With the rising popularity of craft spirits and homebrewing, many spirit enthusiasts are interested in making their own tequila at home. However, there are important legal considerations when it comes to distilling spirits like tequila.
What is tequila?
Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant. It is produced primarily in the Jalisco region of Mexico. By law, tequila must be made from at least 51% blue agave sugars. The remaining sugars can come from other sources like cane sugar. After distillation, tequila is usually aged in oak barrels to gain flavor and color.
Types of tequila
There are several major categories of tequila:
- Blanco or silver tequila – unaged, bottled immediately after distillation
- Reposado tequila – aged 2-12 months in oak barrels
- Añejo tequila – aged 1-3 years in oak barrels
- Extra añejo tequila – aged over 3 years in oak barrels
Is distilling tequila at home legal?
The legality of distilling tequila at home depends on where you live. In the United States, it is generally illegal to distill spirits at home without obtaining the proper permits and licenses.
United States
According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), it is federally illegal for individuals to produce distilled spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and obtaining a permit. There are exceptions for fuel alcohol and certain research, instructional, and industrial purposes, but beverage distillation is not allowed.
The penalties for illegal distillation can include up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. State laws may also prohibit home distillation. Only a handful of states, like Missouri and New Zealand, allow limited home distillation but with strict conditions.
Mexico
In Mexico, it is legal for individuals to distill spirits for personal consumption only, not for sale. However, commercial tequila production is still governed by strict regulations and denominations of origin. Tequila can only be produced in specific regions of Mexico like Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacan, and others nearby. The blue agave plants used must also be grown and distilled in those regions.
Canada
Canada previously banned home distillation of spirits in 1868. However, in 2018, exemptions were made to allow homemade spirits and beer for personal use in quantities less than 25 liters. Anything above that limit still requires a permit.
Some provinces still restrict distilling alcohol at home, like Quebec and Newfoundland & Labrador. British Columbia allows home distilling but spirits cannot be aged in barrels.
Requirements for legally producing tequila
For commercial tequila producers, strict regulations govern what can legally be called tequila:
- Must be made from at least 51% blue agave sugars
- Produced in specific regions of Mexico
- Blue agave plants grown and distilled only within those regions
- Must be manufactured within certain technical specifications
- Must follow labeling standards regarding age, region, ingredients, etc.
Tequila producers must obtain permits, register with an authorized regulatory council, and follow inspection requirements. For example, the Tequila Regulatory Council oversees and enforces standards for all tequila-producing regions.
Making tequila-like spirits at home legally
While you cannot legally call it tequila, it is possible to make a tequila-like spirit at home through fermentation and distillation if allowed in your country/region. Here are some options:
Use different plants
One option is to use plants other than blue agave that are easier to source locally. For example:
- Sotol – a traditional Mexican spirit made from Desert Spoon or Dasylirion plants
- Bacanora – a spirit from Sonora, Mexico produced from Agave angustifolia
You can find recipes to make homemade sotol or bacanora substitutes. Since you won’t be using blue agave, it legally can’t be called tequila.
Make a neutral spirit
You can create a neutral “white” spirit from a fermentable sugar wash like corn, sugar beets, grapes, or fruit. This neutral distillate can be aged in barrels or infused with botanicals.
Flavored liquors
Another approach is to make flavored liqueurs and infusions with neutral spirits or vodka as the base, like:
- Agave or citrus liqueurs
- Vanilla/oak infusions to mimic aging
- Fruit or pepper infusions
This allows lots of creativity in making tequila-esque concoctions.
The process of making tequila at home
While not legal tequila, you can follow a similar process to make your own agave spirits:
Make an agave mash
If using agave like sotol, roast, steam, and shred the plants to extract fermentable sugars, as you would for tequila. Other sugar sources like juices can also be used.
Ferment the mash
Mix the agave or other sugars with water and add yeast. Allow to ferment in a fermentation vessel for 1-2 weeks until the sugars turn to alcohol.
Distill the wash
Transfer to a still and distill the wash. Collect and separate the heads, hearts, and tails fractions.
Age (optional)
Age the distillate in oak or other wood barrels to gain desired flavors.
Bottle and enjoy
Dilute to 40-50% ABV, flavor and sweeten if desired. Bottle and share your homemade spirits!
Safety considerations
Always practice safety and responsibility when attempting DIY spirits:
- Use caution when operating flammable distillation equipment.
- Research and comply with all local laws.
- Monitor alcohol strength.
- Carefully separate dangerous methanol heads.
Conclusion
While real tequila can only come from Mexico, it is possible to create similar agave-based spirits at home legally in some regions if certain precautions around distillation and permitting are followed.
Pay attention to all local laws and safely enjoy experimenting with agave, exotic botanicals, and barrel aging to make your own unique spirits!