Dragon Glassware Diamond Whiskey Glasses
The dragon glassware tequila glass would make a great display due to its geometric design that appeals to the eye. However, the 50-degree angle design is not only intended to look attractive, but to prevent rocks and spills as well.
Its thickness makes it able to withstand dishwasher pressure as well. It is easy to clean and retain the integrity of these by just placing them in your dishwasher.
In case you are searching for a tequila glass that stands out and has a unique design, this could be the one for you. All in one, it is a glass with high functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Ready To Become A Tequila Expert
This tequila guide will cover what makes a tequila a tequila and go over some basic definitions so you can dazzle yourself and others with tequila knowledge. Ill provide some recommendations for tequilas that are widely available so you can begin to stock your home bar and ensure the best tequila experience for your next party or quiet night at home.
Leela Cyd Ross
Ultimate Spirits Challenge Best Mezcal
Every year, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge names the “best” in various liquor categories. In 2020, the challenge named Mezcal Vago Elote its top mezcal with a score of 96 points. It’s a unique mezcal in that along with agave in the mash, it is also infused with roasted corn , which imparts unique, un-mezcal-like flavors. The result is a toasty mezcal with flavors of corn, nuts, and agave that’s lightly sweet. Expect to pay around $50 per 750 mL bottle.
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These Are The Best Sipping Tequilas To Buy Right Now
In parts of the world, Tequila is dismissed as a slammer that gets you there faster and under-appreciated for what it really is. The truth is, those cheap shots youre taking at the bar are usually only 49% agave, which means there are a load of hangover-inducing ingredients you wont appreciate. Theres a lot more to Tequila if you opt for premium, and by premium, we dont mean a hefty price tag. To earn the premium title you see on the bottles, distilleries have to ensure their Tequila is made of 100% agave.
Only in the early 2000s did regulations tighten and the Tequila market has grown exponentially as a result. Brands are innovating to reach new markets and tilt the reputation tequila has in certain territories. For example, Anejo Tequila is building in popularity with some fine expressions to rival that of great whiskies, yet its still a relatively new category of Tequila only established in 2006.
Bets Overall: El Jimador Silver Tequila
Made in Jalisco, this 100 percent agave tequila rests for 40 days before it’s bottled and sent to thirsty drinkers. This results in a crisp tequila that works particularly well in cocktails, and the fact that its one of the best-selling brands in Mexico confirms that. Tasting notes of roasted agave, lemon, and honey pair particularly well in a paloma. The name El Jimador tips a hat to the farmers, the Jimadors, who lovingly grow and harvest all the agave in Jalisco, Mexico.
Probably the best inexpensive tequila for the money is the El Jimador Blanco, says Gavin Humes, food and beverage director of Scratch Bar & Kitchen in Los Angeles. It’s smooth enough for shooting, but has enough kick to stand up well in cocktails. While I might not crave a glass of it on the rocks, the price is hard to beat.
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Best For Sipping: Patrn Aejo
Known by most and beloved by many, this tequila is perfect for pleasing the masses. Patrón Añejo is oak aged for over 12 months, allowing the sweet woody flavors to integrate over time. Notes of baked agave, smoke, burnt caramel and dried fruits dominate this spirits unctuous palate. Sip solo after dinner for a delicious digestif.
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Where And How Is The Best Tequila Made
There are a lot of specific rules and guidelines governing where, how, and from what tequila is made. Heres what you need to know:
- Most tequila is 38% to 40% ABV serious business. Drink with caution.
- Tequila is a type of mezcal. The regions of production of the two drinks are overlapping. The distinction is that tequila must use only blue agave rather than any type of agave.
- More than 300 million blue agave plants are harvested each year.
- Tequila was first exported to the United States in the late 19th century.
- Tequila is made primarily in areas near and around the city of wait for it Tequila, Mexico. Its also made northwest of Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands of the central western Mexican state of Jalisco.
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How To Choose The Best Tequila For You
The name tequila is protected, so all brands and types come from Mexico. The spirit is mostly produced in the area surrounding the actual city of Tequila, and in the highlands of the central-western Mexican state of Jalisco. Here, the blue agave plant needs at least eight years to mature, after which harvesters extract the piña from the plants core, stripping it of its leaves before distilling it.
What types of tequila are there?
There are four main types:
Blanco a white-coloured spirit, bottled or stored straight after distillation or aged less than two months in stainless steel or oak barrels.
Reposado literally, a rested tequila, which has been aged in oak barrels for between two and 12 months.
Añejo is aged tequila. This stays in the barrels for longer generally between one and three years and the barrels themselves are smaller, which adds to the flavour.
