Tequila is in vogue. And its rise in popularity can be very much attributed to the bartenders and brand ambassadors who have educated consumers about its finer qualities, demonstrating that there’s more to it than just slammers and sombreros. With any popular spirit comes new and improved ways to sell it, drink it and enjoy it. Phil Bayly and drinks have put together a list of the latest tequila trends to keep you in the loop.

Sustainability

For many years, the Blue Weber Agave plant has been cultivated by removing and replanting the subterranean shoots of the plant to create the next generation of agave. While it sounds like an effective way to keep crops of agave alive, it has meant that the same DNA of the mother plant has been replanted over and over again, preventing the plant from evolving and making it more susceptible to viruses or disease. Some farmers have therefore instead begun leaving some of the plants to flower as it normally would and letting the bats that live in the fields to pollinate them. These farmers then use the seeds and bulbs to cultivate the next generation of agave plants. It’s a very slow process, but important for the evolution of the species. The producers using this method are now stamping their bottles of tequila with a bat symbol to help consumers identify and differentiate their product from other, more mainstream brands.

Celebrity status tequilas are also growing in popularity. This is because the recognition of tequila as a luxury spirit has made it worthy of a swanky partnership. George Clooney, perhaps the most dapper man alive, joined the trend in 2013 when he launched Casamigos Tequila with business partners Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman. Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall also brought the celebrity trend down under with the debut of Sesión Tequila in 2015. And if there was ever a tie between tequila and the lifestyles of the rich and famous, we can’t forget Tequila Avion; the 100 per cent agave brand that made Turtle millions on the US TV series Entourage.

Taking a leaf from the book of wine, some tequila brands are now focusing on terroir. As you may already know, in Mexico the agave plants are cultivated in the highlands or Tequila Valley, and each region’s soil, sun exposure, and drainage systems make for a different flavour profile. Tequila Ocho is the first producer that’s concentrating on this principle of terroir and if you want to taste from the highlands compared to Casa Noble from the low.

Mezcal

Mezcal is the cousin of tequila and it differs in terms of the agave plant used to produce it. Hitching a ride to stardom on the back of two trends, mezcal is not only more terroir-driven than tequila, but also generally made in small batch, artisanal distilleries known as palenques. The best brands of 2016 include Ilegal, which gives off a citrus and honey taste followed by spice, and Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, which is smoky and creamy all at once.

Classic Cocktails

Together, tequila and mezcal are taking the cocktail world by storm. Due to their versatility, both are being used as the base spirit in classic cocktails. And yes, this does go beyond the margarita. Añejo tequilas for example, make for a great base in stirred, spirit-forward drinks such as the Old Fashioned. This is because they are aged for no less than a year and carry many of the same characteristics as a fine whisky or Cognac.  Mezcal however, is better suited to cocktails like the famous Negroni. We foresee the base spirit in many classic and new world cocktails being replaced with tequila and mezcal due to their versatility and wide variety.

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