According to Mexican law all tequila must contain at least 51% agave.

Date: 19th October, 2010

Manila Restaurant and Wine Bar discusses Tequila and Rum

According to Mexican law all tequila must contain at least 51% agave. Really good tequila is 100% agave and the law requires them to be produced, bottled and inspected in Mexico. Because of the regulations few tequileros (tequila distillers) produce this higher quality spirit and a bottle can be quite expensive. Tequila that is not 100% agave is called mixto because it is blended with sugar and water during distillation. Mixto tequilas can be produced outside of Mexico.
Distillation:
Tequila is distilled in pot stills until it reaches 110 proof. The result is a clear spirit with a significant amount of congeners. Some tequileros re-distill the tequila to produce a cleaner, blander liquor. The darker varieties get their color from the addition of caramel or, in the case of high-quality tequila, from barrel aging. Other tequilas are flavored with small amounts of Sherry, prune concentrate and coconut. Most tequila requires no aging.

There are 4 types (tipos) of Tequila…
Silver or Blanco/White Tequila (Tipo 1):
Silver Tequila is a clear spirit that can be either 100% agave or mixto. These tequilas are aged no more 60 days in stainless steel tanks, if they are aged at all. Silver tequila is primarily used for mixing, especially in fruit-based drinks and Brave Bulls.
Gold or Joven Tequila (Tipo 2):
Gold Tequila is an unaged silver tequila that is colored and flavored with caramel. These tequilas blends, or mixtos, and are very sweet and smooth making them perfect for shots and Frozen Margaritas.
Reposado Tequila (Tipo 3):
Reposado, or “rested,” Tequilas are aged in wood tanks or casks for a minimum of 2 months. The higher-quality Reposados are aged from 3-9 months. This type of tequila has a robust flavor, is the best-selling in Mexico and can be either 100% agave or mixto. Quality Reposado and Añejo Tequilas are excellent sippers.
Añejo Tequila (Tipo 4):
Añejo Tequila is “old” tequila. These tequilas are aged in white or French oak barrels (and often used Bourbon barrels) for a minimum of 1 year producing a dark, very robust spirit. The best mixtos are aged between 18 months and 3 years while the best 100% agave tequila is aged for up to 4 years. Many tequileros believe that aging longer than 4 years ruins the earthy flavor tones. Añejo is best enjoyed in a snifter to appreciate its aroma.
Mezcal:
Mezcal can use any of 8 approved varieties of the agave plant unlike tequila which is only made of blue agave. This is where the worm comes into the story. While the reason is obscure, one version says that the worm was placed in the bottles to prove that the alcohol is high enough to preserve a worm intact. The worm itself is the larva of 1 of 2 moths that live on the agave plant and are safe to consume, as many frat boys have proven. Top-quality Mezcals do not have a worm.
Reading the Label:
There are many brands of tequila on liquor store shelves, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Here are some of the things you’ll find on the label that will help you make a good choice. Keep in mind that you pay for what you get.

* Type (Tipo): Blanco, Gold, Reposado, Añejo
* Purity: Only 100% agave is labeled as such. If the label does not say 100% agave it is a mixto.
* NOM: Refers to the distiller registration number. Take an NOM list with you to the store as there are more than 500 brands produced by about 70 distillers. All tequila labels are required to have an NOM. No matter what the label says, the NOM does not indicate quality.
* CRT: An indication that the Tequila Regulatory Council has certified the product. Again, this is not a guarantee of quality, it simply says that the CRT has approved the production process of the company.
* Hecho en Mexico: Made in Mexico. 100% agave tequilas can only be made and bottled in Mexico. Hecho a mano means ‘handmade’ and, while it is not an official term, it usually indicates traditional production processes.
* DOT: Denomination or origin number, indicating compliance with Mexican regulations regarding where the product was made. Not on all labels.
* Brand Name: This doesn’t indicate who makes the product (see NOM).
* Alcohol Content: Tequilas in Mexico are usually 38-40% alcohol, but legally may be higher, up to 50%.

Source: http://cocktails.about.com/od/spirits/p/tqla_tme.htm

Although wines are widely available in most Asian countries, especially in Hong Kong which has eliminated import tariff on wines altogether, the availability of fine vintage wines is still very scarce. Most wine merchants offer big names, young vintages and cheaper wines for everyday consumption. Wine lovers and connoisseurs looking for something special often travel to Clark Pampanga Philippines to do their shopping at this Wine Shop in Manila.

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To avail of wine catering service of Yats Wine Cellars, just contact this wine supplier in Manila or Angeles Clark Philippines for a meeting to design a theme for the event. The venue for a wine event can be in the privacy of a home, the convenience of an office in Manila for example or in a clubhouse of a subdivision. Wine glasses and accessories necessary for wine service are included in the wine catering service. Moreover, interesting wine notes accompany the wine to help participants enjoy the event even more by learning a little bit about wine while enjoying the party. A wine steward will be present to serve the wine.

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http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.