Extra añejo tequilas that remain in the barrel for at least three years.
The different tastes are quite distinctive. With blanco, the agave flavours tend to be more intense, while reposado or añejo are usually smoother, mellower and more complex and just like other spirits aged in casks, they can take on the flavours of the wood.
How do I know it’s tequila?
Look for 100% agave tequila printed on the bottle label. This designation is only allowed to appear on bottles containing tequila that have no added sugars. When sugar get added to the fermentation tank, the tequila style is called a mixto.
The Top Ten Best Sipping Tequilas To Upgrade Your Home Bar
Sipping in style: extra añejo
Herradura Tequila
Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. During the annual celebration, it is estimated that American drinkers triple their consumption of tequila. And theyre already a drinking a lot to begin withas much as 20 million 9-liter cases in 2019, alone according to the Distilled Spirits Council. Much of it, particularly at this time of year, will be enjoyed in cocktail form. Margaritas and palomas are perennial standbys. They are classics for a reason: theyre delicious and refreshing. Theres plenty of fantastic spirits that will build great ones, typically blancos and reposados. But the highest end bottles of agave spirit are best enjoyed on their own, sipped neat out of shiny tumblers. If youre here to drink quality over quantity, youve clicked on the right link. Heres a look at some of the worlds best sipping tequilas.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 15: A general view of the atmosphere as Gold Medalist Bode Miller celebrates … Father’s Day with Jose Cuervo’s Reserva De La Familia on June 15, 2015 in New York City.
Extra Añejo
Four years of barrel aging in ex-bourbon oak lends this complex spirit all sorts of tropical top notes. Tropical fruit and nectar are evident in the nose, yielding to a bright citrusy spice on the tongue. Distilled in copper pot stills without any additives, it is an expression of pure joy from third generation master tequilero Felipe Camarena.
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A Buying Guide To Tequilas
The tequilas recommended here are by no means a comprehensive list, but rather suggestions for widely available tequilas across many price points.
Some good buying guidelines are:
- Avoid anything that is packaged in plastic or that costs less than $15 as these are signs of cheap tequila thatll burn like hellfire down your throat and taste like lighter fluid.
- Buy only tequila that states 100% agave on the bottle.
- Its perfectly reasonable to find a smooth, flavorful tequila for $25-$30 thats great for shots, cocktails, or sipping. A high price does not always indicate high quality.
- If theres a worm or scorpion or, really, any animal in the bottle, then dont buy it. Its a marketing gimmick used to sell cheaply produced tequilas and its almost guaranteed to be dreck.
Sauza Tres Generaciones Plata Silver Tequila: Best Blanco Tequila
Price: £54 |
This unaged, clear tequila is triple distilled for an exceptionally smooth sipping experience, with slight hints of citrus, floral notes and white pepper. Theres no throat burning with this premium tequila from Sauza, named for the three generations of their family who have been making their tequila since 1873.
In fact, theyre one of the most awarded families of tequilas, with six gongs at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, one of the most prestigious in the industry. Its clean, fresh tasting and well balanced.
Key specs Alcohol content: 38% Bottle size: 70cl Type: Blanco
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Storywood Speyside 14 Aejo: Best Aejo Tequila
Price: £50 |
This luxury sipping tequila is the best añejo we’ve tried. Left for 14 months in scotch whisky casks, it has slightly sweet toffee notes balanced with a rich, oaky flavour. Unlike some longer-aged tequilas, it’s complex, while maintaining a smooth, easy-drinking finish. This makes it ideal both for sipping neat and for use in cocktails, as those delightful flavours still burst through even when mixed with juice.
Don’t just take our word for it, though: the Speyside 14 Añejo won double gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and nabbed a highly recommended medal in the 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, too. It’s also just one of five in the Storywood range and not the only one to win an award.
Key specs Alcohol content: 40% Bottle size: 70cl Type: Añejo
Smooth Drinking Tequilas For Cocktails Or Sipping Straight
Tequila gets a bad rap. Normally, the disdain for tequila stems from overdoing it on cheap tequila shots in college. That stigma needs to be forever overcome. Cheap versions of liquor stain personal opinions across the board, but none seem to prohibit people from even trying it like the blue agave-based spirit from Jalisco. The truth of the matter? Good tequila is amazing. Consumers are catching on too, as tequila sales grew 31% in 2020. Here are some quality tequilas to start your agave-fueled adventure.
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Where Does Tequila Come From
Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant, and it only comes from Mexico. To be called Tequila, by law, it must come from one of five Mexican states: Jalisco , Guanajuato, Nayarit, Michoacán or Tamaulipas.
