Exotico Reposado 100% Agave Tequila
BEST PRICE
Surprisingly, reposado tequila doesnt always have to reach a crazy price in order to be tasty, just take Exotico for example. This six-month aged bottle sits typically at the $25 mark, making it an affordable bottle when checking out reposado for the very first time. Its aged in white oak bourbon barrels, imparting a flavor that hits somewhere between boisterous and low-key, giving an all-around blend of vanilla, dry fruit, spices, with an aftertaste of oak, caramel and cinnamon. Youll be confused as to why this one isnt priced higher, thats for sure.
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What Is The Best Tequila
If youre ready to pick up a couple of bottles of the best tequila out there , here are our favorite bottles to buy. Most of these spirits and more of the best tequila brands even the best tequila in the world can usually be found on sites such as Drizly and Reserve Bar, two convenient alcohol delivery sites. Weve also made suggestions to pair them with specific foods for some of these options, just as you would a fine wine.
The 5 Types Of Tequila
When scanning your tequila options at your local party store, you will find five types of tequila. They are silver, gold, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo.
Silver is a clear spirit that can be either 100%agave or mixto. These tequilas are agedâmore like restedâno more 60 days in stainless steel tanks, if they are aged at all. The unaged blancos give the drinker the rawest taste of agave available and have a notable earthy flavor that is distinctly tequila. If you have not tasted a blanco, then you are missing out on the pure taste of the agave plant.
Silver tequila is primarily used for mixing and is perfect for any tequila cocktail and often smoother than the gold tequila shots. If you are looking for an affordable, all-around tequila to keep in stock, a blanco is your best option.
Gold Tequilas are the ones that many older drinkers are familiar with, particularly if you spent any time doing tequila shots in the last few decades of the 20th century. Gold tequilas are responsible for many bad tequila.
These are often unaged tequilas that are typically mixtos and have been colored and flavored with caramel, oak extract, glycerin, syrup, and other additives. While many gold tequilas leave something to be desired in comparison to the other classes, there are now a few decent bottlings available. If you are going to drink a gold tequila, stick to heavily flavored cocktails or shots.
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Tequila Definitely Not Just A Shot
Tequila means different things to different people.Whether you prefer your tequila neat, in a Margarita, a shot with a lime, or enjoyed on the beach, itâs a spirit thatâs easily enjoyed in many situations.
Tequila snobs will absolutely turn their nose up to those that do that salt, lime, shot, oblivion thing. Not that shots donât have their place, but whatever tequila youâre shootingâeven if itâs a blanco, actually took a minimum of eight years to get to the glass. To say the least ,tequila definitely deserves some respect.
Tequila is made from blue agave a plant and not a cactus and by law must be made in Mexico. There are five types of tequila silver, gold, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo.
It is primarily produced in Jalisco from the succulent blue agave plant after maturing for 8 years. These agave plants are of a one-time use and the heart is cut out and processed to make tequila or Mezcal. Flavors vary from the fermentation process, itâs surrounding and whether itâs a high or low land plant.
After the hearts are cut out of the blue agave plant, they are then steam-cooked to prepare for fermentation. And while tequila, like vodka and gin, is a clear spirit, it is actually pot-distilled at least twice.
Best Tequila Glasses: Riedel Ouverture Tequila Glasses
Courtesy of Liquor.com
The perfect gift for every tequila lover and spirits connoisseur this holiday season is a set of the Riedel Ouverture Tequila Glasses, says Roberto Rosa of Gran Centenario Tequila. Most people have never tasted tequila in a proper tasting glassusually enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in a cocktailbut these flutes take the experience of tequila to another level. Designed specifically with tequila in mind, these glasses really open up the liquid, allowing the alcohol to evaporate ever so slightly so that all the aromas can shine through for the ultimate sip and experience.
