Photograph of agave leaves. Aged Koa. Date 1224.	<i>Agave</i> was discovered by the Nahuatl Aztec tribe. The first recorded crop dates back to 1224, a pre-Hispanic time.<br><br>In 1239, they made a fermented beverage from <i>agave</i> they called <i>pulque</i>. It was strong and overwhelming. But as the first distilled spirit drink in the American continent, the tribe declared it "a gift from the gods."
	Agave fields. Distilling Vats. Date 1656.	Up until this time, tequila was called <i>mezcal</i>. It got its name from the village of Tequila in Jalisco (officially established in 1656.) This was the first town to distinguish itself for <i>mezcal</i> trade. And <i>mezcal</i> liked the name tequila so much, it renamed itself just that. It must be good to be a tequilian.<br><br>The tequila that is popular today was secretly distilled because of prohibition imposed by the Spanish Crown. At the end of 1810, the laws lightened up and the sales and production increased.
	Agave plant. Magnifying glass. Aged hand written letter. Date 1902.	In 1902, the German botanist Weber studied <i>agave</i> and determined that plants grown in moderate climates and medium altitudes were better suited for the production of distilled spirit beverages. He chose the Blue Tequilana Weber as his favorite because its sap contained the ideal quantity of sugar for fermentation and distillation. That's why Tequila CAZADORES® is considered one of the most refined tequilas in the world.
	Deer standing proud. Official seel. Date 1980.	By the late 1980's and early 1990's, a new category of tequila emerged: Reposado. This breed was smoother and offered a more refined taste. Since consumers liked Reposado tequilas so much, producers started offering it in a wide variety of bottle shapes and label designs. None, of course, as cool as The One With The Deer On It.<br><br>By the late 1990's, reputable bars, restaurants and cantinas began to offer 100% Reposado tequila to their most discerning adult patrons.
	Map of Central America. Workers in an agave field. Date 2001.	In 2001, Mexico and the European Union ruled that tequila was forbidden to be produced outside of Mexico. In order for a distilled product to be called tequila, it must be produced with at least 51% Tequilana Weber Blue <i>Agave</i>, adhere to the quality standards set by the Tequila Regulatory Council and the agave plant must be grown in approved appellation zones within only five Mexican states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacan and Tamaulipas. So you'll never find a tequila whose label reads, "Made in China." Of these five states, Jalisco is considered to be the best overall tequila-growing region. And within the state of Jalisco, the temperate climate and iron-rich soil found in its Highlands produce the sweetest agave. Hence, why the Highlands of Jalisco is CAZADORES' only source of <i>agave</i>.