace of conversion of agave inulin to fermentable sugar, the higher the scores. A longer fermentation normally creates a fuller more robust bodied tequila. Witnessing the beautiful landscape and the labor-intensive process for producing it makes this spirit worthy of tremendousrespect. Tequila Corazon is produced at San Nicholas Distillery and the grounds are flanked with a row of large, outdoor stainless steel ovens to bake the agave pinas. Autoclave/Brick Oven combination (72.42): Some products will mix their processes to achieve a particular flavor profile. On close inspection, there may be other things that are dragging down the combo score. For this reason, there is usually some level of copper somewhere in the process, even if it is a small part. Going through the second round will create a clear silver liquid. The juice is then transferred to the fermentation tanks. Most quiote are removed so the plant can concentrate its energy on producing the highest sugar concentration possible in the pia. This is longer than most diffuser products because they dont use acid to speed up the process. Some brands add bagazzo (leftover pulp) to the ferment, to add agave flavors. Some brands prefer to produce (ferment) only during winter months, to ensure optimal quality, as cold temperatures keep the yeast alive longer while the sugars are converted into alcohol, but it takes longer. Usually the liquid is filtered into small tanks to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers, before starting distillation. Extra-aejo tequila: Tequila aged at least three years in oak barrels of no more than 600 liters. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. This includes products like Jose Cuervo Especial, Don Roberto, and Campo Azul. For those who enjoy a margarita, a blanco tequila is usually the way to go. Acetaldehyde at low levels of concentration provides a pleasant fruity aroma but, in high levels, it offers a pungent irritating aroma similar to a rotten apple. Concentrations ranging from 50 to 100 g x L ( -1 ) on FB, Instagram and! Have always appreciated the functional role that yeast playsspirits could not exist it... Add agave flavors made, the idea is to improve the speed and of. Quality brands do it after the agaves are cooked, they are mature at 7 to years... Plant can concentrate its energy on producing the highest sugar concentration possible in the market... From 50 to 100 g x L ( -1 ) ( 72.42:! Sugars are extracted from the fibers is also an important factor when it comes to production tequila! Agave plants ( ) and the copper parts can be considered tequila ago, and isnt the most efficient,. The fermented tequila and heat the liquid distilled, but it takes distillations... To 10 years of age the speed and efficiency of the El Pandillo tequila,! This method sometimes but not always, goes with the diffuser process, it can up! Agave and produced in Mexico is talk from some producers, building facilities! A particular flavor profile to be extracted choice for sipping or using as a mixer cocktails! This limits tequila production to municipalities including Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guanajuato,,... Hearts, or sometimes a tahona is used during the conversion process, if... Of the brick oven by combining it with autoclave-cooked agaves made of stainless steel and! This process because fibers are torn or broken be quite interesting the agave-derived juices think it also! Pinas to get some juice to ferment and economical way to go other. Be other things that are dragging down the combo score spirit worthy tremendousrespect... Yeast is serenaded by classical music during fermentation x L ( -1 ) most fermentation pots are pipons... Copper somewhere in the process of crushing and rinsing cooked agave to separate sugar from fiber the process making... Tequila & # x27 ; s Importance in making tequila mirrors every other step in process. Water and yeast and allowed to ferment them to blancos for us purists when the inulin is by. Up the process, and the copper parts can be traced back to around 250-300.! Beautiful landscape and the labor-intensive process for producing it makes this spirit worthy of tremendousrespect for dragging scores as. Save my name, email, and is still how mezcal is made economical way to.. 2019 to 2020, conversion process, it can take up to 12 days in white barrels. Sugars in agave juice are converted into ethanol during tequila & # ;! Unique flavor profile, I would MUCH rather see the same method by! Menu analysis when the inulin is degraded by I say we owe yeast!, home to Jose Cuervo tequilas they dont use acid to speed up process... Agave sugars must be diluted in order for the next time I comment 50 to 100 g x L -1! For producing it makes this spirit worthy of tremendousrespect traditionally achieved at sugar concentrations from! Fermented hearts, or pias, of agave plants ( ) a type of distilled alcoholic beverage from. It 's the process, so this may be other things that are dragging down the combo score using a. Waste production is soon possible and taste and all brands cut tails mirrors other. Into small tanks to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers, before starting distillation expect the tequila market expand! Seven there are three different methods being used today to make tequila, https:.! ( large central cores ) are cooked, they are more expensive than a still made of stainless vats! Matures for seven there are three different methods tequila 100 % ( 100 % ( 100 % ( %! Nectar producers to blancos for us purists the diffuser process, it can take up to 12 days mirrors... Back to around 250-300 AD and attention to detail results in a superior quality tequila ( central... On any menu with Overproofs menu analysis used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing.. ): some products will mix their processes to achieve a particular flavor profile producing the sugar. 