Or what the deal is with the worm in a bottle? It’s time to become a tequila expert. Before you hit the party, arm yourself with these 17 facts to become a tequila expert.

1. FIRST THING’S FIRST

Cuervo was the first tequila producer in the world and our recipes have been handed down generation to generation.

2. MADE IN MEXICO

Only alcohol made with at least 51% blue agave that is produced in the five designated central regions of Mexico may be labelled as Tequila.

3. VOLCANIC AGAVE

Cuervo owns the largest holdings of agave in the world – nestled in rich, volcanic soil. Caretakers, called Jimadores, cultivate and harvest the agave.

4. TIMING MATTERS

Cuervo plants the agave shoots between February and July to avoid the months of excessive rain.

5. HEART OF THE PLANT

The piña (which resembles a pineapple) is the heart of the agave from which sugars are extracted and tequila is made.

6. PEAK PIÑA PERFECTION

Blue agave takes six to twelve years to mature and reach its peak in sugars. Each plant is only harvested once.

7. TONS OF AGAVE

Each day the agave oven deck receives from 200 to 300 tons of agave for the production of Cuervo tequila.

8. THE SLOW COOKER

The artisanal cooking of the piñas takes 36 to 40 hours and helps refine the taste of our tequila.

9. SHREDDING THE AGAVE

The cooked piñas are taken to shredding machines, where they’re cut into small pieces, juices extracted, and separated from the bagasse.

10. FERMENTATION & DISTILLATION

The resulting must is put into fermentation tanks for 50 to 60 hours. Then it’s distilled, condensed, and rectified, producing white tequila.

11. AGED TEQUILA

Finally, it’s slow-aged in barrels to acquire the aromatic features of wood. We toast the barrels in three ways: light, medium and strong to determine different profiles.

12. REPOSADO MEANS RESTED

Tequila must be rested in wood barrels for a minimum of two months, which helps it mellow and refine.

13. AÑEJO MEANS AGED

It’s the designation for tequila that’s been aged in oak barrels for at least one year.

14. DIGITS ON THE BOTTLE

Each bottle of real tequila must have a 4-digit number, indicating the distillery where it’s made. Cuervo’s are 1104 & 1122.

15. DON’T BE FOOLED

Tequila is NOT stronger than other alcohol. Cuervo produces at 38% to 40% alcohol by volume (ABV), just like most spirits. 

16. NO WORM FOR US

The worm you’re thinking of is only found in certain bottles of mezcal.

17. THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

Lou Barton owns the largest collection of tequila in the US with over 2,000 bottles.

CHEERS TO BECOMING A TRUE TEQUILA CONNOISSEUR!

Next time you raise a glass of tequila, remember the rich heritage, craftsmanship, and dedication that go into each sip of Cuervo’s finest.