How Do Mexicans Drink Tequila
Until I tasted good tequila, the idea of sitting and sipping tequila, as Mexican people commonly do, seemed like an absurd activity. Yet the truth is that good tequila is to be savoured, not slugged down at speed.
Heres how to drink tequila like a Mexican.
Pick a tequila that is 100% agave and at least reposado.
Fill a shot glass in the normal way .
To drink, simply take a small sip of tequila straight and enjoy.
If you feel the need as a new tequila drinker, you can try your tequila with some lime and some salt. After every sip or two, dip your wedge of lime into a small amount of salt and suck on it. However, dont use too much as you will drown out the flavour of the tequila.
Ideally, try to buy the tiny limes that are light green because they are sweeter and juicier than their larger, darker counterparts.
And there you have it: how to drink tequila like a Mexican.
Best Under $: El Tequileo Reposado
Courtesy of Total Wine
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Agave, Baking spice, Vanilla, Pineapple
You can still taste the lovely green and cooked agave amid the baking spice notes and vanilla that come out of the barrel-aging process, says Jamie Gordon, managing partner at Albuquerque, New Mexicos Artichoke Cafe, of this iconic reposado. I get a little pineapple, too, which is one of those flavors youre always happy to find in a spirit.
Gordon also likes El Tequileños story. Founded in 1959 by Don Jorge Salles Cuervo, the brand is now under the watchful eye of third-generation master distiller, Jorge Antonio Salles. It’s the exclusive tequila produced at Jaliscos La Guarreña distillery. It has a history of place, says Gordon, and, most importantly, it’s delicious.
Know What Youre Drinking
There are three basic classes of tequilablanco, reposado and añejoand different ways to maximize the drinking experience for each. I am always aware of what kind of tequila Im drinking, says Bolivar.
Blanco: When drinking blanco, or silver, a 1-ounce pour neat for a shot does the trick for me, he says about this category, which is usually aged minimally or not at all. However, Im not against a good blanco tequila with soda and lime, just in case you want to drink it slow.
Reposado: Reposado, or rested tequila, is aged in barrels from two months to one year. Reposados hold hidden notes of vanilla, caramel and butter, and many times a touch of citrus is also present, he says. Drink repo tequila neat, preferably in a snifter glass, he adds. Bolivars top picks for reposado tequilas include Casa Noble, Fortaleza, Siembra Azul and Clase Azul.
Añejo: Barrel-aged for longer than year, this tequila style tends to have robust flavors, often layering on plenty of caramel, toffee and spice. The añejo drinker is considered to a mature drinker, says Bolivar. He likens añejo tequila to scotch and suggests consuming it similarly: with one ice cube or a splash of water, or mixed into an Old Fashioned-style cocktail.
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Whats On The Label And What It Means
The tequila you buy will either be 100% Agave or Mixto . With 100% Agave, the flavors and notes will be very up front. If you are a fan of robust, exotic flavors, this will be the type of tequila you want. Mixto, on the other hand, has its flavor cut by up to 49% sugar and water. This will NOT make the tequila sweet, only less in-your-face. It will have a more subtle flavor, whose notes will linger for longer. Neither is better or higher-end than the other, its simply a matter of preference and occasion.
Beyond the two basic categories we just mentioned, there are also about a half dozen different types of tequila within each. It may sound confusing at first, but trust me, its not rocket science.
Here are the ones youll encounter the most.
Tequilas Classifications Are All In The Aging
The five official classifications of tequila are determined by the time the tequila spends aging in barrels. Blanco is un-aged tequila that is bottled shortly after distillation, although it can be kept in stainless steel tanks for a few weeks before bottling. Joven is blanco tequila that is either blended with a little bit of aged tequila or aged for just a few weeks before bottling. Reposado is aged for between 60 and 364 days . Anejo is aged for at least one year, but less than three years. And extra anejo, the most recently added classification, is aged for at least three years.