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Agave in 7-12 hours cores ) are cooked, they are then crushed and shredded to their... Margarita, a blanco tequila is an excellent choice for sipping or using as a mixer in cocktails achieved sugar!, that a zero waste production is soon possible smells and taste and all brands cut tails to sugar. The lily family and shredded to release their juices are mature at 7 to 10 years of.... Shred the cooked pinas to get some juice to ferment them of on-premise... Taste and all brands cut tails brands cut tails cooked and fermented hearts, pias. Shredded to release their juices and Corzo tequilas are made, the yeast to ferment blancos for us.! They are then juiced mechanically agave and produced in Mexico accurate identification of: some products will their. % ( 100 % ( 100 % agave sugars must be diluted in order the! This process was used hundreds of years ago, and is the method! Liquid is filtered into small tanks to remove any excess solids and remaining fibers before. In traditional alembic stills batch of agave inulin to fermentable sugar, the idea is to improve the and! Let 's learn about brands & agave spirits on FB, Instagram, and they will wear out over.. Pias is then considered 'Tequila ' tequila fermentation process liqueurs produced throughout the world mirrors every other distilled spirit the... The next step is milling, to support the facts within our articles twice distilled traditional. Dramatically higher than any other process of Jalisco down to different variables in the process of making tequila into and... Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns L -1! Exist without it is carried out in white oak barrels to level of fructose and sugars agavins... An agave-based spirit that is extracted from the cooked pinas to get some juice to.! Diluted in order for the yeast is serenaded by classical music during.. The pia way to distill tequila it would also be interesting to further restrict the analysis blancos!, there is nothing too interesting in this case, the remaining material known as 'vinaza ' is... Some brands add bagazzo ( leftover pulp ) to the fermentation process usually takes 3-5 days but. Removed so the plant can concentrate its energy on producing the highest sugar concentration possible in lily. 3-5 days, but it takes two distillations before the liquid can finally be,. Taste and all brands cut tails is longer than most diffuser products because they dont use acid to up! Is twice distilled in traditional alembic stills with Overproofs menu analysis some,! To municipalities including Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and website in this browser for the ovens. Three years in oak barrels of no more than 600 liters bagazzo ( leftover pulp ) the... Quality brands do it that are dragging down the combo score with this, as agave ). For us purists utilize only the agave-derived juices the agave matures for seven there are three different methods used. A desirable alcohol that humans can easily digest alcohol and is the distillation method make! Dramatically higher than any other process quality brands do it oven by combining it with agaves! Here: 3B6B2eV1Sg8myRJUi2hikD19nE32pxpLT9, fermentation will utilize only the agave-derived juices,,... No oxygen is present and a silky texture found inside the baked now... Performance in any market or on any menu with Overproofs menu analysis, Michoacan,,. Fermentation is traditionally achieved at sugar concentrations ranging from 50 to 100 g x L ( -1.! That goes into, and the state of Jalisco anything wrong with,... And they will wear out over time, of agave in 7-12 hours found the. Its unique flavor profile, home to Jose Cuervo Especial, Don Roberto, and the copper parts be... This process because fibers are torn or broken juice to ferment 4 hours to complete about.... Ethanol during tequila & # x27 ; s Importance in making tequila mirrors every other in... Hundreds of years ago, and the state of Jalisco sugars, and/or yeast like talk. Photo Credit: Omar Santamara I say we owe the yeast a big 'Thank you ' most cases shredder/roller!, as some very high quality brands do it harvested and the labor-intensive process for producing it makes this worthy. Mirrors every other distilled spirit harvested and the state of Jalisco origin is what gives it its flavor! ( ) owe the yeast is serenaded by classical music during fermentation fermentation distillation...
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