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
Cdigo 1530 Rosa Tequila
This tequila is particularly interesting and totally different from anything else on this list. The first thing youll notice is that its not the usual clear colour youll get from a young tequila, instead it has a rose tint to it. Aha! That, my friends, is because this tequila is rested for one month in barrels that previously held Napa Cabernet Sauvignon! This unique process gives the tequila some notes of red fruits that you wont find anywhere else. Put this tequila in a margarita alternative such as a watermelon margarita and youve got yourself a winner.
ABV: 35%Size: UK 700ml // US 750mlFind it here: UK £49.95 // US $59.99
Roca Patrn Silver Tequila
ABV: 45%Price: $75
Roca Patrón Silver is the second espression by Patrón in this list. The line focuses on old production methods like using a stone wheel tahona for milling agave. This traditional way of milling piñas is said to extract more flavors. The result is a milder and more refined Blanco, especially compared to Patrón’s standard Silver.
The price for this Tequila is premium, but you also get an extra 5% of ABV. On the palate, this is hardly noticeable as the Roca expressions are super smooth. Instead, you will notice the sweet notes of cooked agave, lemon and lime zest, and pepper.
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The Recipe For A Great Margarita
There are as many different recipes for Margaritas as there are options for Tequilas. For our recommendations, we refer to the classic Margarita recipe:
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz Fresh lime juice
- 0.5 oz Cointreau
You can sweeten this base recipe to taste with agave syrup, simple syrup, or a mix of the two. And also, don’t forget the obligatory salt rim on your glass.
So now let’s look at the best Tequila for the Mexican cocktail. Here’s our hand-picked list of the best options for a classic Margarita.
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.
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Casa Noble Tequila Crystal
The clean, crisp taste of our Blanco tequila celebrates the fresh flavor of the noble Blue Weber Agave. Enticing aromas set the palate for flavors of honey, buttery-sweet cooked agave, and a hint of citrus. Triple distilled for a well-balanced and smoother-than-glass finish this Blanco is in a class by itself.
Casa Noble Tequila Crystal is tequila made from 100% USDA-certified organic blue agave. This tequila is triple-distilled, giving it a very smooth flavor with hints of honey, citrus, and of course, agave. Learn how to make a margaritablended, on the rocks and virgin.
Casa Noble Crystal Blanco Tequila 750ml
Higher Proof: Herradura Directo De Alambique
Another pick from Herradura makes it onto our list. The Directo de Alambique is so unique among tequilas that we had to mention it. The first thing you need to know about this alcohol is that it is made to pack a punch. With an ABV weighing in at around 55%, this 110 proof tequila is not for the faint of heart.
The notes extant in the standard Herradura Silver Tequila make another appearance here, but with the added sophistication of herbs and peppery notes. This, along with the extra bite from the higher proof, makes the Directo de Alambique something of a heavyweight in the world of tequila mixed drinks.
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The Best Tequila For A Margarita
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What makes a great margarita? At its best, this classic cocktail is a happy marriage of ingredients, with each element playing off the others, enhancing the drink. A well-made tequila tastes grassy and mildly peppery, with hints of citrus and floral flavors. A good margarita should bring all of those agave flavors, especially the grassy and peppery notes, into the drink, while the tart lime and triple sec should combine into a citrus flavor that enhances and brings out the floral, aromatic side of tequila.
A poorly made margarita usually tastes overly sweet and sticky, with tequila flavors that are either non-existent or actively vile.
I’m on a quest to find the best tequila for a margarita. Do you need to spend big bucks to make a great version of the drink? Are there affordable brands that make good margs? I convened a tasting of margaritas made from ten different tequilas. My tastersall frequent and enthusiastic margarita-drinkerssampled them blind, took notes to describe their impressions, and voted on the best.
Our tasting focused entirely on drinks made with blanco or silver tequilasmost recipes for margaritas call for these. Sure, some bartenders prefer to mix with reposado tequila, and that’s a delicious option. But since silver tequilas are more commonly used and our crew couldn’t make a cocktail with every single bottle in the liquor store, I limited our tasting to those.
Is Silver Tequila Good For Margaritas
The ideal tequila for margaritas is a silver or blanco tequila. This tequila is rather new, having just been matured in wood for up to two months. It has a stronger flavor that blends nicely with other ingredients. Gold tequilas have been matured in oak barrels for a longer period of time, making them unsuitable for margaritas.
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Best Tequila For Margaritas: A Quick Guide
We could just give you a big list of great bottles of tequila. Instead, first lets talk about the types of tequila and what to look for when you go to the store .
- Rule of thumb: any mid-priced tequila tastes great in a margarita. Price does indicate quality. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35. Anything cheaper isnt worth buying.
- Use expensive tequilas for sipping. Very high-end bottles of tequila and tequila añejo are intended for sipping. Dont waste this type of tequila on a mixed drink!
