The History of Tequila
The History of Tequila
- Rodolfo FernándezRodolfo FernándezHistory, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia
- , and Fernando González ZozayaFernando González ZozayaArcheology, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia
Summary
Tequila is an emblematic alcoholic beverage of Jalisco, a state in Western Mexico, an area that was an old corregimiento of New Spain from the 16th century on. Its name, tequila, was taken from the town that was its provincial capital since then. From there it has been distributed since the end of the 18th century. Tequila in its early days was called mezcal, or mezcal wine, just like all Mesoamerican spirits derived from the mezcal plant known in the early 21st century as agave. The village where production began was called Amatitán. By 1768, the non-Indians of Tequila received authorization to distill mezcal wine and, together with Amatitán, became the main manufacturers and marketers of that liquor that became famous for its quality. At the end of the 19th century, the mezcals of central Jalisco were already known as tequilas, but continued to name it mezcal wine on their labels until the middle of the 20th century. By the early years of the 20th century, agave liquor began to be made also in the Altos de Jalisco and then it was allowed to be called tequila throughout the state.
Subjects
- Cultural History