Jose Valdez, the Maestro Tequilero of Tequila Partida, agrees. Good tequila should be sipped, so I highly recommend investing in your glassware. While Im tasting, either while working or simply enjoying with friends, I love these. The flute glass helps to appreciate the organoleptic properties of the tequila, including the color tone, brilliance, body and cleanliness. The narrow diameter of the glass encourages the concentration of aromas, enhancing the different layers.
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How We Select The Products
Considering high-end tequilas have seen an increase in popularity in recent years, there are plenty of tried and true reviews of popular brands to garner insight as to which are the best. At Mashed, we take into consideration press buzz, online reviews, and general popularity when it comes to picking brands. Additionally, there are a few high-end tequilas popular among influencers and celebrities whose taste rivals the hype. Some websites, like Tequila Matchmaker or Sip Tequila, feature hundreds of user-generation reviews to explain the tasting notes and overall value of some of the top tequilas on the market.
Additionally, some options on the list are selected because they serve different functions. For example, a tequila that costs less than $100 but rivals some of the priciest options on the list in taste deserves a shout-out. Also, we selected one tequila from each of the five major subcategories to help you pick a spirit totally based on your personal preference.
The 5 Best Cheap Tequilas For Shots
There is no point in spending top-money in a tequila that you are not going to fully enjoy. When buying a tequila to make shots it is better to buy something cheap, with an acceptable quality that will not give you a bad headache the next day. Therefore, I present you the 5 best cheap tequilas for shots.
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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.
Best Aejo: Don Julio Aejo Tequila
It’s hard to find faults in the tequilas of Don Julio. They are readily available, super smooth, and richly flavored with the distinct tequila flavors that make the spirit special. The brand’s aged tequilas are particularly impressive and have a reputation that puts them among the best of the best.
Don Julio Añejo is one you wont want to miss. It instantly improves any cocktail it touches and really shines in a shaken margarita with fresh lime. If you are looking to mix up some of the best tequila drinks you can afford, its the tequila to keep in your bar. While its probably too pricey for a shot, its a very smooth sipper enjoyed by many tequila aficionados.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Toasted oak, caramel, baked yam | ABV: 40% | Region: Los Altos, Jalisco
Añejo Tequila is tequila that is aged in oak barrels for at least a year, but not over three years, says Brian Eadie, lead bartender at Geraldines Austin in Texas. It has a sweet, woody aroma with notes of smoke, burnt caramel, and dried fruitsdefinitely a sipping tequila. Añejo is great for making a tequila old-fashioned and substituting the whiskey for añejo tequila, orange bitters for Angostura bitters, and brown sugar for white sugar.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Sweet agave, anise, mineral | ABV: 40% | Region: Los Altos, Jalisco
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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
Are All Tequilas Made Of 100 Percent Blue Weber Agave
Nearly all premium tequilas are made entirely from blue Weber agave , but there’s another category of tequila called “mixto” in which blue Weber agave need only compose 51 percent of the spirit. Producers utilize various types of sugar to make up the remaining percentage, including high fructose corn syrup and molassesalthough sometimes a lightly processed Mexican cane sugar known as piloncillo is what’s used. If your bottle doesn’t indicate on the label that it’s made from 100 percent agaveand if the price is on the lower end of the spectrumthere’s a good chance that you’re dealing with a mixto. While less expensive, these tequilas don’t reflect a historically anthentic approach to the composition of the spirit.
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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 7 Best Chasers For Tequila
Tequila is notorious as a shot. So, if someone shows up to a party with a handle of this Mexican spirit, you can be sure that shots will be taken. If youre anything like me, you dont need to take a shot of liquor ever again, but you certainly will. When that bottle of Tequila eventually makes its way around to you, we want you to be prepared. So, we have a list for you of best chasers for tequila.
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Olmeca Altos Tequila Reposado
This tequila reposado is aged for six to eight months in white oak casks previously used for maturing bourbon. The barrels give it a woody vanilla flavor with sweet bourbon undertones. The finish is bright and citrusy. On the nose, youll notice a fresh, sweet, and fruity aroma with notes of cooked agave.
