The Best Mixers To Pair With Tequila
Aficionados call tequila the nectar of the gods, and after trying it with a mixer or two, you might do so as well. But the true origin of tequila is the nectar of the blue agave plant. Created in Mexico, tequila is a drink that people often describe as earthy and sweet. Prepare the salt and limes, and get ready for many other flavor options as we discuss the best mixers to pair with tequila.
Opt For Silver Tequila
Stick with clear liquors like silver tequila to help avoid congeners, a compound created during alcohol fermentation thats been linked to more severe, longer-lasting hangovers.
That doesnt mean you can start pounding shots or go back for a third margarita. But silver or blanco tequila may make the next day less painful and be less taxing on your body.
Three Questions Youve Asked About Tequila
Tequila is such a versatile drink, whether sipped or mixed into a cocktail, so were going to answer three common questions youve asked about tequila, go over some basic tequila terminology, and some pro tips with a few fun facts to get you on your way to being a master tequila mixer.
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Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila
This splendid spirit is effortless to sip but still manages to bring a rich flavor profile to cocktails. The Maestro Dobel Diamante is a blend of Extra-Añejo, Añejo, and Reposado Tequilas, enhancing the overall taste of your margaritas.
The spirit was aged in European oak barrels and double-filtered. It is the worlds first clear, multi-aged tequila, making it one of the best tequila for margarita for those who want a smooth, crisp, and clean finish.
Furthermore, this Cristalino tequila has a mild oak aroma with a touch of vanilla, taking your drinking experience to another level. So, grab your best tequila glass and have a good one!
Best Mixers For Tequila
If your experience of savoring the tequila is limited to drinking shots concocted with lemon zests and salt, then youd surely be eager to try some heady cocktails prepared using this humble Mexican beverage. Distilled from the blue agave plant native to Guadalajara region in Mexico, tequila has an acerbic flavor and majority of drinkers have reported feeling awful when they took a shot for the first time. The very fact that drinkers invariably add a pinch of salt and a slice of lemon is ample proof of its gut-wrenching tang.
However, the agave essence, sweet and earthy by nature, which remains masked when you sip the beverage neat, is brought to the fore, the moment it is cocktailed. Margarita continues to rule the roost as the most popular tequila cocktail but there are a host of other heady cocktails you can try to enhance your experience. Following are some mixers or cocktails of tequila that should be on your must-try list.
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Tequila Goes In More Than Just Margaritas Find Out What To Mix With Tequila From Juices To Syrups And More
Everybody knows tequila! Its the smooth liquor we all love in an icy margarita. However, tequila is much more than that! This capable liquor has a versatility that rivals vodka, which is why it works as well in fruity drinks as it does in carnitas or fruit salads.
But those are just the tip of the iceberg! Get a bunch more mixer ideas ahead.
Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco
Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco was voted The Best Blanco Tequila” by Epicurious Magazine. Its clean and smooth consistency has won the hearts of every tequila lover out there.
The water used for Casa Dragones Blanco is exceptionally pure and natural spring water enriched with the perfect balance of minerals.
This tequila has unique semi-sweet notes of agave warmed by pepper and cloves. What makes Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco one of the best tequila for margarita is its crisp and light finish with hints of almonds and a bright aftertaste that will leave you speechless.
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How Strong Is A Tequila Sunrise
Assuming that you pour an 80-proof tequila and end up with a 7-ounce drink, the alcohol content of either tequila sunrise will be around 11 percent ABV . You can pour as much tequila or as little juice and soda as you like to make stronger or weaker drinks, but it’s almost always a relatively mild cocktail.
Best Overall: Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 45.7% | Tasting Notes: Cinnamon, Olive, Brine
This tequila is a cult favorite among experts, as Yana Volfson, the beverage manager at Cosme and ATLA restaurants in New York, calls it beautiful. Enrique Fuenteseca, the farmer and distiller behind the bottle, chooses the ripest agave in his own estate, subjects the piñas to the autoclave-and-roller mill treatment, and lets the pot-distilled spirit rest in stainless steel tanks afterward for three years. The resulting blanco, says Grover Sanschagrin, is super heavy on the cinnamon, olive, and brine notesits just amazing. Perfect for tequila aficionados, the limited-production Fuenteseca Cosecha 2013 is a worthy collectible.
