National Tequila Day: What's happening with the spirit and where to get specials

With Americans' taste for tequila continuing to grow, the spirit may not need a special day for it to be celebrated – but there's one anyway: National Tequila Day, which is Wednesday.

Tequila has come a long way since being primarily served in a shot glass with salt and a lime alongside.

Sales of tequila in the U.S. first surpassed $1 billion in 2004, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Last year, U.S. tequila suppliers in 2023 tallied $6.5 billion in revenue, up nearly 8% from 2022, the council says.

So far this year, tequila sales have accounted for more than 14% of total spending on spirits, trailing only whiskey, which captures about 35% of total spirits spending, and vodka (20%), according to research firm Bump Williams Consulting of Shelton, Connecticut, which services the alcoholic beverage industry.

Here's more about what's happening with tequila and deals you can score to mark National Tequila Day, which happens annually on July 24.

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Why tequila sales are growing

"Tequila is gaining popularity as a healthier choice due to its natural production and high-quality process," Sue Hrib, founder and CEO of the recently-launched Biatch tequila brand, said. "Its rich heritage and artisanal production contribute to its genuine authenticity. … Tequila’s market share has increased significantly as people consume more mindfully, appreciating both the craft and versatility of the spirit."

Ready-to-drink cocktails made with tequila are also hot sellers at retail. "Tequila is still KILLING it" at retail, said Bump Williams, whose firm uses data firm NIQ's tracking of sales in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, mass-merchandise stores, convenience stores and liquor stores.

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National Tequila Day specials

Some restaurants have specials for National Tequila Day on Wednesday. Here's a roundup, but remember to check your favorite local spots' social media accounts for specific details and more possible deals:

• Buffalo’s Cafe: Buy any tequila drink including margaritas and get a free order chips and queso (dine-in only).
• Chili’s: On Wednesday, the restaurant chain is serving $5 Tequila Trifecta cocktails, made with el Jimador Silver, 1800 Reposado and Jose Cuervo Gold. And if you join My Chili's Rewards, you can also get a free order of chips and salsa.

• Dave &Busters: The restaurant-arcade chain will have a $5 Happy Hour and a $5 Late Night Happy Hour on Wednesday.
• El Camino Mexican Soul Food: The South Florida restaurants will have $7 margaritas all day on Wednesday. There's also other taco and tequila deals, plus margaritas and coffee tequila drinks to go.
• Hurricane Grill and Wings: Celebrate National Tequila Day on Wednesday with $3 tequila shots (dine-in only).
• Mango Shotta: You can win some spending money, courtesy of the new mango-jalapeño tequila from Sazerac, which owns Corazón Tequila and Buffalo Trace bourbon. Take a picture of an empty or neglected tequila bottle at home and upload it to the Mango Shotta site on Wednesday. You could be one of 724 winners who will get $14.99 credited to their Venmo account – which the brand hopes you put toward a bottle of Mango Shotta or some of its shooters.
• Native Grill & Wings: Drink specials for National Tequila Day include $6.50 NativeRitas and $8.5 Patrón margaritas are $8.50 (dine-in only).
• On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina: Margaritas start at $4 and beers start at $3 on Wednesday. Plus, you can get half-price appetizers all day long.
• Ruby Tuesday: From Wednesday to Sunday, July 28, get $10 top-shelf margarita and $10 chicken tenders.
• TGI Fridays: You can celebrate National Tequila Day here with $5 tequila cocktails all day long on Wednesday. (At participating locations; dine in only.)

What is tequila made from? What are the different types?

Tequila, made from the blue agave plant, comes in different types including: blanco (or silver), typically aged for two months; reposado (aged longer, up to one year), añejo (aged up to three years), and extra añejo (three years or more).

As tequilas are aged in oak barrels, they gain a deeper amber shade and complex characteristics, just as do other aged spirits such as whiskey and scotch.

Trends in tequila: Clearer, cleaner and costlier

Tequila continues to evolve. There's not only more brands to choose from, but also some special takes on the spirit.

"Now that tequila is well-established as one of the top-selling spirits in the U.S., we’re seeing tequila drinkers get more exploratory in the agave space and trading up to try aged expressions, like Añejo and Extra Añejo," Jay Needham, brand director for Tequila Cazadores, told USA TODAY.

Here are some other types of tequila and trends you might find at retailers:

Cristalino tequila

Cristalino is reposado or añejo tequila that's been charcoal-filtered to be clear – a style that has gained acceptance over the past decade.

"It has the appearance of a Blanco, but the complexity of an aged tequila, making it perfect for sipping neat or enjoying in a cocktail, like an upgraded margarita or 50/50 martini," said Needham. Tequila Cazadores launched its Añejo Cristalino a few years ago.

Additive-free tequila

As the number of tequila brands has grown, some have expressed concerns about the use of tequila additives such as vanilla and sugar, which change the aroma and taste, and glycerin, which makes the spirit smoother.

One of the newest tequilas, Not A Celebrity Tequila, touts its additive-free nature – and pokes fun at the growth in celebrity-backed or endorsed tequila brands.

"There are now well over 30 celebrity-backed or endorsed tequila brands, the majority of which were launched in the last two years," said Not A Celebrity Tequila co-founder Andrew Bushby. "We chose the name because it is cheeky and rebellious, but it is also meant to help simplify matters. If you’re looking for a tequila focused on what’s inside the bottle, rather than the noise outside, this one is for you."

They brought the "gateway blanco" to market after launching Buena Fé Organic Tequila Quenchers two years ago.

If a tequila you like happens to have additives, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it – currently tequila makers can't label their products additive-free, but they may use the term in marketing. Want to learn more about brands without additives: Check out the Additive-Free Alliance's site, which lists brands it has tested.

High-end tequila

Of course, as a product gets popular, you get more exclusive expressions – and tequila is no exception. Pricier premium tequilas have grown more than 1,200% in volume since 2003, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.

Patrón tequila, which helped drive demand for premium tequilas, hasn't stopped. Among its higher-end offerings: Patrón El Alto ($242.99 on ReserveBar), an extra añejo blended with añejo and reposado tequilas, bottled in striking blue glass.

Another extra añejo tequila, Gran Centenario Gallardo, is a small batch spirit, aged in American and French oak barrels, and finished in Bordeaux wine barrels. There's only 679 bottles available ($598.99 on ReserveBar).

Talk about exclusive, here's a tequila you to apply for a chance to buy: Clase Azul Tequila's limited-edition bottle, The Loft Brooklyn Collection I, available only in New York, reportedly priced at $1,250. Just 1,000 bottles were made of the añejo tequila, which was aged 20 months in American whiskey casks and finished in Calvados French apple brandy casks.

To get a chance at buying the distinctive bottle, which was inspired by the Chrysler building, you must ask for an invite on the Clase Azul site. However, you don't need an invite to buy Clase Azul Ultra, priced at $2,199.99 on ReserveBar. The anejo tequila, aged for five years, comes in a decanter made of platinum, sterling silver and 24-carat gold.

Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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