Shot Ideas To Make You Fall In Love With Tequila
To many of us, tequila equals the crazy clubbing nights of our university years. We remember it as the shot with a terrible burning aftertaste which can only be improved with a slice of lemon. If you recognize your experience, we urge you to give tequila another chance.
Tequila is, in fact, a versatile liquor used in many great cocktails, like Margarita, Tequila Sunrise or Paloma. Good tequila, if drunk correctly, will give you a smooth peppery aftertaste that does not require any additions, like salt and lemon. But if you dont feel like drinking your tequila straight up, here are some simple and delicious shot recipe ideas.
To begin with, there are five distinct types of tequila that you may come across: silver tequila, gold, Reposado, Anejo, or extra Anejo. Without getting into too much detail about the differences, the tequila that you might want to use for your mixed shots is the silver tequila. The bottle should have a 100% blue agave or 100% agave label these are the purest sorts that will taste great both mixed and on their own.
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?
El Espolon Blanco Tequila
This Blanco tequila is made exclusively from blue agave harvested in the Highlands region of Mexico. The agaves are harvested by experts who hand-pick and use only the best ones after theyve been left to mature for almost ten years.
The clear, fruity tequila offers a sweet aromatic experience with notes of agave, owers, lemon zest, white pepper, and tropical fruits. The palate offers a soft, oily mouthfeel with agave, vanilla, and pineapple flavoring with a hint of spice. The tequila won a double gold medal at the World Spirits Competition and earned 94 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute.
Between the unique texture and simple, fruit flavors, youll enjoy many yummy shots from this high-quality, affordable Blanco tequila.
Recommended Reading: Jim Beam White Review
Clase Azul Reposado Tequila
Drizly
If Casamigos is what you serve at your party, Clase Azul is what you break out for the select few invited to stick around after the crowd leaves. This may be one of the priciest options on our list, but this top-shelf tequila is worth the premium price. Clase Azuls tequila comes in this instantly recognizable bottle, which you see on the top shelf of high-end bars and restaurants. At over $100, this is a true premium spirit, with a bottle and flavor profile worthy of its price.
Made from blue agave plants in Mexico, Clase Azul Reposado Tequila features notes of spice, cream soda, apple cider, jasmine, cinnamon and honey. The bottles, meantime, are like a work of art, inspired by traditional Mexican colors and motifs. Each bottle is hand-crafted and hand-painted, so no two are alike, making Clase Azul a great gift idea as well.
Tanteo Jalapeo Tequila $40
Tanteo infuses this 100% Blue Weber agave tequila with fresh jalapeños for one of the most satisfying sips on the market. We can personally guarantee that everyoneincluding those who dont usually take tequila neatwill happily throw back celebratory shots of the spicy stuff. It has a satisfying bite that doesnt overwhelm the palate.
You May Like: Carbs In Maker’s Mark Bourbon
El Espeln Blanco Tequila
The El Espelòn Blanco tequila is made using the finest blue agave up in the Highlands region of Mexico. After an aging process of almost ten years, the agave is patiently selected and hand-picked to make this super-premium tequila.
The taste is fruity, with agave notes, owers, lemon zest, white pepper, and tropical fruits. The aftertaste offers a soft oily mouthfeel with agave, vanilla, and pineapple flavors.
This distinctive Blanco tequila is set apart from other tequilas by its pure flavors and simple, fruit-forward taste. This delicious tequila will give you a great shot of energy and make you the life of any party. For those who want high-quality taste and value for money, go for Espelon.
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.
Don’t Miss: Sauza Tequila Proof
Important Information About This Website
finder.com.au is one of Australia’s leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don’t cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn’t a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you’re unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.
Where our site links to particular products or displays ‘Go to site’ buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money here.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
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.
Recommended Reading: Jim Beam Honey And Coke
A Quick Background On Tequila
For everything that it’s been associated with in recent years, the agave spirit remains as revered among professional bartenders as bourbon and scotch despite its frequent association with rabble-rousers like salt and lime or Tequila Sunrise.
Though the famous Mexican liquor has been around for centuries, it wasnt always the party’s drink of choice.
Around 250 AD, the Aztecs discovered pulque, a drink produced from the fermented juices of a plant called maguey, a relative of agave. The earliest tequila, unlike pulque, was likely produced by Spanish colonists when they entered South America. Don Pedro Sánchez de Tagle founded the first distillery in what is now Tequila, Jalisco, in the early 1600s.
Mexican tequila was eventually recognized as intellectual property by the Mexican government in 1974. It was then stated that the liquor may only be produced in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas.
Bonus: Deep Fried Tequila Shot
This one is probably closer to food than a drink, which might make a strong case for the particularly sensitive drinkers. Deep dried tequila shots are extremely easy to make. You will need just the following three ingredients: a store-bought sponge cake, your favorite tequila, and some lime.
