Best Overall: Tequila Ocho Plata
Courtesy of Total Wine
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pepper, Citrus, Grass, Stone fruit
The beautiful story and unique process behind this tequila really help it shine, says Chasse. The family that makes Tequila Ocho Plata has been distilling for generations. They use traditional brick ovens to slow-roast extremely ripe agave, which is chosen from specific fields each year, so that the nuances of the terroir and weather come out, especially in the blanco.
It changes depending on the field and year, says Chasse, but in general, it offers crisp, clean peppery notes, bright citrus and grassy flavors, along with the fruitiness of the extra-ripe agave. The finish also offers a nice balance between floral and earthy notes.
Good to Know: How should you drink a sipping tequila? Hurley and Chasse suggest trying it neat in a tequila glass . Add a few drops of water to open up the flavor. Medina prefers to sip his aged tequila in a snifter with one large cube of ice, which melts slowly, keeping the spirit cool but not diluting it.
The Best Tequila Cocktails
If you love tequila cocktails, then you cant miss these recipes. Were also covering the origins of tequila, the different types, and more!
What is tequila? Is it exquisite nectar blessed to us from the heavens? Or is it a distilled spirit harvested from the blue agave plant?
Our bets are on the latter, however if the tequila gods descended to the Earth and presented to us their finest tequila cocktails to boot, we wouldnt be surprised.
Because if there was anything wed have in common, it would be our love for the precious blue agave plant in all its intoxicating glory!
Frozen Tequila Sunrise Margarita
The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar
The tequila sunrise margarita brings the beauty of a tequila sunrise into the world of frozen margaritas. It combines the best of both drinks and is utterly refreshing with its tropical fruit flavor. Enjoy this one on a hot summer day, whether that means cooling off by the pool or watching the sunset from your patio.
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Aejo Vs Reposado Vs Blanco
Different tequila types are categorized by how long they are aged. Añejo is aged the longest, followed by Reposado and then Blanco. Añejo is the darkest in color and is excellent for sipping on its own. Reposado will be tan in color and is great for tequila shots or mixing into heavier cocktails. Blanco is clear and is perfect for mixed drinks.
Whats Good To Mix With Tequila:
Good tequilas taste smooth and slightly herbaceous, with the distinctive taste of agave. Cold white tequila or golden reposado tequila mixes well with a variety of fruit juices, sodas and citrus.
- Citrus: Orange juice, fresh lemon juice, fresh lime juice and grapefruit.
- Fruit juices: Pineapple juice, tomato juice, mango and passionfruit nectar, strawberry and blackberry fruit puree.
- Other mix-ins: Simple syrup or agave nectar adds sweetness. Grapefruit soda, lemon-lime soda, ginger beer, coconut water or sparkling water add a layer of refreshment. Grenadine and a few dashes of orange bitters balance out all the flavors.
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Blackberry Tequila Spritzer With Red Wine Float
For a berry spritzer that will brighten up your day, this recipe is just what you need. I mean tequila and red wine? It doesnt get better than that!
Plus, with a homemade blackberry simple syrup and notes of zesty lime juice, youll be summer-ready in no time.
Calories Per Serving: 236
West Texans love this drink, and we know why!
Silver tequila comes together with lime juice and Topo Choco for a refreshing and unforgettable experience.
So all we can say is, thank you, fellow ranchers, for blessing us with this delicious cup of spicy goodness.
Total Preparation Time: 2 minutes
Tequila Sunrise Drink Recipe
The Tequila Sunrise is an old classic drink recipe that sticks around because its so tasty. Its also surprisingly easy to pour for such a beautiful drink.
The Tequila Sunrise is a classic cocktail recipe blending grenadine with tequila and orange juice. Because the grenadine sinks to the bottom, it looks like a sunrise.
The flavor is orange and berry, with notes from whatever tequila you use. And its worth using a small batch grenadine for a fresher taste, since it comes across in this drink.
If youve ordered Tequila at a bar, youll probably have been asked Silver or Gold?
As we covered above, Silver Tequila is also known as Blanco.
Gold Tequila, like Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado, is another name for Joven Tequila.
Joven is Spanish for young, and this type is made by blending young Blanco Tequilas with Reposado.
There is another type of blend called Mixto.
Like the name might suggest, Mixto takes a mix of Tequila with sugars, syrups, and other ingredients.
This recreates the flavours of types like Reposado, but without having to wait for the spirit to age. Neat, huh?
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Best For Margaritas: Casa Dragones Blanco
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Herbaceous, Green peppercorn, Anise
Instead of sipping this high-end tequila, Volfson recommends trying it in a margarita. A margarita is about the relationship of three ingredients: tequila, triple sec, and limes,” she says. This tequila from Maestra Tequilera Bertha González Nieves gives off flavors of soft herbaceousness and grassy garden crispness, green peppercorn and fennel seed, cardamom, anise seed, and a bit of juiciness, which Volfson feels mingle well with the bright cirtus character of the triple sec and lime juice.
