Tequila — From Jalisco’s Agave Fields to Global Icon

In this week’s episode of Into the Barchive, Blake and Tim celebrate National Tequila Day by diving into one of the world’s most recognizable spirits.Tequila may be most associated with shots, salt, and lime, but its story goes much deeper. Blake and Tim explore how tequila is made from Blue Weber agave, why it must come from specific regions of Mexico, and how the long growing cycle of agave shapes everything from production to sustainability. They also break down traditional and modern methods, including brick ovens, autoclaves, tahona crushing, fermentation, distillation, aging, additives, and the growing demand for premium, place-based tequila.Along the way, they make two tequila cocktails: the Cantarito, a refreshing Mexican drink built with tequila, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lime, saline, grapefruit soda, and a clay mug, and the Siesta, a modern classic that pairs blanco tequila with Campari, grapefruit, lime, and simple syrup.From Jalisco’s agave fields to craft cocktail bars around the world, this episode looks at tequila as more than a party spirit. It is agriculture, craftsmanship, culture, and history poured into a glass.