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.
Five Types Of Tequila
Did you know that there are actually five defined types of tequila? Its not as simple as expensive tequila vs cheap tequila, I promise! However, it is as simple as two main categories that encompass all tequila.
You can consider all of those five types of tequila to fall under the umbrella of one of these two categories:
- 100% Agave tequila which means that the tequila is produced with ONLY the sugars of the blue agave plant.
- Mixto tequila in which the tequila is made with no less than 51% agave, and then sweetened with other sweeteners.
Inside those two overhead categories, youll find the five following types of tequila. These are organized by age and expense, with the youngest listed first.
FAST FACT: The most expensive tequila isnt the one you want for margaritas. Save those for sipping! Choose one of the more moderately priced bottles suggested below for your mixed drinks.
Hitting Happy Hour With Margaritas
Knowing what type of margarita to choose helps you avoid getting torn in between choosing one among its best. The above margaritas offer you a variety of options that best suit your preferred flavor and tequila content. You can make their recipes at home depending on your occasion and enjoy your drink.
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The 12 Best Tequilas For Margaritas In 2021 According To Bartenders
We tend to celebrate the good and bad times with the margarita, one of the most popular tequila-based drinks here in the states. This citrus-fueled potent potable brings refreshment, vibrancy, and a nice spirited kick to any happy hour, casual dinner, or backyard barbecue.
If you want to mix up the finest possible version of this classic libation either because you want to try some of the best tequila cocktail recipes or to chill out then youll need to seek out a tequila cocktail well suited to this purpose, and weve got 12 suggestions for you right here, offered up by a group of professional bartenders from across the United States.
Weve also found the best margarita mixes and cheap tequila to fuel your margarita dreams.
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
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Best Value: Pueblo Viejo Blanco
courtesy of Checkersliquors.com
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: White pepper, Agave, Mint
Tequila’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and the top bottles now command cultish prices formerly reserved for the rarest of Scotches and small-batch bourbons. But there are still plenty of great values for those with the patience to seek them outand it’s hard to think of an inexpensive tequila that over-delivers on quality quite like Pueblo Viejo. A secret favorite in the mixologist comminity, Pueblo Viejo blanco is crafted using 100 percent blue Weber agave, which is cooked in stone and brick ovens and crushed by a traditional rolling mill called a tahona. The classically-made tequila boasts a nose of white pepper and a rustic, unapologetic palate replete with bright agave and fresh mint.
Once you claw your way through the limited-production bottlings and the celebrity vanity projects, you’ll discover that solid tequila can still be found at budget pricesand the Pueblo Viejo blanco is Exhibit A.
Tequila Is Nothing More Than Cactus Juice: False
While the agave plant has pointy needles and sharp leaves, its really more of a succulent than a cactus. Fun fact: Agaves are more closely related to the Joshua Tree than that prickly desert dweller we know so well. True tequila must be 100% agave, and the best brands harvest the agave when its at least a decade old.
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How To Make A Cadillac Margarita
Best For Sipping: El Tesoro Aejo
Courtesy of leesliquorlv.com
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Citrus, Spice, Brown butter
Like any fine spirit served neat, a good sipping tequila should be smooth, velvety, and nonabrasivebut, simultaneously, should still taste like tequila, rather than trying to mimic the characteristics of whiskey, or vodka, or anything else.
The añejo from El Tesoro is a classically-styled tequila that checks all those boxes: it’s soft and silky, a result of two to three years of aging in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, but it’s not as flush with caramel or vanilla as certain añejos that receive a more heavy-handed aging treatment. Consequently, the flavor of the agave really comes throughno surprise for a brand that prides itself on traditional production methods, from crushing the agave with a volcanic stone tahona to fermenting in open wooden vats with ambient yeasts. The El Tesoro añejo is an ideal choice the next time you’re craving the vibrancy of raw agave character without wanting to bother with ice or with lime.