“The layers of orange blossom in Casa Dragones, along with the orange in the triple sec, brings together the drinks fruitinessthe recipe doesnt need as much lime juice as others, so it showcases the spirits with each other. Yana Volfson, beverage manager at Cosme and ATLA restaurants in New York
Best For Palomas: Siembra Valles High Proof
Courtesy of TequilaConnection
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 46% | Tasting Notes: Licorice, Black pepper, Freshly-cut grass
Siembra Valles boasts a formidable line of classically-produced tequilas, but their high-proof offering is particularly excellent in cocktailsespecially citrus-forward drinks like the paloma. This boldly-flavored tequila is produced very traditionally, with the agave cooked in brick ovens, the crushing being done via tahona, and the fermentation taking place with the bagasse , which adds richness and complexity. Finally, double-distillation in copper stills yields a delicious spirit that’s bottled at a robust 46 percent ABV. Use this in your next paloma, and you’ll be able to look forward to assertive notes of black pepper, citrus, licorice, and freshly-cut grass intermingling perfectly with the grapefruit and lime in your glass.
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pine, Lavender, Vanilla
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What Is The Easiest Tequila Cocktail To Make
The Tequila Sunrise. Its the first combination on our list above and all you need is your favorite brand of tequila, some orange juice, and a bottle of Grenadine.
Also sharing a very simple tequila cocktail recipe below. Similar to our strawberry tequila sodas, this one is made with grapefruit soda.
Also check out our dirty martini made with tequila! Its SO good!
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What Does Tequila Taste Like
Each type of tequila has its own distinct flavor. Blanco tequila can be a little sweet with citrus and pepper notes. Once aged, like to make reposado and Añejo, tequila can take on a smooth and slightly smoky oak flavor.
Tequila’s taste also depends on where the agave plant was grown. Tequila produced in the lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico, will have a dry, earthy flavor. While tequila produced in the highlands will have a floral and citrusy flavor.
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Tequila + Pineapple Juice
Pineapple juice and tequila were made for each other. Together, they harmonize to create a cocktail that is grassy, vegetal, tropical and peppery. While fresh pineapple juice makes the brightest and tartest drink, canned pineapple juice is a viable option . Best of all, literally any tequilabe it a blanco, reposado or añejoworks as the base of this drink. Our favorite bottling to use is Calle 23s blanco tequila, which lends its vibrantly tropical fruit-forward flavors to the juice.
How To Make Palomas
- three parts Squirt soda soft drink
- a squeeze of fresh lime juice
- a heavy pinch of flaky sea salt
- all over LOTS of fresh ice
This is my uncomplicated perfect paloma recipe at its core, its simply a little tequila and Squirt. Just stir the paloma ingredients in a highball glass and enjoy! You dont even need to pull out your cocktail shaker
Of course, you CAN dress up this paloma mixed drink, if youd like. A great way is with a bit of salt on the rim of your glass. Or try adding some fresh grapefruit juice or a grapefruit wedge to enhance the grapefruit flavor profile.
Our local Mexican restaurant amps up the citrus flavors by serving them in a tall glass rimmed with Tajín seasoning, garnished with a lime wheel and a few lemon and lime slices floating within.
PRO TIP: To make a salt rim, simply rub a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and dip it in some salt. The little bit of lime juice will help it stick. Same goes for a Tajín rim!
I should probably mention that 99% of the time I dont bother with any of these extras. Or even the highball glass, LOL I make mine a double in my 20-oz. Yeti Rambler, slap on the lid, and go sip this perfect refreshing drink by the Solo Stove.
What can I say?! Its hands down my favorite way to spend a summer Friday night.
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Whats The Proper Way To Taste Tequila
Shooting tequila with lime and salt is a hard habit to break. But in truth, thats no way to appreciate this complex and nuanced spirit. To drink tequila like a real connoisseur, follow these simple guidelines.
- After pouring about 1 ounce of tequila in a brandy snifter, hold the snifter at the base . Appreciate the color of the tequila by raising the snifter to eye level.
- Swirl the tequila gently to the left for about 1 minute. Does the tequila cling to the side of the glass before falling slowly to form whats called the string of pearls effect?
- After taking a small sip, keep the tequila between your lips and tip of your tongue for about 10 seconds. Swish the tequila around the inside of your mouth before swallowing. Let the flavors come to you.
Whats most important is to find out which tequila you like best. That way, whether you mix tequila into a margarita or drink it straight, youll always be satisfied. When sampling tequila, pay attention to what kind of tequila youre trying. Here are the primary kinds of tequila:
Mango And Ginger Kombucha Mule With Tequila
The Spruce / S& C Design Studios
Kombucha is an excellent cocktail mixer. With its slightly acidic taste and gentle fizz, kombucha can easily replace soda in mixed drinks. In this tequila kombucha mule recipe, ginger-flavored kombucha replaces the Moscow mule’s ginger beer to create a lively drink that’s both familiar and intriguingly different.
