This Drinking Sensei’s history with tequila started with a movie you may or may not know. Peewee Herman’s Big Adventure.

But what can I say about my dear old friend who hurt me in so many ways? In college we we were besties. We spent so much time together. Shots. Cocktails. You name it, we did it together. That all came to a crashing end one evening a few years after college at Studio 54 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I went with some friends who had planned to go see the Mr. Olympia competition. I wasn’t going to the event so while my friends were there I spent some time with a friend from college who was living in Vegas at the time. She told me, “Go to Studio 54, my roommate is the VIP bartender. He’ll take care of you.” He did take care of me, a little too well.

My Mistake

I ended up drinking too many Patron shots with Corona chasers. I don’t know what I was thinking. But in the end my friend Lisa’s husband Brian carried me out of the club and we all prayed I wouldn’t throw up in the cab. Fortunately there was no throwing up INSIDE the cab that night. That experience was almost 20 years ago. I’ve only recently been able to start drinking tequila again. I really only tried it again because my friend Nick wanted to drink it together when we recorded an episode of my podcast. I made it through the shot okay, but I’ve still been weary and haven’t really tried to drink it much since.

So Hot Right Now

Deciding what my July featured liquor should be has been difficult. Nick said that tequila and mezcal are the popular drinks right now so that’s what I should feature. I cried a little inside, but decided to take this as my cue to woman up and get back on the tequila train.

Tequila by Eleanor zardinejad

A Brief History of Tequila

Tequila’s history dates back to the ancient Aztecs. They fermented the agave plant into a beverage called pulque. In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began distilling agave to create a stronger spirit. This lead to the first tequila production in the town of Tequila, Jalisco. By the late 1800s, it was gaining in popularity. In 1974, it was given Denomination of Origin status. Thus protecting its production to specific regions in Mexico. Today, it is popular worldwide. With seemingly every celebrity having their own brand. I mean, I’m sure the Aztecs would be all about drinking a tequila owned by Kendall Jenner, Puff Daddy, or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Right?

How Is Tequila Made?

Like most other liquors it follows a pretty standard process to produce. The agave plant is harvested after seven to ten years of growth. The hearts (piñas) of the agave are then cooked to convert starches into sugars. The cooked agave is then crushed to extract juice and then the juice is fermented with yeast. This converts the sugars into alcohol. The fermented alcohol is distilled, often twice to increase alcohol content and determine it’s flavor. Depending on the type of tequila, it may be aged in barrels for different lengths of time. Blanco (unaged), Reposado (2-12 months), and Añejo (1-3 years). The tequila is filtered and then bottled.

Tequila Vs. Mezcal

I’m not going to discuss mezcal today as that can be a spirit for a different month. But I did want to mention it. Technically all tequila is mezcal. Though not all mezcals are tequilas. This is due to a couple of reasons, but I’ll save those reasons for another day. Just know that I think I like the celebrities that own mezcal brands better then tequila brands. Mezcal owners include Cheech Marin, Lebron James, as well as co-owned Dos Hombres Mezcal by Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston.

Cocktails

There are so many tequila based cocktails out there. It’s distinctive flavor pairs well with citrus, fruit juices, and various herbs, making it an excellent base for a range of cocktails. A few cocktails include margaritas, tequila sunrises and palomas.

Tequila Infusions

There are so many options for spirit infusions and they are relatively easy to make at home. One of the only ways I am comfortable drinking tequila is with this infusion that my friend Kevin makes. It’s so delicious I am even able to sip on it by itself! I don’t have to mix it with anything or include it in a cocktail. Though he is right and it mixes well with just a little bit of Simply Limeade served with ice. If you decide to make it, leave a comment below. I know what I’ll be working on for the next few days! It’s summer, what a perfect time to make this Lanikai Infused Tequila.