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Mexican Mule Reposado Tequila Drink
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The Mexican Mule is beautiful in its simplicity and pale amber glow. This golden tequila cocktail is a south of the border twist on the Moscow Mule. It Uses ginger ale and gold tequila in place of the vodka and ginger beer.
What Is The Smoothest Tequila For Shots
10 Best Tequilas for Margaritas and Shots in 2021
- Best Overall: Casamigos Blanco Tequila at Drizly.
- Best Top-Shelf: Milagro Añejo Tequila at Drizly.
- Best Cheap: Sauza Silver Tequila at Drizly.
- Best Mid-Priced: Herradura Silver Tequila at Drizly.
- Best Añejo: Don Julio Añejo Tequila at Drizly.
- Best Blanco/Silver: Espolòn Blanco at Drizly.
- Best Reposado:
- Best Gold:
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Easy: Reposado Perfect Manhattan
Tequila can have a bit of spice to itso were playing that up with just a bit of 100-proof rye, along with both sweet and dry vermouth for an elegant Manhattan version that has a real bite. Delicious and sophisticated.
Instructions: In a mixing glass with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces of reposado tequila, 1/2 ounce 100-proof rye , 1/2 an ounce of sweet vermouth and 1/2 an ounce of dry vermouth. Add 1 dash of Angostura bitters. Stir until well-chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a big twist of lime peel and a thin peel of lemon.
Does Casamigos Give You A Hangover
George Clooney claims that his well known tequila brand, Casamigos, prevents hangovers. As Gerber tells Business Insider, Casamigos really started by accident as far as a company, he said. As you do in Mexico, we would drink a lot of tequila. Wed go out to bars and restaurants and bartenders would recommend them.
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Best Reposado: Siete Leguas Reposado
Courtesy of Drizly.com
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Baking spices, Vanilla, Slate, Shale
Like many bartenders, Chasse considers this reposado from Siete Leguas her favorite tequila in general, regardless of the expression. The distillery where it’s made uses a mix of grinding methods: efficient roller mill and traditional tahona, a millstone carved from volcanic rock. The result: “A nice balance between sustainability and the wonderful qualities of earthiness from the more fibrous milling of the tahona, she says.
With its mix of minerality, wood-driven vanilla notes and baking-spice panache, this versatile reposado is perfect to sip on anytime along with many different types of foods, says Chasse. “It just makes my heart happy.
Okso Were All Curious About The Worm
Simply put, the worm is a gimmick. It started in the 40s to add a hand crafted authenticity appeal to sell cheap mezcal to tourists. Its important that you know that real tequila NEVER has a worm in it. When you see a worm at the bottom, THAT IS NOT TEQUILA, and its likely not even very good by mezcal standards.
If you just cant resist the allure of consuming a fermented and preserved booze-worm, keep in mind that you will very presently be on-your-ass-drunk and likely vomiting. I dont know the chemistry behind it, but that little worm PACKS A PUNCH.
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Where To Stay In Guadalajara
I stayed at Guadalajara Centro Hospedarte Hostel and booked my tour through them at a cost of $400MXN .
On a budget: Hostel Hospedarte Guadalajara Centro I stayed here and it was fantastically social with good options for booking tours.
Mid-range: The Westin Guadalajara clean, well-kept, modern rooms with a great location, The Westin offers reliable service for great prices.
Luxury: NH Collection Guadalajara Providencialocated in the financial district of Guadalajara, expect modern rooms in a good location, surrounded by a good choice of restaurants.
Hotels in the town of Tequila: If youd rather stay in the town of Tequila itself, there is a handful of hotels to choose from.
Whats your relationship like with tequila? Love it? Hate it? Prepared to give it a try the Mexican way?
Use Tequila Reposado If You Have It
Any type of tequila works for this tequila sour: we recommend finding one in a mid-price range or above. The quality of the drink is only as good as the liquor! We also like using tequila repsoado in this drink, because it adds more nuance to the drink. Think: subtle flavors of vanilla and caramel. But you can also use tequila blanco: it just has a more straightforward flavor!