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Are All Tequilas Made Of 100 Percent Blue Weber Agave
Nearly all premium tequilas are made entirely from blue Weber agave , but there’s another category of tequila called “mixto” in which blue Weber agave need only compose 51 percent of the spirit. Producers utilize various types of sugar to make up the remaining percentage, including high fructose corn syrup and molassesalthough sometimes a lightly processed Mexican cane sugar known as piloncillo is what’s used. If your bottle doesn’t indicate on the label that it’s made from 100 percent agaveand if the price is on the lower end of the spectrumthere’s a good chance that you’re dealing with a mixto. While less expensive, these tequilas don’t reflect a historically anthentic approach to the composition of the spirit.
Tequila + Grapefruit Soda
Essentially a Paloma, this cocktail is one of the most popular ways to drink tequila in Mexico . Its bright, citrusy, subtly bitter and downright crushable. Depending on your preference, you can use a blanco or a reposado tequila for the base of the cocktail. A blanco tequila keeps the drink light and crisp, while a reposado tequila makes it richer and more decadent. For a garnish, we recommend a fat wedge of lime and a pinch of sea salt. Come summer, this Highball is essential drinking.
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Tequila + Bloody Mary Mix
Forget making this brunch staple with vodka. You should have been making it with tequila all along. If you really want to take the Bloody Maria to a whole other level, you can add a spicy flavored spirit like Tanteos jalapeño-infused tequila. Just scale back on the hot sauce or else your lips will burn for hours.
- Cookie Settings
Tequila Is Just For Shots: False
Tequila shots, with salt and a lime wedge, are part of our collective drinking unconscious. So much so, it feels like theres no other way to enjoy tequila.But expert bartenders say that you should allow the flavors of your tequila to open up, like a fine wine or scotch. Its much more common in Mexico to sip your tequila slowly the shot with lime and salt is primarily an American practice.
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Best Tequila For Paloma Cocktails
What is the best tequila for a paloma? I hate to say it, but in the end, its really going to come down to personal preference. Using different types of tequila is a fun way to change up classic cocktail recipes, and there are many good tequilas available in a wide range of price points.
You really need to sample a variety in your favorite drinks to determine which produces the best tequila cocktails to your liking. Otherwise, youll never know if you prefer an unaged tequila blanco or an aged reposado tequila.
I will say that fruity drinks are more forgiving, so you probably would not want to waste a pricey, high-quality tequila on them.
How To Make A Tequila Pitcher Cocktail
A tequila sunrise is the perfect drink for unwinding in front of your favorite TV program or make a few for a casual evening in your backyard with a couple friends.
But for that long holiday weekend fiesta youre throwing, you can triple or quadruple this tequila cocktail recipe to have it ready to go in a pitcher. Preparing by the pitcher is so much easier than making drinks one-by-one when youre making drinks for a crowd. People can serve themselves from the pitcher and you can relax. Pure bliss!
My one piece of advice for turning this tequila sunrise into a pitcher cocktail is to leave the ice out of the pitcher, otherwise your cocktails will get watery. Instead, store the pitcher in a cooler and have ice on the side so the drinks still stay cold.
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Best Simple: Powell & Mahoney Classic Margarita
Courtesy of Amazon
Simplicity and few ingredients usually make for the best Margarita mix, as exemplified in Powell & Mahoneys Classic Margarita mixer. The only ingredients are non-GMO ones like lime juice, cane sugar and organic agave syrup. And, while youre at it, why not try some organic-certified tequila when using this to make a Margarita?
What Types Of Tequila Are There
All tequila comes from the blue agave plant, however, there are 5 different kinds:
Hint: Gold tequila does not reflect the age of the tequila and is, in fact, simply tequila mixed with caramel coloring and artificial flavoring.
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What Can You Mix With Tequila Our 15 Picks
Last Updated on August 22, 2022 by Lydia Martin
If you think tequilas are for margaritas only, think again. Tequila is a versatile and delicious spirit you can drink neat, mixed, or on the rocks. Surely, you are missing out if you only mix it with orange liqueur and lime juice. However, what can you mix with tequila aside from these basic mixers?
Get out of your comfort zone and try these amazing tequila mixers for your next party.
Case In Point For Easy Entertaining
Every year we host a HUGE New Years Eve bash. Basically, all of our friends AND their kids are invited because, as you know if you have kids, going out on New Years is kind of iffy
In recent years its kind of morphed into a giant pajama party! Adults and kids alike show up in their fave jammies, we all hang out for the night, and then after midnight, everyone heads out all ready to go straight to bed once they get home. Pretty ingenious if you ask me!
AND its the perfect excuse to sip palomas in my flannel PJs. TOTALLY one of the best ways to start the New Year off right!!
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