Tequila Books?

[mira]

Hey there, new to the site. I was wondering if anyone knows of any good, informative but interesting book regarding tequila? I would like to learn more about the best ways to taste, describe, and also know more about the history and how the different styles are made. Thank you!

[totallytequila]

Originally Posted by mira

Hey there, new to the site. I was wondering if anyone knows of any good, informative but interesting book regarding tequila? I would like to learn more about the best ways to taste, describe, and also know more about the history and how the different styles are made. Thank you!

IMHO...one of the best books ever written on tequila is "The Book of Tequila", a complete guide by the late Bob Emmons. This book is now a little dated, becoming harder to find, and can be a little costly however, it is a very interesting read. A must read for someone just embarking on their tequila journey!

[ChavoCheque]

Of course I agree 100% with the recommendation of the Emmons book. I'm pasting below a very subjective annotated bibliography that I published on my old blog. I should probably republish it on my new blog, but who knows when I will get around to that, so here it is. I hope you find it useful. Salud!

Selected Tequila Bibliography


Tequila: A Traditional Art of Mexico. Ruy Sánchez, Alberto and de Orellana, Margarita (eds.) Smithsonian Books (2004).
Recommended for novices and aficionados alike. Mixing text with engaging graphics and montages, the book itself is attractive and artistic without compromising on information or facts. Puts tequila in the context of Mexico's independence and Revolution, while imparting all the necessary details of the fabrication of tequila. [The idealization of the hacienda system and the hidalgos that it benefited is somewhat off-putting.]

The Book of Tequila: A Complete Guide. Emmons, Bob. Open Court (1997).
Perhaps the first comprehensive reference book about tequila. An excellent introduction for the novice, if you can get past the pedantic tone of the author. The general information on the production, history and geography of tequila is solid, although the information on specific brands and distilleries is out of date. Includes tasting tips as well as food and drink recipes using tequila.

Tequila: The Spirit of Mexico (Second edition). Martinez Limón, Enrique. Abbeville (2004).
A good general overview of tequila with excellent photos. More a coffee table book than a thorough reference work, the author is one of the only sources willing to go on the record and rank the top tequilas, which can be helpful when navigating the 100s of brands available.

Tequila: A Natural and Cultural History. Valenzuela Zapata, Ana G. and Nabhan, Gary Paul. University of Arizona Press (2003).
An interesting work from two botanists specializing in the study of agaves. Equal parts romantic paean to the spiritual and cultural power of tequila in Mexico and fairly erudite horticultural science, the book is most interesting when focusing on the plagues and problems of the contemporary tequila industry, and the relationship between globalization and agave production.

Less than recommended

--Classic Tequila. Wisniewski, Ian. Prion (199.
Doesn't say anything the Sánchez/de Orellana text doesn't say better. Contains a fair amount of flat-out misinfoation (e.g., that mescal is hallucinogenic! page 16).

--Heaven, Earth, Tequila. Menuez, Douglas. Waterside (2005).
OK picture book. Insipid text.

[totallytequila]

Originally Posted by ChavoCheque

Less than recommended

--Classic Tequila. Wisniewski, Ian. Prion (199.
Doesn't say anything the Sánchez/de Orellana text doesn't say better. Contains a fair amount of flat-out misinfoation (e.g., that mescal is hallucinogenic! page 16).

Wow Clayton...you just burst my bubble! And here after all these years....after all of the bottles of mezcal I have consumed... I always assumed that those bright, colorful, flashing lights I was seeing were actual "hallucinations" attributed to eating the worm! I suppose that next you are going try to tell me that tequila is not made from cactus either!

[ChavoCheque]

RE: totallytequila