To make these delicious tequila bites, mix tequila and lime juice in a small bowl, then cut the cake into squares and dip into the mixture lightly. Heat some frying oil in the pan, carefully place the cake slices and fry for one minute until golden. Garnish with lime zest or powdered sugar, and serve as a party snack!
So, tequila shots can be fun, delicious and do not necessarily have to make you cringe. Tequila is a great liquor that can taste perfectly good on its own, as well as a part of a mix. If you are still in doubt try these recipes!
Read Also: What Do You Drink With Crown Apple
What About Golden Tequila
As tequila ages in the barrel, the colour of the liquid changes, creating the difference between white tequila and gold tequila . However, dont be fooled unless the tequila is añejo , then any golden colour has been added artificially to give the illusion that youre drinking a premium product. Some joven tequila may get its gold colour from being blended with añejo tequila read the label.
If youre looking for a drink that can be sipped instead of taken as a shot, but without spending a huge amount of money then look for tequila that is reposado. In Spanish that translates as rested meaning the tequila has sat in the barrel a little while allowing the sharpness to dissipate, the flavour to develop and the drinkability to enhance.
If you can, try añejo or extra añejo for a smoother taste.
Want to try it at home?
Best For Palomas: Siembra Valles High Proof
Courtesy of TequilaConnection
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 46% | Tasting Notes: Licorice, Black pepper, Freshly-cut grass
Siembra Valles boasts a formidable line of classically-produced tequilas, but their high-proof offering is particularly excellent in cocktailsespecially citrus-forward drinks like the paloma. This boldly-flavored tequila is produced very traditionally, with the agave cooked in brick ovens, the crushing being done via tahona, and the fermentation taking place with the bagasse , which adds richness and complexity. Finally, double-distillation in copper stills yields a delicious spirit that’s bottled at a robust 46 percent ABV. Use this in your next paloma, and you’ll be able to look forward to assertive notes of black pepper, citrus, licorice, and freshly-cut grass intermingling perfectly with the grapefruit and lime in your glass.
Region: Jalisco, Mexico | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Pine, Lavender, Vanilla
Also Check: Best Thing To Mix With Tito’s
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.
Mixto Tequila Verses 100% Agave Tequila
A tequila can be organized into two categories, mixto tequilas and 100% agave tequilas.
Mixto tequilas are made with no less than 51% agave, with the other 49% usually being fermented sugar cane juice. The result is a tequila thats very sweet in both smell and taste. However, the flavor usually stops there.
These mixto tequilas are often harsh in flavor, burn on the way down, and thus are inferior to other tequilas. Golden-colored mixtos are called joven or oro tequilas and have oak flavoring and coloring added. The reason these are made in the first place is because theyre affordable to make for producers and, frankly, they sell well in stores due to their low price point.
Mixtos arent ideal and I generally dont recommend buying them. But if youre planning a big party with a tequila-based punch that has a lot of juices and flavors to help mask the mixto, then a mixto is a practical option.
If a tequila is labeled as 100% agave, this means that the tequila in question was made with only blue agave. Generally, its recommended by most bartenders and tequila enthusiasts that you only buy tequilas which clearly state this on the label, as it will guarantee you a much better product that has a more complex flavor and significantly less burn.
Leela Cyd Ross
Don’t Miss: Patron Tequila Skull
How To Drink Tequila Like A Mexican
Do you have a fear of tequila? Do you flat-out hate the stuff? If so, I can almost guarantee that youre drinking it wrong. After spending a year in Mexico, I finally learned the secret: how to drink tequila like a Mexican and actually enjoy this potent drink.
You might also like my post with 8 tequila cocktail recipes to try at home. El Niño anyone?
What Is The Difference Between Silver And Gold Tequila
The obvious difference between the two types of tequila is the color, with silver tequila being clear in color and gold tequila being an amber/caramel color that can range in shades of light and dark. Silver tequila is typically bottled immediately after it is distilled, but it can age for a maximum of two months.
Don’t Miss: How Many Carbs In Pinnacle Vodka
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
Riazul Premium Anejo Tequila
Riazul Premium Anejo Tequila tops our list of best tequila brand because it is a highlight in our list. It s carefully distilled twice and it is aged for around two years. Its ageing is longer than any other tequila and so is its taste. The tequila is aged in selected French oak barrels, made from wood in the Citeaux forests of Burgundy. The taste of this tequila is driven by the delicate flavours of honey, vanilla, dried fruits, and spices. You will find Riazuls Anejo being served in upscale restaurants and bars in India
Recommended Reading: Veil Flavored Vodka Carbs
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.