Photo courtesy of Herradura
Happy National Tequila Day!
Today is National Tequila Day… and we thought that now would be the best time to share our top picks of tequila!
Tequila, like wine or gourmet coffee, is an art, a craft, and a science in color, flavor and aroma.
It should be sipped slowly in a wine glass or a snifter to enjoy the full experience of the amber color and the complex flavors of vanilla, spice and the aroma of cooked agave and fruit.
Guadalajara, Jalisco, México is the birthplace of Tequila, where traditional artisanal Tequilas have been made here for hundreds of years.
Tequila is made from the blue agave plant grown in Jalisco.
When the agave is harvested, the leaves are cut and the center of the plant called the piñas are baked in ovens and crushed under a large stone wheel called a tahona. The agave juices are fermented, distilled, and then aged in oak barrels which enhances flavors and the character of the tequilas. The aging process can last between two months and three years.
Traditionally, tequilas are divided in to three categories:
Blanco (sometimes called Silver) – aged less than two months
Reposado – aged for 2-11 months
Añejo – aged for at least one year
The first step in looking for a good tequila is to ignore the tequilas mentioned in songs, the ones with celebrity endorsements, and the ones that come with unnecessary shot measuring caps. <— Can you guess which one that is? 😉
So, what should you drink?
First of all, don’t bother drinking a Blanco. Just don’t! They are bland and without character.
And now for the real good stuff.
Our top two picks out of all of the tequilas for straight up sipping are:
Photo courtesy of Don Julio Tequila
#1 Don Julio Añejo Tequila
If you want to drink a really good tequila, start with an añejo — a Don Julio Añejo Tequila to be exact. This is the King of top shelf tequilas. Aged in small batches for 18 months in American white-oak barrels. Rich, complex, and earthy, the perfect blend of agave, wood, and hints of vanilla. Don Julio is probably the most consistent in taste and quality of all tequila brands.
#2 Herradura Reposado
If you find the añejo too strong, then have Herradura Reposado. This tequila is aged for 11 months in American white-oak barrels. It has hints of vanilla, butter, and cooked agave.
Want to add something to your mixed drink?
Use José Cuervo Especial Gold or José Cuervo Especial Silver.
José Cuervo Gold is the perfect blend of Reposado and younger tequilas and is our choice for margaritas.
José Cuervo Silver is the epitome of smooth. It has a unique and balanced blend of agave, caramel, and fresh herbs.
Ready to make your own mixed drink?
Try the Cuervo Margarita.
INGREDIENTS
2 parts Jose Cuervo Especial Silver
1 part fresh lime juice
1 parts triple sec
Ice
Lime for garnish
Salt for rim
PREPARATION
In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Jose Cuervo Especial® Silver tequila, triple sec and fresh lime juice and agave syrup to taste. Shake well! Run lime wedge around the rim of glass then dip the glass into salt. Add ice to the glass and strain in contents of the shaker. Garnish the glass with a lime wedge and enjoy!
Photo & recipe from Cuervo.com.