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 46% | Tasting Notes: Cinnamon, Olives, Grapefruit peel
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El Recuerdo De Oaxaca Mezcal Joven
Joven or young refers to mezcal that hasnt undergone an aging process, like Recuerdo de Oaxaca Joven, the must-have margarita spirit for bartender Emilio Dominguez of Casa Maya Grill in Deerfield Beach, Florida, who tells us that, El Recuerdo de Oaxaca is Casa Maya Grills new favorite mezcal. The flavor is approachable, smooth and balanced something the mezcal market is missing right now. Appropriately smoky, its perfect for blending into cocktails without overpowering them.
Editors’ Recommendations
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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Most Versatile: Corralejo Reposado
Region: Guanajuato, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Honey, Peppercorn, Oak
Jenny Harris, bar manager of San Diego’s Point Loma Fish Shop, says you cant lose with this reposado produced at Tequilera Corralejo. Located east of Jalisco in the neighboring state of Guanajuato, this distillery is rated among tequilas top 100 by the Sanschagrins Tequila Matchmaker user base. This reposado is aged in American oak barrels, giving off an oaky profile that Harris particularly likesalong with flavors of peppercorn, honey, and, of course, agave. Its a tequila that starts with a woody, nutty aroma, rolls sweetly over the palate, and finishes with a slightly bitter spiciness.
Neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail, is always going to be delicious and smooth. Jenny Harris, bar manager of San Diego’s Point Loma Fish Shop
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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Best Overall: Casamigos Blanco Tequila
Casamigos Tequila is a perfect introduction to premium tequilas. The portfolio follows the basic grading system for tequilas, which is standard for most brands and includes a blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila.
The beautiful thing about Casamigos is that it doesnt have a bold tequila taste. Instead, these tequilas are smooth and subtle. They appeal to drinkers who typically prefer vodka or rum, though tequila lovers appreciate them as well. Any bottle is a fantastic option for shots and margaritas, and theyre reasonably priced. You might even recognize it as the brand co-founded by George Clooney. While you have a bottle, its only appropriate to mix up a Danny Ocean cocktail, a sort of grapefruit, cherry-kissed margarita. It’s also quite nice in a spicy paloma and the fun crouching tiger shooter.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, citrus, cream | ABV: 40% | Region: Jalisco
Raúl Rizo, the bar supervisor at The Cape in Los Cabos, Mexico, notes, As soon as tequila blanco is distilled, it is stored in a bottle or rested in barrels of encino or oak for no more than two months. It is the teenager of tequilasyoung, impetuous, and fearless with hints of citrus, menthol, and herbal senses from agave Weber azul.
What Is The Ratio Of Margarita Mix To Tequila
An easy way to remember how to mix a classic margarita is to memorize the ratio 3-2-1: three parts tequila, two parts good triple sec , and one part lime juice.
How much tequila do you put in a margarita mix?
To mix up into a classic margarita I do about 3 ounces of margarita mix, 2 ounces of silver tequila, and 1 ounce triple sec. Shake it up with ice and serve serve in a salt rimmed glass with a wedge of fresh lime. Voila! The recipe makes 8 cups.
How much tequila do you add to Jose Cuervo margarita Mix? Add 1 oz of tequila to a cocktail shaker followed by 3 oz of Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix, and a cup of ice.
What is the mix ratio for a margarita?
Whether youre making a single margarita or a big batch for a National Margarita Day fiesta, youll have a perfect pour every time if you stick to the ratio of two parts tequila, one part lime juice and one part triple sec or orange liqueur. Now that youve got that down, its time to shake things up.
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Best Under $: Los Arango Blanco
Region: Guanajuato, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Agave, Herbs
Produced at Tequilera Corralejo in the state of Guanajuato, Jaliscos eastern neighbor, Los Arango Blanco is made with agave steamed relatively quickly in a high-pressure autoclave, then crushed with a roller mill, and distilled in a copper pot. Its one of the best blancos on the market, and at a great price, says Stevie Latona, bar manager at San Diegos Lionfish restaurant. Along with vanilla notes, the toasted agave and fresh herb flavors, he says, create a soft, smooth taste on the rocks or in a cocktail, its one of my go-tos.”