This unique combination of flavors and smells won this tequila a gold medal at the World Spirits Competition three times. This reposado was the result of two bartenders who set out to create a versatile tequila perfect for use in cocktails while also easily drinkable when enjoyed neat.
You can use it to whip up your favorite mixed drinks, or enjoy a few shots without guilt its tasty and affordable at the same time.
Why Should I Use A Chaser For Tequila
You certainly dont need to chase a shot of tequila, but you may really want to. As I mentioned, a chaser can neutralize some of the ethanol flavor and burn from a shot. However, if youre drinking good tequila, you may not need to chase your shot after all. But, what happens when someone puts Jose Cuervo Gold in front of you? Youre going to want a chaser.
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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.
The Agave Harvesting Process
In addition to increasingly limited supply, harvesting and preparing agave is still a very manual process. Many spirits have seen a mechanization and automation of this part of the process, with the advent of modern farming methods. Tequila making, specifically harvesting blue agave, continues to be a human-driven task.
The process of harvesting agave is still passed down generationally, rather than via a manual or online training modules. Tending to agave is arduous, as the plants require constant monitoring and pruning . Only those who work the agave fields know when it is ready to be harvested, as there are no obvious indicators for those lacking experience.
Harvesting agave is not as simple as observing that a plant looks mature and ready to be turned into a fermented product called wort. The jimadores are experts, with vast experience, in knowing when the agave plant has just enough carbohydrates and just enough sugar to ferment properly.
As you can imagine, with so much experience and manual labor required, a product like agave can be quite expensive. Thus, the labor intensive and specialized harvesting process alone can drive the cost of tequila.
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Tequila Ratings Gran Dovejo Reposado
The Gran Dovejo Reposado is a bright, golden straw-colored reposado, aged an average of 9 months in previously used bourbon barrels and bottled at 80 proof. Tequila Gran Dovejo uses the Mozart Method to age their tequilas. This means that they play classical music during the fermentation process to optimize sugar conversion and deepen the flavor. On the nose youll smell cooked agave, vanilla, orange, and spice. Youll taste vanilla, wood, dried fruit, and cinnamon on the palate, followed by a long, warm finish of fall spices. Its the perfect sipping tequila for a crisp, fall day.
About the distillery: Tequila Gran Dovejo was founded in 2009 as the dream project for two cousins with one goal in mind: to produce the finest and highest quality tequilas. Lifetime tequila aficionados, they wanted to create a tequila that stood out from the rest. They were disappointed in tequila distilleries that lacked passion and vision. They felt as though they were drinking the same tequila but in different bottles, labeled by different brands. They developed a partnership with the Feliciano Vivanco distillery located in the highlands of Jalisco in the town of Arandas. The Vivanco family has grown agave in the region for over five generations. Recently, they began producing smaller-batch tequilas. The soil is acidic and iron-rich, grown in a region known as the golden triangle of the highlands ideal for growing large agaves with high sugar content.
The 25 Best Tequilas For Sipping Shots And Margaritas In 2022
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- Tequila 101: What You Need to Know About the Worlds Best Tequila
- What Is the Best Tequila?
Sure, a tequila shot is a fun party starter , but artists rapping about shots of Patrón have given tequila an undeservedly bad rep.
Today’s Top Deals
These days, some of the best tequilas in the world are more comparable to a fine bourbon or robust glass of wine than Jell-o shots and beer pong. In fact, Patrón, one of the most well-known and respected tequila brands in the world, offers a diverse portfolio of authentic, carefully crafted tequilas that you wont find in nightclubs or seedy bars. Despite Patróns hard-partying reputation , the company is making some interesting, flavorful and expensive tequila these days, with bottles of its Patrón En Lalique: Serie 2 going for almost $10,000.
From its distillery just outside Guadalajara, Patrón produces more than 20 different tequila expressions, and its serious business. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the best tequila, from the history of this Mexican spirit to the best bottles of tequila in the world. Well also give you a peek inside Patróns historic distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.
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