Tequila Volcano Tequila, Jalisco benefits greatly from the Tequila Volcano. When the volcano erupted, lava flowed where the town is located today and left enriched soils where blue agave can strive. Blue agave is the main ingredient for Mexico’s National drink, tequila. Agave is the dominant agriculture in Tequila, Jalisco; "roughly one-fourth of all inhabitants of Tequila work in the fields and at least another 1,200 work distilling, bottling, packaging, or promoting tequila." Tequila Volcano Standing at a height of 2,920 meters (9,580 feet) above sea level, the Tequila Volcano, or "Volcán de Tequila" is a Stratovolcano located near Tequila, Jalisco, in
Tequila ("Reposado") or aged ("Añejo") tequila must be matured in 200-liter (or larger) white oak barrels for at least 2 months for the former, and 12 months for the latter. There are, however, more than 50 different companies producing tequila in the Mexican province of Jalisco, with different maturation times according to the variety of tequila and desired quality of the final product. All companies producing tequila have their aging processes regulated and fiscalized by the Mexican government. The maturation process causes four main chemical transformations to the tequila compounds: (1) decreasing of fusel oils by the char in barrels, which