Last Updated on February 17, 2024 by Lydia Martin
Tequila is a native Mexican spirit – protected by the country’s law. Authentic tequila must only be made in Jalisco and some specific regions in Mexico. While you can’t just make any alcohol, there’s no harm in learning how to make tequila at home.
This guide will detail the step-by-step process of making tequila according to distillers. Let’s start.
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ToggleWhat is Tequila?
Tequila is a special kind of strong drink made mostly from a plant called blue agave. This plant grows in Mexico. Tequila is usually made near a city called Tequila in Mexico.
Tequila can range in flavor from sweet to earthy, depending on factors such as the production process, aging duration, and the specific type of agave used. It is often consumed neat, as a shot with salt and lime (known as “tequila shots”), or used as a base for cocktails such as the Margarita or Tequila Sunrise.
Tequila is like a special symbol of Mexico, and there are rules to protect it. It can only be made in certain places in Mexico, and they have to follow particular ways of making it.
8 Easy Steps of How to Make Tequila at Home
1. Choose The Tequila Wash Ingredients
You’ll need to use a Blue Weber Agave plant to create pure tequila.
Good thing you can find Blue Agave nectar at grocery stores or online, so you won’t have to harvest the actual plant to make the wash.
2. Decide The Tequila Type You Want To Make
What type of tequila do you want to make? You can go for pure tequila if you have access to a Blue Weber Agave Plant.
But since blue agave nectar is easily accessible, you’ll likely end up making mixto tequila.
Mixto means the spirit is made with at least 51% blue agave, and the remaining 40% is made from other ingredients like cane sugar, among others.
3. Make The Agave Nectar & Cane Sugar Wash
The next step is creating the agave nectar/cane sugar wash. Follow the instructions below:
- Set your brew pot with 4.5 gallons of water on a heat source and heat it to 125 degrees F.
- Pour agave nectar and cane sugar into the water and stir until they completely dissolve.
- Once fully dissolved, pour a gallon of cold water to reduce the wash’s temperature.
- Monitor the temperature and stir every 5 minutes for about 30 seconds until the temp cools down to 80 degrees F.
- After that, mix in the tequila dry yeast.
- Expose the wash to air by dividing it into two containers and letting it sit for around five minutes. Then, pour it into your fermentation bucket. But ensure the necessary equipment, such as a bucket, cap, and air-lock. You can also use a spigot to make the process easier.
- Now, seal the bucket for fermentation and store it in a dark place with temperatures around 75-80 degrees F.
4. Ferment Wash
A simple wash made with raw cane sugar and agave nectar can ferment for about seven days.
Once ready, it will no longer taste sweet or excrete gas from the air-lock.
Also, the yeast converts the sugars into alcohol in the wash. This time, you need to test the alcohol volume of your fermented wash using a hydrometer.
5. Wash Straining
After fermentation, you must remove any solid particles that may have formed.
You can use a cheesecloth or any accessible siphon material for straining before it undergoes distillation.
Distiller’s Tip: You can also test your wash’s pH level; the ideal range is 4.5 to 5.0. If you want to increase it, use calcium carbonate. But if you want to reduce it, use citric acid.
Read: 21 Seeds Cucumber-Jalapeno Tequila Drink
6. Distill The Tequila
First, remove the sediment and other undesirable components from your tequila [1] wash using a cheesecloth or any siphon material.
Set your pot still properly; make sure the condensers and hoses are attached to clamps. Turn on your heat source to raise the temperature of your tequila wash.
You’ll then split the mixture into two batches. During the first distillation, you’ll collect the entire amount of the spirit without separating the heads, tails, and hearts.
Allow the water to once the boiler reaches 130 degrees F, and keep increasing the temperature to 168 degrees F to continue producing distillate.
Stop the process upon reaching less than 20% ABV (use a hydrometer [2]).
Dilute it with 20% water, stir and put it back into the still for another distillation process.
