{"product_id":"a-field-guide-to-tequila-what-it-is-where-its-from-and-how-to-taste-it","title":"A Field Guide to Tequila: What It Is, Where It's From, and How to Taste It","description":"\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eChapter 1: Defining Tequila\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e What is Tequila? \n\u003cbr\u003e Tequila History: From the Spanish Conquest to Early Exports \n\u003cbr\u003e Agaves and Humans: A Love Story \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Goddess Mayahuel and Pulque\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Basic Agave Biology \n\u003cbr\u003e Blue Agave: What Tequila Is Made Of \n\u003cbr\u003e Blue Agave Reproduction and Seeking the Perfect Plant \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eIs Tequila Bad for Bats?\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Tequila History: From the Birth of the Modern Industry to Legal Adulteration \n\u003cbr\u003e The \n\u003ci\u003eDenominación de Origen de Tequila \u003c\/i\u003e(DOT): Where Tequila Comes From \n\u003cbr\u003e Mapping the DOT: Jalisco and Beyond \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Mystery of Tamaulipas\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Tequila History: From Establishment of the DOT to a True Global Spirit \n\u003cbr\u003e The \n\u003ci\u003eNorma Oficial Mexicana\u003c\/i\u003e (NOM) and the C \n\u003ci\u003eonsejo Regulador del Tequila\u003c\/i\u003e (CRT): How Tequila is Defined \n\u003cbr\u003e The Norm \n\u003cbr\u003e The Five Classes of Tequila \n\u003cbr\u003e Blending Aged Tequilas \n\u003cbr\u003e All About Additives \n\u003cbr\u003e The Tequila Name Game \n\u003cbr\u003e Labelling and Traceability \n\u003cbr\u003e What's in a NOM Number? \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eCristalino Tequilas: What Are They?\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e The Return of Quality Mixtos \n\u003cbr\u003e Tequila as Mezcal \n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eChapter 2: Making Tequila\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Agave Cultivation \n\u003cbr\u003e Agave Planting \n\u003cbr\u003e Agave Growth \n\u003cbr\u003e Agave Harvest \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Agave Price Roller Coaster\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Hydrolysis \n\u003cbr\u003e Steam Cooking: Stone Ovens and Autoclaves \n\u003cbr\u003e Roasting in Earthen Pit Ovens \n\u003cbr\u003e Diffusers \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Diffuser Controversy\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Extraction \n\u003cbr\u003e The Tahona \n\u003cbr\u003e Formulation \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eMyth of the Master Distiller\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Fermentation \n\u003cbr\u003e Distillation \n\u003cbr\u003e Aging Tequila \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eIs Aged Tequila Better?\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Finishing Touches: Dilution, Filtration, and Bottling \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Methanol Bogeyman\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eChapter 3: Personifying Tequila\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Distilleries and Brands: What's the Difference? \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eBig Tequila, Little Tequila\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Giants of the Industry: \n\u003cbr\u003e José Cuervo \n\u003cbr\u003e Pátron Sauza Herradura Defenders of Tradition: Tapatío \n\u003cbr\u003e Siete Leguas \n\u003cbr\u003e Pueblo Viejo \n\u003ci\u003eCelebrity Tequilas\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Agaveros Turned Tequileros \n\u003cbr\u003e Cava de Oro Don Abraham \n\u003cbr\u003e Viva México An Ascendent Generation \n\u003cbr\u003e Cascahuín \n\u003cbr\u003e Don Fulano Arette Innovators with a Pedigree \n\u003cbr\u003e Ocho \n\u003cbr\u003e G4 \n\u003cbr\u003e Fortaleza \n\u003cbr\u003e Lalo \n\u003cbr\u003e The Outliers: When Tequila Is Not Tequila \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eChapter 4: Experiencing Tequila\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Tasting vs. Drinking \n\u003cbr\u003e How to Taste Tequila \n\u003cbr\u003e Aroma and Flavor \n\u003cbr\u003e Glassware Matters \n\u003cbr\u003e Tasting Flights \n\u003cbr\u003e Hosting a Tequila Tasting \n\u003cbr\u003e How to Organize a Formal Tasting \n\u003cbr\u003e Tequila Tasting Competitions \n\u003cbr\u003e How to Choose a Tequila \n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eRise of Non-Mexican Tequila-Style Spirits\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e Tequila Cocktails \n\u003cbr\u003e Paloma \n\u003cbr\u003e Margarita \n\u003cbr\u003e Batanga\/Charro Negro \n\u003cbr\u003e Tequila Sunrise \n\u003cbr\u003e Visiting Tequila Country \n\u003cbr\u003e Travel Advice \n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrief Description\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tequila is predicted to soon become the most popular spirit in the United States, and yet few people know much about tequila's long, layered history, the quickly evolving industry, and what goes into the tequila designation. A Field Guide to Tequila is the ultimate guide to the world of tequila, for margarita lovers to 100 percent agave sippers and everyone in between. Written in easy-to-digest sections, underscored by photographs, illustrations, and charts, readers will discover everything there is to know about tequila: from the precolonial vino de mezcal to the establishment of tequila's denomination of origin (the largest in the world!), from blue agave to blancos and anejos, from expert guides on how to properly select and taste tequila to recipes for the perfect paloma or sunrise. The book features profiles on all the must-know producers, from industry giants like Patron and Josâe Cuervo to innovators like G4 and Cascahuâin. Informative essays shine light on hot topics that will bring readers' expertise to new levels, including the terroir of tequila and why so many celebrities are starting tequila brands. A Field Guide to Tequila dismantles tequila's old reputation as a party drink