Facts about Tequila for National Tequila Day

Today is National Tequila Day. In honor of this festive occasion, I’ve pulled together a few facts about our favorite beverage:

It’s distilled from the Blue Agave plant. Blue Agave grows best in blue volcanic soil that can be found near the city of Tequila, in Jalisco.
It’s named after the city of Tequila, which is approximately 40 miles north of Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX. It’s in that region and in the western part of the state of Jalisco where Tequila is primarily made… and that’s by law.
Mexican law states that Tequila can be produced only in the state of Jalisco and in “limited” regions in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. That means that if you’re drinking real Mexican Tequila, there’s a better than average chance it’s from near Tequila, Jalisco, same as it’s been since the 16th century.
Sauza Tequila was the first Tequila exported to the US, in the 1880s.
In July 2006 a bottled of limited-edition premium Tequila was sold for $225,000 by Tequila Ley company. At the time, this sale was certified by the Guinness World Records as the most expensive bottle of spirit ever sold.
In Mexico you drink your Tequila straight, without lime and salt, and at room temperature (not chilled). It’s a shot, but many people like to take small sips to savor the taste. The addition of lime and salt is something that’s done outside Mexico or has been adopted to accommodate tourists.
Tequila bottles do not have a worm in them… at least they’re not supposed to have one. If you’re looking for a bottle with a worm, you’re looking for Mezcal.

How are you going to celebrate today?

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Photos via Flickr’s Creative Commons:

Repost from July 24, 2013.

Sandra Fernandez is a professional communicator, tech enthusiast, book lover, and blogger. You can find her main blog at SandraSays.com and more of her writing at HispanicHouston.com.