1936: First US Distillery
The first tequila distillery in the United States was established in 1936 in Nogales, Arizona by Harry J. Karns, a prominent figure who served as a former Arizona state senator and Nogales Mayor.
1974: Tequila's Appellation of Origin
Tequila achieved a significant milestone in 1974 when it was designated as Mexico's first appellation of origin (AO).
1974: Intellectual Property Claim
In 1974, the Mexican government declared "tequila" as its intellectual property, asserting ownership over the term.
1978: International Protection
In 1978, tequila's appellation of origin received international recognition and protection under the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin.
1990: Important Tequila Laws
Since 1990, several important laws have been enacted to regulate the production and authenticity of tequila.
1993: NOM-006-SCFI-1993 Implemented
NOM-006-SCFI-1993, a significant regulation for tequila, was implemented in 1993.
1994: NOM-006-SCFI-1994 Update
The tequila standard was updated with the implementation of NOM-006-SCFI-1994 in 1994.
1997: EU Protected Designation of Origin
Tequila has been officially recognized as a protected designation of origin product within the European Union since 1997.
2002: Official Tequila Glass
In 2002, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila officially approved the "Ouverture Tequila glass," crafted by Riedel, as the designated tequila glass.
2003: Mexico's Bottling Proposal
In 2003, Mexico put forward a proposal that would mandate the bottling of all Mexican-made tequila in Mexico before export to other countries.
2004: Flavored Tequila Allowed
In 2004, the Tequila Regulatory Council of Mexico (TRCM) made a decision to permit flavored tequila to be labeled as "tequila," with the exception of 100% agave tequila.
2005: NOM-006-SCFI-2005 Update
A later update to the tequila standard, NOM-006-SCFI-2005, was introduced in 2005.
2005: New Tequila Standard Issued
A new Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM) for tequila, NOM-006-SCFI-2005, was issued in 2005.
January 17, 2006: US-Mexico Tequila Agreement
On January 17, 2006, an agreement was reached between the United States and Mexico to allow the continued bulk import of tequila into the United States.
July 2006: World's Most Expensive Tequila
In July 2006, a one-liter bottle of limited-edition premium tequila was sold for an astounding $225,000 in Tequila, Jalisco, by Tequila Ley .925.
2006: UNESCO World Heritage Site
Due to the historical and cultural significance of the Tequila region, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, recognizing the Agave Landscape and Ancient Industrial Facilities of Tequila.
2006: "Extra Añejo" Introduced
In 2006, the updated tequila standard introduced a new class of tequila called "extra añejo" or "ultra-aged," requiring a minimum aging period of three years.
2009: Distillery Statistics
As of 2009, over 100 distilleries in Mexico produced over 900 brands of tequila, with over 2,000 brand names officially registered.
December 13, 2012: NOM-006-SCFI-2012 Published
The most recent revision of the tequila standard, NOM-006-SCFI-2012, was officially published on December 13, 2012.
2012: Tequila Standard Updated
The latest version of the tequila standard, NOM-006-SCFI-2012, was updated in 2012 to include several key changes.
June 2013: Chinese Ban Lifted
In June 2013, following a state visit to Mexico by Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping, China lifted a ban on importing premium (100% blue agave) tequila.
August 2013: First Premium Tequila Shipment
On August 30, 2013, the first shipment of 70,380 bottles of premium tequila, representing ten different brands, arrived in Shanghai, China.
2013: Registered Tequila Brands
In 2013, the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (Tequila Regulatory Council) reported an impressive 1,377 registered tequila brands from 150 different producers.
2018: National Tequila Day
In 2018, the Mexican government officially designated the third Saturday of March as National Tequila Day.
July 2020: NAFTA Protection Ends
Until July 2020, tequila's protection under NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in Canada and the United States was in effect.
2023: Yeast Analysis
An article published in 2023 delved into analyzing the diverse types of yeasts found in the uncontrolled fermentation conditions of traditional tequila production.