7. Collect The Tequila Distillate
Now, you’ll need to collect the tequila distillate. Refer to the points below:
- Foreshots: The first 5% of your pot still run will be composed of foreshots, which are incredibly toxic and volatile alcohol. You should throw out the first 250 ml of methanol per 5 gallons.
- Heads: Around 30% of your tequila pot still run are the heads. These contain the most volatile substances, such as acetone, that shouldn’t be consumed.
Note: To isolate the heads and foreshots, bring your condenser to a stopping temperature of 168 degrees F.
This will allow you to keep the alcohol in your run until it reaches its final output.
You’ll know all the foreshots and heads have been collected once the condenser stops.
- Hearts: Another 30% of your tequila run is hearts, where you can create consumable alcohol. Before collecting this, raise the temperature of your tequila still to 175 degrees F.
- Tails: This portion is the last 35% of your tequila run. You can recognize it by its smell, taste, and sight, and you’ll notice an oily film collects on the top of the distillate.
You don’t want these carbohydrates and proteins in your final product but don’t discard them. You can re-run them as another own wash in the future and make some more products.
8. Age The Tequila
There are several ways to age tequila. The process breaks down into three main periods, producing different types– each with its distinct flavor and appearance.
“If you want to make some memories, add some tequila. It was too much Tequila, or not quite enough.”
— Jimmy Buffett, Musician/Actor/Author
The time your tequila ages determines its flavor profile and type.
- Gold or Joven: Unaged alcohol with added color and flavor from oak extracts, syrups, and caramel
- Reposado: Aged for around two months to one year in an oak barrel
- Silver, White, or Blanco: Unaged or aged for two months in an oak barrel
- Anejo: Aged for at least one year up to three years in an oak barrel
- Extra Anejo: Aged for a minimum of three years in an oak barrel
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to make tequila at home doesn’t mean you can produce it anytime, anywhere.
It involves strict rules and international trade agreements, and you can be punished by law for violating and jailed for up to 5 years or so, according to the US Code.
While you have access to equipment to craft tequila at home, we suggest leaving this work to authentic and registered distillers.
So, just enjoy bottles of ready-made tequila that you can pour in no time. Cheers!
FAQs Related to How to Make Tequila at Home
Why can’t the US make tequila?
The US can’t make tequila because, as per the law, it must only be made in Mexico.
How long does it take to make tequila at home?
It depends on the type of tequila you want to make. It can take days to years (3 years). While the cooking process can take a day to finish, the aging process takes the longest time.
Is it legal to make your own tequila?
In many countries, including the United States and Mexico, it is illegal to distill spirits at home without proper permits and licenses. Even in places where home distillation is legal, producing tequila without adhering to the regulations set by the Tequila Regulatory Council is not considered authentic tequila production.
Can I make a tequila-like spirit at home?
While you can ferment the juice of the agave plant and distill it into a spirit, it won’t legally be considered tequila unless it’s produced in the designated regions of Mexico and follows the specific regulations set for tequila production.
What ingredients and equipment do I need to make tequila at home?
Making tequila at home requires agave plants (preferably blue agave), a milling or shredding device to extract the juice (known as “aguamiel”), fermentation vessels, a still for distillation, and knowledge of the fermentation and distillation processes.
How long does it take to make homemade tequila?
Making tequila at home can take a while, maybe a few weeks to a few months. It depends on how long it takes for the agave juice to ferment, how you distill it, and how long you want to let it age.
Is homemade tequila safe to drink?
If not properly distilled, homemade spirits can contain impurities or even toxic compounds, posing health risks. Additionally, without proper equipment and expertise, there’s a higher risk of accidents during distillation, such as fires or explosions.
Are there alternatives to making tequila at home?
While making authentic tequila at home may not be feasible or legal for most people, you can still experiment with making agave-based spirits or infusions using commercially available spirits like mezcal or even vodka.
References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/tequila
- https://www.instructables.com/Measuring-Alcohol-Content-With-a-Hydrometer/