There are other spirits distilled from agave, but those are called either Mezcal or Destilado de Agave. Similar to the rule in the US for bourbon whiskey, all Tequilas are Mezcals, but not all Mezcals are Tequila. The oldest Tequila distillery is Grupo José Cuervo, which distills the famous José Cuervo Tequila, founded in 1758.
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.
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Best White: Arette Blanco Tequila
I like tequilas that have a strong family history and choose to do the right thing for the land and the people, says Dean Hurst, beverage director for Datz Restaurant Group. Each bottle is made with care in the town of Tequila, right outside Guadalajara. The brand is still run by the Orendain brothers, who are descendants of some of the oldest tequila producers in the country. That said, the tequila still holds the same quality it did generations ago, with flavors of jackfruit, lime zest, and green pepper.
Give your margarita some punch with Arette Blanco, a steal for a cheaper tequila, says Hurst. He also recommends the distillerys reposado because it’s a great sipper and adds complexity to the paloma cocktail.
Hope Ray, a bartender at The Holler in Bentonville, Arkansas, reaches for Agavales Blanco because it often runs under $20, so you cant go wrong with this in your home bar. The budget bottle clocks in at a spicy 110 proof, so it’ll add a little heat in each sip. Because it’s on the lower end of the price scale, it’s not as elegant in cocktails as some other options are.
That said, it makes a great margarita and an easy shooter, says Ray. If you want a crowd-pleasing bottle, this is the one. Consider putting it in the freezer before enjoying. By chilling it down, the cold temperatures will balance out the higher-proof burn of making shots with this tequila.
The 17 Best Sipping Tequilas
Meant to be savored, one sip at a time, Casa Dragones Joven is featured as the one of the best sipping tequilas.
Below you will find an excerpt of the article. To read the full article, .
Casa Dragones Joven is made completely from estate-grown blue agave in Tequila, Mexico, and the brands maestro tequilero finishes each bottle by balancing the majority of unaged platinum tequila with a hint of ultra-aged extra añejo . Its ridiculous smoothness will leave you wanting another sip tout de suite.
Featured in Town& Country Magazine Sam Dangremond and Lauren Hubbard, on November 22nd, 2019
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Rooster Rojo Blanco Tequila
Tequila from the town of Tequila itself. This bottle comes from the Fabrica de Tequilas Finos distillery, a producer of many fine spirits. Rooster Rojo blanco is the brainchild of esteemed master distiller, Arturo Fuentes Cortes. Its full of herbaceous and citrus flavours, sparked to life by fiery pepper. Read our full Rooster Rojo blanco tequila review.
Historically Modern Designs Oaxaca Tequila Glass
Have a dinner party coming up?
Are you looking for a discussion topic?
Tequila glasses with a design like this are ideal for entertaining as well as for everyday use.
With these hand blown glasses, tequila, mezcal, and whiskey have all been developed specifically for use.
When you take a sip of tequila, the smell of the glass rises along with it.
The glass has sleek lines and a heavy base. It is also wider than the rim, as well as narrower. By keeping the bowl shallow, you can allow tequila to breathe, and the aroma will not be overpowering.
Drinking is easy with the wide rim. Not fragile, but durable. Copitas from Mexico served as inspiration for the design
These tequila glasses have an unusual shape and form. Ice cubes of any size can be easily inserted into the opening.
Liquid can be held within if the container is large enough.
You can give tequila glasses like the Oaxaca to tequila lovers as a gift or as an elegant party favor. You can also purchase this tequila glass if you hope to find something a little different.
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What Is The Best Tequila
Our editors have reviewed dozens of tequila brands over the last year, to come up with some of our favorite bottles, based on taste profile, uniqueness and value. And while there are a number of tequila brands that have launched in recent months , this list runs the gamut from tried-and-true brands, to limited-edition releases that youll be smart to pick up if you see them available online.
Whether you want to sip on something smooth or just want to upgrade your margarita, here are 15 tequilas you can buy online and get delivered to your door in time for your next happy hour, dinner or party.
Best Under $: Espoln Blanco
Who says that great tequila needs to cost a fortune? Espolòn’s 100% blue agave blanco is an excellent value. Notes of tropical fruit, citrus zest, ginger and grilled pineapples lead to an elegant, spice-laden finish. At less than $30 a pop, you wont feel bad mixing this into a cocktail, though the quality is good enough to sip on its own.
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Best Overall: Tequila Ocho Plata
Courtesy of Drizly.com
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.