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When To Serve The Tequila Sunrise
This cocktail is terrific by the poolside. Its also great for a night of dancing. And it makes a great drink to have at the end of a long day, before the evening begins.
Its even great for brunch. Not too strong, with an easygoing fruity flavor that goes with most any brunch foods.
It is a terrific choice for barbecue cocktails because its light, refreshing and cold. You can serve it at any party, too.
You might think of the Tequila Sunrise as a very long drink. Thats true, but it only has twice as much fruit juice as alcohol, so its still a good stiff drink.
If you want, you can add more orange juice to make it a longer drink for sipping. Its made to be poured over ice, which will water it down after a few minutes.
If you want to keep the flavors intense, you can chill all the ingredients in advance and even the glass, too and skip the ice. Youll get a nice cold drink this way. And you might want to pour it into a smaller rocks glass.
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.
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Just Add Tequila For The Perfect Fiesta
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Liquor / Chloe Jeong
To make , all you need are a few simple ingredients: high-quality tequila, fresh lime juice, and a citrus sweetener like triple sec, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or even just a little agave syrup. Combine, shake and pour, its as easy as that. But, when you dont have the right ingredients or the time to whip up a drink, a good Margarita mixer can be incredibly helpful. There is a wide variety to choose from. Each has a distinctive flavor profile, from sour to spicy to fruity, offering something for every palate.
Here are the best Margarita mixes that are both delicious and affordable.
What Kind Of Soda To Mix With Tequila
You can use Club Soda, Seltzer or Sparkling Mineral Water. I usually make my own bubbly water with my SodaStream but each option will work in this recipe and be a 0 calorie mixer.
The key is to not use a sweet mixer. Tonic Water, Sprite or Seven-Up will increase your caloric intake. You want the crispness of the sparkling water without the added sugar or calories of a sweet mixer.
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What Is The Best Tequila 10 Tequilas You Will Love
If all you think when you hear Tequila is shots, then think again.
Tequila is so much more than waking up the next morning with a fuzzy head with a vague memory of shot glasses.
But before we answer the question What is the best Tequila? there is a lot to learn, and love about this potent spirit.
Throw away your salt and lime, and lets dive in.
Easy Tequila Cocktails For Summer
Shake up your drinks game this summer: These creative tequila cocktails from spirits professionals across America are an easy way to mix things up.
Daniel Kurtzman, general manager at Tallboy Taco
The basil and jalapeño add a freshness that screams, Drink me on a long summer day while overlooking the beach!
Tanteo Puerto Vallarta Smash
2 oz. Tanteo Habanero Tequila 0.75 oz. peach purée 6-8 small basil leaves ½ jalapeño Muddle basil, jalapeño and agave nectar in a shaker. Add ice and remaining ingredients. Shake and strain into rocks glass with crushed ice and a Tajín rim.
TANTEO PUERTO VALLARTA SMASH
E. Carter Wilsford, head bartender at Joyface
A bit of island vibes, a bit of summer. . . . works anytime and is less labor intensive and less boozy than a margarita.
The Tres Agaves El Diablo
1.25 oz. Tres Agaves Blanco Tequila 0.75 oz. crème de cassis Ginger beer Add tequila and cassis to a tall glass. Fill with ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime.
The Tres Agaves El Diablo
Jaime Salas, national ambassador at Milagro Tequila
The tart grapefruit paired with the agave-forward Milagro Select Silver creates a harmonious blend of flavors that are sure to impress.
Milagro Paloma Select
Milagro Paloma Select
Mike Callan, bar manager at Tamarindo Del Mar
Sipping on one of these will help you forget about last yearpreferably as you enjoy an amazing ocean view while on vacation.
Buena Vista
Buena Vista
Ruffo Bazan, bartender at Maz Mezcal
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Other Flavors To Explore
Club soda and seltzers are having a boom. With so many seasonal flavors adding additional variety, you can alter your flavor profile based on the season, holiday, or to best fit your day. Add that together with the variety of pop already on the shelves, you can really get experimental with new flavors. Since club sodas offer a more subtle flavor than sodas, you can make tequila the star of your combinations. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Lime tonic or seltzer
Tequila Is The Intellectual Property Of Mexico: True
In fact, its illegal for other countries besides Mexico to sell tequila. In 1974, the Mexican government declared the term tequila the intellectual property of Mexico. Mexican law requires tequila to be produced only in certain regions of the country. Tequila sold outside Mexico is technically a mezcal or a mixto.
