Support Us Button Widget

Get ready for National Tequila Day

Tequila might not be the answer, but it’s worth a shot.

five bottles of tequila on a counter

National Tequila Day is celebrated every year on July 24.

Photo by LOUtoday

Cue the “Tequila” song, it’s National Tequila Day.

But don’t start sipping just yet — it is a workday, after all — because first, we want to talk a little bit about the origin of this agave spirit.

John Douglass, who owns the botany shop + cocktail bar Pretty Decent with his wife, Jeanne, knows all about the drink named after a small, Mexican town.

“A few hundred years ago, if we were making what’s tequila now, we would have been calling it mezcal,” John said. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1970s that the name “tequila” became the intellectual property of the Mexican government.

Today, people tend to use the terms tequila and mezcal interchangeably. But as John explained, there is a clear difference between the two. “Tequila is made in one part of Mexico, from just one plant,” he said, “whereas mezcal is made all over the country... from 50+ varieties of plants. So, tequila is a subset of mezcal.”

hand holding a bottle of Real Minero

Real Minero — which is available at Pretty Decent — has been made by the same family in Oaxaca since the late 19th century.

Photo by LOUtoday

Whether you choose to celebrate today with tequila or mezcal, (why not both?) try to do it at a local bar that serves sustainable + socially conscious options. Here are some suggestions to look forward to — after work, of course:

  • Spicy Oaxacan Old Fashioned, Pretty Decent | This boasts tequila, mezcal, poblano, and a sugar cube.
  • A Jimador’s Breakfast, Epiphany | This specialty cocktail features both tequila + mezcal with pepita orgeat, ancho, lime, and a whole egg.
  • Try a brand-new cocktail off of Pretty Decent’s new mezcal-focused menu, which debuts today at 4 p.m.

——————————————

This content is sponsored by Heine Brothers Coffee. As Louisville’s original coffee roaster since 1994, they take pride in the city just as much as the coffee. Order ahead and Drink Up.

LOUtoday thanks our sponsors. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content.

More from LOUtoday
From beer and wine to margs and meal deals, we’ve rounded up local happy hours sure to put a smile on your face.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for beer.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Football season is upon us, and we have the need-to-know info about the Cards + how to make the most out of game days.
You’re never too old to go back to school.
We asked our readers for advice for people new to Louisville.
Sponsored
This can’t-miss event returns in September.
Here’s what readers like you are most excited to see at the Kentucky State Fair.
Eight Derby City companies made Inc. 5000’s list.
The annual event will feature interactive art, food trucks, and live music across two stages.