A Guide to the Agave Varieties Used in Tequila Production
When you sip a fine tequila, you're not sipping a liquor. You're sipping tradition, earth, weather, and most of all—agave. At AguaDios, we believe that the story of fine tequila begins long before it reaches the bottle. It begins in fields, where resilient agave plants are nursed by the Mexican sun.
This article gives detailed information on many agave plant varieties that are the material for tequila production, mainly the Blue Weber Agave match, which is the only plant species the Mexican government has officially sanctioned for use in tequila. Whether you are an avid connoisseur or a newcomer to the world of tequila, knowing the plants below will make you understand the idiosyncrasies of the AguaDios Tequila bottle.
What is Agave?
Agave is a native Mexican succulent. It possesses a rosette of spiny, fleshy leaves and erect flower stalks. Though over 200 various species of agave exist, only a few are viable for application in liquor like tequila and mezcal. Used is the piña, the heart of the agave, cooked and fermented to make tequila.
Shaping the Finest Expression: Organic, Authentic, Artisanal
Genuine tequila stories begin underground—but are told during fermentation and distillation. AguaDios honors tradition with a completely organic process: slowly roasted, hand-raked piñas are crushed, naturally fermented on ambient yeasts (no foreign strains added), then twice-distilled to clarity and accuracy. The result is a crystalline spirit full of agave integrity and terroir-driven flavor—a clean slate for the unique aging process that follows.
Mizunara Oak: The Union of Two Worlds
What sets AguaDios apart most is the use of Japanese Mizunara oak barrels in aging, the first time in the world. The Hokkaido Mizunara is a rare and prized wood. It may take decades to ripen—sometimes 200 years before it can be used to make barrels—and is an extreme challenge for coopers due to its porous and humid wood. But the reward is spectacular. The wood contributes warm sandalwood aroma of sandalwood, cumin, coconut, spice, dainty florals, cherry-wood sweetness, and vanilla creaminess in a way no other oak does. The Mizunara finish doesn't conceal the agave; it lifts it—providing a subtle interplay of volcanic mineral sweetness to refined, noble oak.
This unique hybrid production—a Mexican agave heritage enhanced by Japanese wood aging and made by American distillers—is the best example of cultural harmony and global craftsmanship.
A Rarity Worth Savoring
AguaDios inaugural offering, Ensambal is not industrially produced. It's ultra-rare: only 1,350 bottles ever produced, hand-numbered, and with a Certificate of Ownership. This inaugural Ensemble will never be repeated—only offered to collectors and enthusiasts. It's not only exclusive but also award-winning. At the 2024 World Spirits Awards, AguaDios won awards as the "Best Ultra‑Premium Tequila" and Triple Gold in the UK competition. With spirits across the world suffocating with labels, this blue agave tequila stands as a benchmark of excellence.
Tequila Types: Not All Tequilas Are Alike
Know that agave is only one part of the equation. After it's harvested, the blue agave tequila is processed into several tequila varieties, each with a distinct taste profile:
1. Blanco (Silver)
Not aged or up to 2 months aged.
Taste: Pure agave; clean, spicy, and citrusy.
Blanco: Smooth enough for a straight-up drink, a purist's sipper in its own right.
2. Reposado (Rested)
Aged in oak for 2 to 12 months.
Taste: Agave balanced with subtle undertones of wood, vanilla, caramel, and spice.
Reposado: An elegant, rounded taste that lingers on the palate.
3. Añejo (Aged)
Aged 1 to 3 years.
Taste: Darker hue and greater complexity—dried fruit, leather, and toffee suggest themselves.
A traditional sipping tequila, rich and complex.
4. Extra Añejo
Aged over 3 years.
Flavor: Luxuriant, rich, and of equivalent quality to fine cognac or whiskey.
Extra Añejo: Special edition, ideal for collectors and special occasions.
A Pan-Sensory Experience in One Glass
On the Nose: The elegant aroma of honeysuckle florals, sandalwood wood, honey sweetness, cherry wood juiciness, pepper spiciness, and tropical fruit excellence remarkably conjures up Mizunara and volcanic origins.
On the Palate: Smooth but vivacious. Volcanic agave Wildfire is blended with smoldering oak, lemon peel, cardamom, marzipan, cinnamon, and clove.
The quote: Warmth that lingers from vanilla caramel, spicy oak undertones, and a whisper of herbal agave—so that hints remain even the next day.
With every sip being a conversation between earth and craftsmanship, our spirits are distilled.
Pure Integrity: Organic Farming, Sustainable Heritage
AguaDios is certified organic, naturally cultivated, and never chemically supplemented. This is living sustainability—nurturing biodiversity, soil health, communities, and even water conservation. Its history goes back not just to plant heritage but to human heritage—from 1850s Mexican agrarians to 1800s Japanese forestry methods, to 2000s American distillers. Each element—a sapling, a barrel, a hand-harvested agave—is part of a living history.
The Collector's Holy Grail
AguaDios is not for the timid. Its rarity, past, and heritage make it a collector's bottle for serious spirit aficionados and collectors. Bottles #001–#050 are even reserved for auction by global spirit houses. It comes with its own Certificate of Ownership—an investment in heritage, taste, and scarcity. With the collectors' market for tequila now up there with that of whiskey, AguaDios is the star, headed for long-term appreciation.
Who is AguaDios For?
The aficionado who craves terroir-driven complexity and handcrafted quality.
The collector insists on unique spirits with proven heritage.
The pioneer who appreciates Slow-Agave philosophy: patience, purity, passion.
Admirers of cultural blends, such as a master chef's composition, handcrafted quality, and truly limited expressions.
Experience the Divine
Envision a soiree: crystal snifters radiating, the room filled with sandalwood and citrus aromas, each guest holding a bottle that contains centuries of geology, horticulture, artistry, and narrative. No flash, no gimmick—merely spirit and tale.
As the founder, Charley describes it, AguaDios is "Water Of The Gods." It's Earth, Oak, and Human Legacy coming together in liquid form. It's not only tequila. It's legacy in glass.
Ready to Join the Rarity?
If silver volcanic earth touches your heart, ancient oak character, and heirloom heritage, then AguaDios is waiting. With only 1,350 bottles ever made, each a finite page in an ongoing history, this is your chance to celebrate not to drink, but to legacy.
AguaDios—where blue weber tequila Agave meets Mizunara Oak. Where earth, heritage, and artistry go hand in hand. Where deficiency becomes legend.
Learn more or inquire about availability—your place with the few awaits. shop now AguaDios Reserva Ensamble Tequila and other tequila varieties.