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Should Tequila Be Served Cold
Whether you sip it, serve it with lime and salt add it to margarita mix, drink it room temperature or serve it chilled, Tequila is meant to be savored and enjoyed. If you want to really appreciate the full bouquet and body, try it at room temperature. Tequila is meant to be enjoyed neat. Taste it like a fine wine.
What Glass Do You Drink Tequila Out Of
If your preference is to savor a tequila then you want a copita shaped glass. The expansive middle will allow the aromatic compounds to gather while the narrow top will concentrate the aromas. Riedel makes a tulip shaped wine tumbler tequila glass that is sturdy and machine washable and holds 6 ounces.
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Fall Tequila Cocktail Recipes
Tequila is a fast-growing spirit in the U.S. and beyond, with increased premiumization and celebrity involvement in part to thank. But in recent years, tequila has gained a reputation as the spirit of summertime likely due to its starring role in Americas favorite warm weather cocktail, the .
But theres more to tequila than the Margarita. The agave spirit is more versatile than meets the eye, meaning it can and should be used in cocktails all year round. From the rich and comforting, to the boozy and warming, these fall tequila cocktails are perfect for cool-weather sipping. Read on for the best tequila recipes to mix up all autumn long.
drop!
The Sweater Weather was made for cold lazy days and, with just four ingredients, its as easy to make as it is to sip. Just combine reposado tequila with Frangelico a hazelnut liqueur pear syrup, and Angostura bitters. The result pairs perfectly with all of autumns favorite flavors.
First Things First: What Is Tequila
Tequila is a strong liquor that is made from a type of cactus native to Mexico called agave , particularly, the BLUE AGAVE plant. Other similar liquors are made from other types of agave, but REAL tequila is ONLY made from BLUE Agave
Region also determines authenticity. Much like Champagne, in order for Tequila to really earn its name, it MUST be made from plants that come from a specific region of Mexico where the Agave plant grows natively .
We can trace the earliest roots of distilling agave to make booze all the way back to the ancient Aztec people. Their drink, Pulque , is among the earliest known ancestors to tequila. When the Spaniards came, they adopted the drink and began utilizing some of their own European techniques for distilling. This slowly evolved into what is modern-day tequila. Other liquors, like Vodka, have had a history of debate over their origins, but there is no question Tequila is Mexican.
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Best Blanco: Don Fulano Blanco
Courtesy of Don Fulano
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Lemon peel, Lemongrass, Cooked agave
“Theres a saying: ‘Whiskey is aged in wood, and tequila is aged in the ground,'” says Hurley. Thats so true because agave takes six to eight years to mature, so you can detect the influence of the terroirthe soil, sun and shade of mountainsespecially in a blanco. He calls this one from the Altos region phenomenal.
Produced by Jaliscos famed Fonseca family using deep well water, Don Fulano Blanco offers “green cooked agave notes, a little bit of pepper and minerality, and hints of lemon peel and lemongrass, Hurley says. Along with those complex layers of flavor, Hurley likes its mouthfeel. It has a nice body all the way through, so its one of the easiest drinking tequilas out there,” he adds.
Blancos showcase the terroir and the agave, but they also show any imperfections. Look for spirits with a medium to full body, a bit of attitude, minerality and brightnessand not much ethanol burn. You can tell an impure spirit if you get that. Morgan Hurley, Marketing and Beverage Director, Mex 1 Coastal Cantina
Always Buy 100% Agave
Agave , is the plant that tequila is made from and is the very foundation of a good tequila. Yet, despite growing in abundance in Mexico, not all tequilas are made using 100% blue agave.
Why is that a bad thing? Well, lets think for a moment about a packet of pork sausages that only contain 50% pork. Did you shudder? I did too. The same applies to tequila . The non-agave ingredients are usually lower quality, less natural, affect the taste of the drink and can often contribute to those tequila hangovers that are so hard to handle .