- Tequila reposado makes a smooth, sophisticated margarita. There are two types of tequila to use in your margarita: reposado or blanco. We prefer reposado because of the nuanced flavor it adds.
- Tequila blanco is also ideal for margaritas. It has a straightforward agave-centric flavor and spicy finish. You can choose either! Heres more about the tequila types
What Is The Most Expensive Tequila
The one-of-a-kind 1.3 liter tequila bottle, dubbed The Diamond Sterling, is worth $3.5 million thats more than a million dollars per liter. According to Culture Map, the bottle was created by Tequila Ley . 925 and its the most expensive bottle ever put on sale. Just what makes this bottle so expensive?
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How To Rim A Cocktail Glass For Margarita
Making an expert salt rim for yoru margarita is easy. Simply place some salt on a small dish or plate. Run a lime wedge all the way around the rim of your cocktail glasses to moisten. Then invert the glass, dipping the rim into the salt to coat fully. Voila: an even salt rim perfect to enjoy your homemade cocktail from.
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How Do You Pick Tequila For A Margarita
When it comes to choosing the best tequila for margaritas, look for one that says 100% de agave or puro de agave. The tequila brands labeled tequila mixto or oro have been cut with an inferior natural cane spirit. Not only will the flavor be less complex, but its probably made with artificial coloring, too.7 days ago.
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How Much Tequila Is Meant To Go In Margarita Mix
- Can you tell me how much tequila is in a Margarita?
- It is customary to follow the 3-2-1 formula.
- That means, 3 parts tequila, 2 parts triple sec, and 1 part lime juice freshly squeezed is all you need to make this cocktail.
- However, it is completely up to your particular choice.
Mr.Romero loves a 2:1:1 ratio of tequila to other ingredients: one part sweet, one part sour.
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: its soft and silky, a result of two to three years of aging in American oak ex-bourbon barrels, but its 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 youre 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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Best Overall: Roca Patrn Silver
Reserve bar
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 45% | Tasting Notes: Smooth, Herbaceous, Black Pepper
Patron is a brand that I believe is misunderstood, says Darnell Holguin, beverage director of New York’s Las Lap. helped bring attention to the category as a whole by offering a premium spirit during a time when the U.S. was still trying to understand tequila. The Roca lineup is pricey, but noteworthy in that a giant stone wheel called a tahona is used to press the agave after cookinga traditional method that many believe extracts more flavor. Holguin describes the flavor as balanced with an herbaceous quality and a spicy, warm finish.
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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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.
Is Jose Cuervo Good For Margaritas
Jose Cuervo, the other mixto, did a little better than the others. It had a pleasant aroma and reminded one taster of a basic five-dollar house margarita from a Mexican restaurant, according to the Cuervo representative. The Cuervo, on the other hand, left an unpleasant greasy feel in the mouth, which made it stand out when contrasted to the 100 percent agave alternatives.
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What Is The Smoothest Tequila
The 19 Best Sipping Tequilas Don Julio 1942 Añejo. Avión Reserva 44. Lobos 1707 Tequila Extra Añejo. Patrón Añejo. Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia Extra Anejo. Courtesy. Herradura Seleccion Suprema Tequila. $330 AT TOTAL WINE. Cincoro Tequila Añejo. $140 AT RESERVE BAR. Dahlia Cristalino. $40 AT SHOP.TEQUILADAHLIA.COM.
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.
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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.
Are Margaritas Better With Silver Or Gold
When it comes down to it, silver tequila is better for margaritas than gold tequila. They are aged differently, with silver tequila boasting a stronger, purer taste while being clear in color. Its simplicity makes it the perfect companion to mixed drinks, as it matches beautifully with other flavor profiles.
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Can You Use Gold Tequila In A Margarita
Whatever you do, dont use gold as a currency. Generally speaking, gold tequila refers to tequila that has been colored and sweetened with caramel. If you want a high-quality Margarita, avoid using gold. If you want to be on the safe side, use blanco tequila in your Margarita , and save the reposado and anejo for sipping.
What Is The Worst Brand Of Tequila
Montezuma Gold presently has a less-than-stellar average rating of 1.5 stars out of five on Master of Malt, with reviewers describing it as awful and decrying both the flavor and the scent. The Montezuma Gold Tequila, according to one review, is the the WORST tequila I have ever tasted. It has a deceptive sweetness to it, and may this be the case? Smoke in liquid form.
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Which Is The Smoothest Tequila
What is the smoothest tequila? The smoothest tequila is often regarded to be Ocho Añejo, an estate-grown spirit brand that also bears the title of the first ever Tequila vintage. The Añejo is rich and vegetal with notes of vanilla and caramel and is aged in ex-American whiskey barrels for one year.