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Cherry, Mint, Pepper
A NOM is a number used to indicate the distillery in which the tequila is made. To produce this special bottle of ArteNOM, distiller Jake Lustig teamed up with the Camarenas, the family that owns and operates NOM 1579, Jaliscos Destileria el Pandillo. Brick-oven, steam-roasted agave is crushed by a special tahona called Frankenstein, jerry-rigged out of scavenged parts: a junkyard cylinder and an old train wheel axle. After copper pot distilling with a mix of rain and well water, its left to oxidize overnighta key process as oxygen accentuates the blancos fruity nature. Cherry and papaya notes mingle with mint and pepper in a spirit with a big, silky mouthfeel.
The Best Cadillac Margarita
I was hooked after savoring my first Cadillac Margarita in my early 20s. This was my first experience into the world of high class cocktails and it was marvelous. It tasted like the margaritas I was used to, only much, much better. The bittersweet orange flavor along with the warm and woodsy cognac flavor took that simple lime and tequila over the top.
Since then, Grand Marnier has been a top favorite flavor of mine, from cocktails to this Grand Marnier souffle dessert. The cocktail is a lot easier to make than a souffle, so lets make Cadillac Margaritas!
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How Much Tequila Do You Put In A Margarita
For a single margarita, a 1.5-ounce shot of tequila is standard. It is typically equal to the total volume of the other two ingredients . For instance, the classic margarita formula is three parts tequila, two parts triple sec, and one part lime juice. This is adjusted to taste, pouring more triple sec for a sweeter margarita or extra lime to increase the tartness.
When sizing the margarita up to a pitcher, simply increase the ingredients and keep them in proportion. For example, in the typical half-gallon pitcher, you would combine 3.75 cups tequila, 2.5 cups orange liqueur, and 1.25 cup lime juice. This makes 7.5 cups, leaving room in the pitcher for you to adjust the three ingredients to taste, add a sweetener without increasing the alcohol, or chill it with ice. The margarita is a strong drink, so dilution and small servings are important.
Honorable Mention: Goza Blanco $27
I really tried to narrow my list down to five but I couldn’t leave out Goza Blanco. This is one of the lightest tequilas I’ve ever tasted, so if you’re just starting to get on board with margaritas this bottle is the perfect introduction.
And there we have it, five of the best tequilas for margaritas, perfect for beach days and nights out. If the price tags on some of these tequilas make you cringe, check out some of these amazing cheap tequilas instead. Cheers!
#SpoonTip: Spoon University does not support underage drinking or binge drinking. Please drink responsibly!
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The Secret To A Perfect Margarita
Its generally agreed that the components of a classic margarita are tequila, triple sec, and fresh lime juice. But how much of each? The secret is proportions balance accounts for the difference between a good drink and a bad one.
Having made many, many margaritas according to all sorts of proportional directives, I have finally determined that the very best margaritas are concocted as follows:
For one drink:1 ½ oz. tequila 1 ½ oz. triple sec or Cointreau1 to 1 ¼ oz. of lime juiceSalt for the rim of the glass
Shake all the ingredients with cracked ice in a cocktail shaker until the exterior frosts. Strain into a glass over rocks, or up into a cocktail glass. A slice of lime as a garnish, while not strictly necessary, is a civilized touch.
I think the reason these proportions work so well is the way I enjoy a margaritaas an accompaniment to food as opposed to a stand-alone cocktail. Were I to drink margaritas in the same time and place I drank, say, a or a Negroni, I would probably prefer a differentpossibly more assertive, tequila-forwardmix. Instead the tequila should be dialed back into harmonious equilibrium with the other ingredients for a more quaffable potion. For the same reason I prefer them on the rocks, rather than up.
A few notes on the ingredients.
? Key limes, first of all, are about the size of a large gumball, and it takes ages to get the smallest amount of juice from them. And the flavor difference? None.)