In short, if you make only make one change in your tequila drinking habits, then make it this: only ever drink tequila that is made from 100% agave.
Pro Tequila Tip: some brands may state they are made with blue agave but unless they say 100%, you are still getting a blend.
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Drink The Oldest Tequila You Can Find
Like a fine whiskey, tequila is one of those drinks that improves with age. And, the longer tequila has been aged, the more mellow and, yes, the more drinkable, it will be.
The clear tequila that we most commonly slug back in bars is usually fresh out of the vat and as a result is pretty rough to drink even in Mexico. Hence the need to chase this baby brew with lime and salt.
However, drink a tequila that is even a little bit older and the taste and drinkability increases dramatically.
Tequila usually falls into these categories:
- Blanco completely unaged tequila that has spent less than 2 months in steel or neutral oak barrels
- Joven as above but is often gold coloured
- Reposado aged more than 2 months but less than 1 year in oak barrels
- Añejo aged 1-3 years in oak barrels
- Extra Añejo aged more than 3 years in oak barrels
A Cousin Drink: The Margarita
Youll notice that the tequila sour looks much like a classic Margarita! Of course, the margarita doesnt have bitters or an egg white foam, and it uses lime juice and Cointreau as the sweetener. Even so: its a very similar drink!
Do you love margaritas? Make sure to check out our 15 best margarita recipes, and dont miss our top tequila cocktails.
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Best Splurge: Don Ramn Limited Edition Extra Aejo
Courtesy of Liquorama.net
Region: Jalisco | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Cocoa, Dark coffee
Only 5,000 bottles of this limited-edition Don Ramón extra añejo were produced. Made with 100% blue agave from the Tequila Highlands, this expression has been aged for three years in American oak barrels. The tequila provides notes of toasted coconut and vanilla, with some cocoa powder and dark roasted coffee, Hurley notes. But thats only part of the selling point for him.
The tequila is great, but the bottle is whats really gorgeous, he says. The glass is embedded with gold flakes and decorated in wooshing lines composed of Swarovski crystals, which frame the dark amber liquid inside. It makes a showstopping centerpiece for any bar.
Agave Manhattan & Autumn Cider Are Two Unique Drinks To Enjoy This Season
You may not necessarily think of tequila when it comes to the holiday season, but with a quality spirit like 1800 Reposado, it will sure put you in the holiday spirit.
This tequila isnt for slamming as if youre on Spring Break. Rather, it is to be sipped and tasted in well-make drinks.
So with that in mind, here are a pair of holiday cocktail recipes using 1800 Reposado tequila.
You may be asking do they taste as good as they look in the photos? Theres only one way to find out, of course, and that is to make them and to drink them.
Enjoy these drinks and Feliz Navidad!
1800 Agave Manhattan
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How To Drink It
This actually seems to be the biggest mystery among the uninitiated nobody seems to know how to drink tequila outside of margaritas and shots.
You can apply most of the same rules to tequila that you would to whiskey or scotch. If drinking something good, an aficionado will drink 3-5oz. out of a snifter served at room temperature, or on the rocks. Thats it. Theres no need to shake the glass or sniff it, the aromas will become more prevalent as you are drinking. One drink should last you most of the night .
Remember, the good stuff is to be enjoyed, not pounded. If the flavor is too intense for you, salt about an inch of your glass and have a slice of lime on hand as a quick chaser. A good tequila should have a warm kick to it, and it should start in your chest
When taking a shot, always remember to raise your glass before drinking if you are with company. Its not required that a full, heavy hearted toast be delivered upon every shot, but its generally considered a courtesy to give your fine drink and even finer company the nod. If everyone is taking a shot , then a good customary toast is, in unison, Parriba! Pabajo! Pal Centro! Y Pa Dentro! . Once again, if the flavor is too intense salt, shot, lime.
If you want something different , make yourself Sangrita by combining orange juice, tomato juice, and cayenne powder. Take this sweet/spicy mixture in alternating shots with your tequila of choice, no salt or lime needed.