Which spirit must be made from agave?

Tequila is the spirit that must be made from agave. Specifically, it is produced primarily from the blue agave plant, which is native to Mexico. The production of tequila is highly regulated; for a spirit to be labeled as tequila, it must comply with specific standards set by the Mexican government. This includes the requirement that at least 51% of the liquid must come from blue agave, though premium tequilas often contain 100% blue agave.

The uniqueness of tequila lies in the agave plant, which imparts distinct flavors and characteristics to the spirit that cannot be replicated by using other fermentable sources such as grains or sugarcane, which are used in other spirits like whiskey, vodka, and rum. Each of these other spirits is derived from different raw materials: whiskey from grains, vodka can be produced from a variety of sources including grains and potatoes, and rum is made from sugarcane or its by-products. This exclusive reliance on agave sets tequila apart from the spirit categories represented by the other options.