A Field Guide to Tequila: What It Is, Where It's From, and How to Taste It

by Clayton Szczech

For the tequila curious and the tequila connoisseur alike, a complete, illustrated guide to one of the world’s most popular spirits
 
Time to put away the shot glass—tequila long ago left its spring break clichés in the dust. Today, it is not just a sophisticated global phenomenon but is poised to surpass vodka to become the number one spirit in the U.S. by sales. Which means there’s no better time for A Field Guide to Tequila , the new bible on this popular spirit.
            Whether you’re already an aficionado who likes to slow-sip an artisanal extra-añejo or a margarita lover curious about your favorite drink and what makes it special, A Field Guide to Tequila  takes you step by step into everything that makes tequila tequila, from how it came about, to how it’s made, to how to select, taste, and serve it. Beginning with the origin of every bottle of tequila—the unique blue agave (which is actually much closer, biologically, to a lily than a cactus)—it’s all The life cycle of the blue agave and the complex process of turning it into liquor ( There’s harvesting, steaming, roasting, and—still in use in one legendary distillery—working mules). The five classes of tequila, including the unfortunate myth of blanco’s inferiority. How to read a tequila label. The seventeen tequila producers to know and brands you need to explore, from giants of the industry like Patrón and José Cuervo to traditionalists, artisans, and innovators, including Tapatío, Siete Leguas, Ocho, G4, and Cava de Oro. The real deal with so many celebrity tequila brands, a phenomenon that started with Bing Crosby. How to set up a tequila tasting. A complete guide to tequila tourism, including dos and don’ts for visiting the town of Tequila, best times to go, essential stops, and a glossary of Spanish. Oh, and a recipe for a best-ever margarita, plus three other classic tequila cocktails, including the Rolling Stones’ favorite, the tequila sunrise.
            With its striking visuals and appealing package,  A Field Guide to Tequila  is a go-to reference that felicitously also feels like a real gift book—and vice versa.

Genres: Food

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2023

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always bristled at that whole "foodie" thing -- really, we're going to get all snooty and pedantic about eating food, something almost literally everyone likes to do, that's necessary for life? There is just no benefit I see in holding forth on the farm-to-table journey of some Hudson Valley-sourced sheep cheese, or impressing dinner guests with your obscure farmers market ramps. To me, all of that is tedious, and I don't get the point.

However, the math changes when we're talking about alcohol. Is that talkative broad down the bar some sad-sack debauched lush with her face in a cup of -- what else, tequila? -- or... is she a... fascinating and erudite student of history, politics, economics, botany, agriculture, chemistry, ecology, and... culture? Is that a slurring and debauched bore... or a raconteur of sparkling wit, with a treasure trove of romantic histories about family business empires built by dashing orphans, storied revolutionary war heroes, and glamorous dark-eyed widows -- a cosmopolitan aesthete possessing a nuanced understanding of the tradeoffs and perils of global commerce, as well as strong opinions about how best to remediate the climate crisis and other forms of environmental threat?

It all depends on whether or not the tequila-swiller in question has imbibed this densely packed yet smoothly sippable attractive turquoise book! This book will teach you to taste tequila like a classy person, not the lowlife everyone always thought you were, plus it will give you key tools you need to drive other barflies insane with your obscure knowledge of surprisingly interesting legal details about the Mexican government's regulation of tequila production. It also will likely ignite a wistful yearning for travel to Mexico that you'll find impossible to suppress.

Anyone with even a casual interest in tequila would benefit from reading this book. I myself walked away with a ton of new knowledge and insight, not the least being stunned anew by the powerful human drive to identify and refine methods for getting fucked up -- though it must be said, unlike corn, rice, grapes, potatoes, and a lot of other plants we've figured out how to drink, you can definitely look at agave and see how someone saw that thing and instantly thought we had better get high from it. If you're interested in the rich and delightful details of where people took that impulse, take a shot at this book!

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and smart reference guide and history that is sure to answer any question you’ve ever had about tequila!! Smart, accessible, and so comprehensive! Highly recommend!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned SO much reading this book. It covers information on agave farming, various methods of tequila production, the classes of tequila, highlights on various distilleries and information on the DOT.

I have tried a handful of tequilas prior to reading this book mainly comparing them through margarita flights and will be doing a horizontal tequlia flight soon. Reading about different distilleries and production methods, I'm excited to expand my tequila experience.

[mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, well written, and super fact filled. Makes you want to sign up for a tour of Oaxaca right away.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part text book, part travel guide, with a few helpful and fun bits and cocktail recipes.

Helpful and interesting if your trying to learn about Tequila, but I can't help but think 'Did we really need to go all the way back to the 1600's in order to learn which brand I should try to make a better margarita...?

At times, it feels like the writer is so proud of his research, so he has to include all of it.
It can feel like a lot.

[Alonzo Caudillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally worth reading for both Mexicans and English speakers. The clarity and concrecy with which Clayton talks about tequila, its history, environmental challenges and how to experience it are essential to make of the art of becoming a connoisseur an enjoyable trip.