What Is 100% Blue Weber Agave—and Why It Matters

There is a phrase on premium bottles that you may have seen: 100% Blue Wever Agave.

It’s not just a marketing schtick, an empty statement. It means something. Bottles have to earn the right to bear that certification. 

Speaking of certification, we’ll get familiar with the Consejo Regulador del Tequila here, too. And why is that? The CRT verifies the authenticity of true tequila. It is an accredited Mexican body that makes sure everything is up to standard - everything from 100% Agave to. Mixtos. 

The time has come from Blue Weber agave to take the stage and, boy, are we in for a smooth ride!

What is Blue Weber Agave?

Also known as Agave tequilana Weber, Blue Weber agave is actually a succulent native to Jalisco, Mexico. The reason why it’s oh-so important here is that it is essential for producing tequila. 

The premium, highest-quality tequila that can ever be legally made is with 100% Blue Weber agave. So, yes, that means there are other types of agave that can be used to make other products (like agave syrup, for example). But those others can’t make tequila, as is a regulatory requirement since 1964. 

If, say, other brands use different agave to make a spirit, those are immediately classified as mezcal or an agave-based spirit. They, again, can’t call it tequila. What other requirements must brands adhere to? Well, that would lead us to… 

Check Out - How to Best Tequila Starts in the Soil? The SWOL Agave Advantage

What Constitutes as Blue Weber Agave Tequila?

The Consejo Regulador del Tequila, aka the official body that enforces regulations on tequila, can also be referred to as the Tequila Regulatory Council. They mean real business when it comes to tequila.

It has said that the requirements for a product to be labeled as tequila are:

1. The spirit must be made from at least 51% Blue Weber Agave.
2. The spirit must be produced in Mexico, specifically within the state of Jalisco or 4 specific municipalities in Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas.
3. The spirit’s alcohol content must be between 35% and 55% ABV.
4. The spirit must be distilled twice.
5. The spirit must have a distillery-identifying label with the NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) number.

Just a little clarification on item number 1. This is the minimum. If a spirit is made from at least 51% Blue Weber Agave, that’s called a mixto tequila. Furthermore, anything that ranges from 51% to 99% is classified as a mixto. These mixtos are cut with corn sugar, cane sugar, or other additives during fermentation, making them more economical and often more appealing to the taste of a wider market. 

100% Blue Weber Agave tequila is called exactly that, with some variations being "100% de Agave" or "100% Puro de Agave". As one can expect, premium tequilas usually use 100% blue agave. With this, you can get a cleaner taste of tequila. Bright citrus, herbal notes, and complex flavors shine here with variations coming from the aging. 

Aging Blue Weber Agave Tequila: What Does it Do?

When something is pure with agave flavor, how does one get variations? Through aging! There are five main aging classifications for Blue Weber agave tequila and they are key to developing deeper and more distinct flavors from your favorites.

Check out the main differences.

• Blanco: Unaged and crystal-clear, this is your baseline for 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila - its purest form.
• Reposado: Meaning “rested”, it’s slept enough to get a little mellow. Aging ranges from 2 months to 1 year.
• Añejo: This is tequila aged for a minimum of a year to 3 years. Yes, you get an almost woody, toasted note because of this.
• Extra Añejo: Dark, complex, and rich, this is aged for a minimum of 3 years now. Many consider bottles here to be perfect for sipping.
• Joven: Think of this as a blended tequila, Blanco with either Reposado or Añejo. This gives people the ‘best’ of both worlds.
• Cristalino: Not to be mistaken for the blanco in terms of looks, the crystal-clear Cristalino gets its clarity from filtration. That gives it a distinctly sweeter taste and smoother sip.

And just to scratch that information itch, yes, aged mixtos are technically available, but they aren’t as popular, basically making them rare to find. If you think about it, you don’t really need aging to make a dent on the flavor or color if you can make use of additives in a mixto. 

That’s not to say that all mixtos are bad - just that there are brands who clearly cater to a market that wants cheaper bottles than others. You just have to find your reference from those available out there. A chuck eye steak can’t ever taste and look like an A5 wagyu, but there are folks who can appreciate a good chuck every now and then, right?

Also Read - What Makes Tequila “Authentic”? A First-Timer’s Guide to Real Agave Spirits

Blue Agave Blew Us Away

SWOL Tequila knows how important Blue Weber agave is, that’s why we’re sharing that information with you! We hope we made learning all about 100% Blue Weber agave tequila fun, and that you didn't feel overwhelmed. If you did, mayhaps you could relax with a fine sip of tequila?