Tequila shortage inspires knockoff

[fresco]

A South African company is set to launch an agave-based spirit on major international markets to fill the gap created by tequila shortages. Mexican authorities seem prepare to be of assistance:

http://www.just-drinks.com/news_detail.asp?art=20185

[mickblueeyes]

This is going to be fantastic! I read about this a couple of years ago and, frankly, think that the S. Africans are doing the liquor world a great service. Hopefully, some arrangement can be made to ship raw agave to Mexico instead of making 'tequila" there, but time will tell!

[guajolote]

Doesn't blue agave take a long time to reach maturity (20 years)? This is what is causing the problem in Mexico. You can't just go plant a bunch more agave and have more next year. The South Africans must have been planning this a while.

Edit: it takes 8-10 years for agave to mature.

Edited July 7, 2003 by guajolote (log)