and reveals the truly sophisticated nature of this hallowed spirit that dates back more than two hundred years\"--\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCLAYTON J. SZCZECH\u003c\/b\u003e is a writer and sociologist who has been studying and teaching about Mexican alcoholic beverages since 2006. He has operated the groundbreaking educational tour company Experience Agave since 2008. He cofounded La Cata, the first brand-independent tasting room in Tequila, Jalisco, in 2016. He has been featured in the \u003ci\u003eWall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSunset\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eAFAR\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eWine Enthusiast\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eVirtuoso Life\u003c\/i\u003e, on CNN en Español, and on Amazon's \u003ci\u003eDistilling Mexico\u003c\/i\u003e. He holds numerous certifications related to tequila and mezcal, is a permanent legal resident of Mexico, and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Utah. His academic work focuses on the socioeconomic and environmental outcomes of Geographical Indication regimes, with an emphasis on Mexico. In 2023, he was selected as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. \u003ci\u003eA Field Guide to Tequila\u003c\/i\u003e is his first book. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSzczech leaves no stone unturned in this comprehensive guide to Mexico's most celebrated agave spirit. From his expert explanations of the nuts and bolts of production to his thoughtful exploration of industry trends and debunking of myths, he distills his knowledge and experience into an enjoyable read. \n\u003ci\u003eA Field Guide to Tequila is\u003c\/i\u003e a valuable resource for the serious agave enthusiast and the casual dabbler alike.-- \n\u003cb\u003eEmma Janzen, Author of Mezcal: The History, Craft and Cocktails of the World's Ultimate Artisanal Spirit, and co-author of The Way of the Cocktail and The Bartender's Manifesto\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eA Field Guide to Tequila\u003c\/i\u003e offers a profound yet accessible dive into the world of tequila. This much-anticipated book is replete with rich historical and cultural detail and offers fresh perspectives on tequila marketing, regulatory policies, and environmental concerns. Szczech's close attention to the people and communities shaping, and shaped by, tequila sets his writing apart. \n\u003ci\u003e A Field Guide to Tequila\u003c\/i\u003e will be an invaluable resource for aficionados and novices alike.-- \n\u003cb\u003eDr. Marie Sarita Gaytán, author of ¡Tequila!: Distilling the Spirit of Mexico\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSzczech deftly navigates a vast landscape of information and presents it in a way that's rich with detail yet easy to understand. A definitive book on not only the spirit itself, but the stories of the people and the place that make tequila so special.-- \n\u003cb\u003eJeffrey Morgenthaler, author of The Bar Book and Drinking Distilled\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis is the tequila book the world needs....Szczech has done a great job at nailing the parameters that make it what it is, along with highlighting some of the largest and most traditional players in the category. This is now the first book I recommend about the category.-- \n\u003cb\u003eCamper English, author of Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Szczech's wisdom and experience shines through in this approachable, deeply-researched guide that will welcome newcomers and delight experts with everything they'll need to appreciate and understand agave spirits. Centering sustainability for the land-- along with the flora and fauna that animate it--Clayton empowers readers with a principled education they can use to make discerning decisions about their choice of Tequila, helping steward a hopeful future for this ascendent spirit.\"-- \n\u003cb\u003eJim Meehan, author of Meehan's Bartender Manual, The Bartender's Pantry and The PDT Cocktail Book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFor the tequila curious and the tequila connoisseur alike, a complete, illustrated guide to one of the world's most popular spirits\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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 \n\u003ci\u003eA Field Guide to Tequila\u003c\/i\u003e, the new bible on this popular spirit. \n\u003cbr\u003e 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, \n\u003ci\u003eA Field Guide to Tequila \u003c\/i\u003etakes 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 here: The life cycle of the blue agave and the complex process of turning it into liquor (hint: 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. \n\u003cbr\u003e With its striking visuals and appealing package, \n\u003ci\u003eA Field Guide to Tequila \u003c\/i\u003eis a go-to reference that felicitously also feels like a real gift book--and vice versa.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Szczech, Clayton J\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Artisan Publishers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePub Date:\u003c\/b\u003e 2023-10-03\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC:\u003c\/b\u003e Cooking|Beverages|Alcoholic - Spirits|Cooking|Reference|Technology \u0026amp; Engineering|Food Science|General\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSubjects:\u003c\/b\u003e Tequila\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.3 lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781648291487\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eASIN:\u003c\/b\u003e -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSKU:\u003c\/b\u003e SP-9781648291487\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Artisan Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52147189350681,"sku":"SP-9781648291487","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/0380\/5209\/files\/9781648291487_spiral.png?v=1774160430","url":"https:\/\/westbindery.com\/products\/a-field-guide-to-tequila-what-it-is-where-its-from-and-how-to-taste-it","provider":"West Bindery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}