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El Tesoro Aejo Tequila
El Tesoro Añejo Tequila has the distinct flavor of lightly cooked agave and oak with caramel and some vanilla and barrel spice. It is aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for two to three years, making it very smoothbut goes down without a fight.
This award-winning spirit won the gold medal in the International Spirits Challenge 2018, among others.It offers a perfect combination of sweet agave balanced with pepper, oak, and floral tones that will amaze you. It is undoubtedly the best tequila for margarita that offers light green notes with a vanilla finish.
What’s The Difference Between A Tequila Sunrise And A Tequila Sunset
Quite often, tequila sunset is just another name for a tequila sunrise. Then again, it can be an entirely different recipe. Some use grapefruit juice instead of orange, while others use a blend of pineapple and orange. In all of those, though, the grenadine is at the bottom, just like in a sunrise.
For the opposite effect that places a red layer at the top of the drink , you’ll need to use a lighter ingredient than straight grenadine. One option is to mix a little soda with grenadine before adding it to the tequila mix. Blackberry brandy is commonly used as a substitute for grenadine in a tequila sunset, and most brands should be light enough to float on top. Other red liquors may work as well, depending on their specific gravity. You could even use dark rum mix it with food coloring if you really want the red layer. With all of these tequila sunset options, pour the top layer over the back of a barspoon so it floats.
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What Is The Best Tequila For A Margarita
There are a ton of tequilas out there but thankfully we sacrificed for the good of humanity and have done countless drink studies to help you choose what is the best tequila for a margarita. So the next time a friend asks you what are the best types of tequila for margaritas, youll be an expert.
The short answer is tequila blanco, also known as silver tequila or white tequila. This type of tequila is young and unaged and has a stronger natural agave flavor that pairs best with margaritas. Thats because they dont have a woody or aged flavor like its more expensive oak barrel aged peers, the tequila reposado or tequila anejo. Dont get us wrong, these other tequila types are delicious in their own right but we like them more as a sipper tequila as opposed to mixing in margaritas.
Can Tequila Be Mixed With Anything
Grapefruit juice is best mixed as 3 parts juice and 2 parts tequila . Seltzer or club soda can provide a nice base and enhance the flavor, while a lime slice is great at adding complexity to the grapefruit taste. Use grapefruit soda with tequila and its called a Paloma. So refreshing!
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El Jimador Reposado Tequila
El Jimador Reposado is well known for its exquisite golden tone, warm seasoned flavors, and a smooth and confident agave flavor that really shines through. This tequila starts its journey with 100% hand-harvested blue Weber agave, which is naturally fermented and double distilled to let you taste the ultimate purity with no unpleasantness added.
The tequilas aroma is rich with vanilla, toasted wood, fruits, spices, and cooked agave. El Jimador Reposado stays within handmade American oak barrels for two months to achieve its signature flavor, which contains a combination of spice, fruit, vanilla, wood, and subtle toasted hazelnuts.
If you want to create a superb-tasting and classy margarita, try the El Jimador Reposado tequila. This is one of the best tequila for margarita across the globe.
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?
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Best For Blended: Jose Cuervo Classic Lime Original Margarita Mix
courtesy of Total Wine
There’s a reason why Jose Cuervo Margarita mix is many people’s go-to at-home mixerit’s not too tart, the sweetness is balanced, and it has that oh-so-familiar Margarita flavor that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. And, at a budget-friendly price point, you can quench a crowd’s thirst for mere dollars. We recommend you use this Classic Lime mix for blended Margs, with a classic salted rim.
Is Tequila An Upper
Tequila has one last thing supposedly going for it: Unlike every other alcohol, its said to be an upper , not a downer, and can lift your mood. Like all spirits, tequila is ethanol, which is a depressant. The differences really are all in your head: alcohol is alcohol is alcohol, agrees nutritionist Ostrower.
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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?