Contents
Tequila Basics
Types of Tequila
Tequila Drink Recipes from the Four Seasons Restaurant
Acapulco Fizz
After the Rain
The Alamo
Aloha
Artichoke High
Bloody Maria
Border Crossing
Brave Bull
Cactus
California Sky
Coconut Cream
Costa Mesa
Crescent Moon
Crystal Palace
Divine Pleasure
The Explorer
Frozen Margaritas
Frosted Rose
Frosty Witch
Gentle Juan
Gold Leaf
The Guadalupe
Gulf of Mexico
Hot Sour
Ice Pick
Icicle
Irish Echo
La Bomba
Landscaper
The Lizarbe
Long Island Sound
Margarita
Mexicana 1
Mexicana 2
Mexican Bandit
Mexican Doctor
Mexican Egg Cream
Mexican Holiday
Mexican King
Mexican Madras
Mexican Stinger
Mezcal Martini
Monterey Sunset
Music Tree
NAFTA
New York Skyline
Raindrop
Red Apple
Rosita
Rusty Stake
Sloe Tequila
South of the Border
Spanish Impressionist
Spiced Apple
The Spicy Englishman
The Spicy Italian
Spicy Melon
Spicy Pear
Spring Break
Strawberry Whip
Ten High
Tequila and Tonic
Tequila Angel
Tequila Apricot Cooler
Tequila Canyon
Tequila Clouds
Tequila Collins
Tequila Fizzes
Tequila Gimlet
Tequila Greyhound
Tequila Manhattan
Tequila Mockingbird
Tequila Old-Fashioned
Tequila Pres
Tequila Screwdriver
Tequila Sour
Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunset
Tijuana Sunshine
The Vera Cruz
Wonkey Donkey
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Types of Tequila
Tequila is broken into two main types based on purity:
- 100% blue agave tequila: The premium form of tequila is made entirely from the blue agave. It may be labeled 100% blue agave, 100% agave azul, 100% puro de agave, or simply 100% agave.
- Tequilo mixto: A combination of tequila with a neu-tral grain spirit made from maize or sugarcane, tequila mixto must contain at least 51% tequila. It’s labeled on the bottle as simply “tequila.”
Generally, 100% blue agave tequila is quite a bit more expensive than tequila mixto, so it’s not surprising that tequila mixto outsells 100% agave tequila by almost four to one. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a premium tequila that you can sip like cognac, you’re much better off with a 100% blue agave tequila.
Tequila Types by Age
Both 100% blue agave tequila and tequila mixto are divided into five subcategories based on how long the tequila was aged: blanco, oro, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo. Within each group, 100% blue agave tequila is considered superior to (and is more expensive than) tequila mixto.
Blanco
Also called white tequila, silver tequila, or plata tequila (plata is Spanish for “silver”), tequila blanco is bottled within 60 days. Some versions are bottled immediately after distillation, while others are made smoother by putting them in oak barrels to “rest” for a maximum of 30 days. Blancos have the purest tequila flavor, making them ideal choices for cocktails.
Type |
Brands |
|
100% blue agave |
1800 Silver, Dos Manos Blanco, Herradura Silver, Cabo Wabo, Casa Noble, Don Julio, Cielo, Frida Kahlo, Pardita, Sauza Honitos Blanco |
|
Tequila mixto |
Durango White, Juarez Silver, Montezuma White, El Jimador Blanco |
Oro
Also labeled as gold or joven (young), oro tequilas are generally not aged but are instead made to look and taste aged through the addition of caramel or other additives. Most oro tequilas are tequila mixto.
Type |
Brand |
|
Tequila mixto |
Pueblo Viejo Gold, Jarro Viejo Joven, Casco Viejo Gold, José Cuervo Gold |
Reposado
Spanish for “rested,” reposado denotes tequilas that have been aged for 2–12 months. The resting period mellows the tequila and gives it a bit of a darker color. Though often too expensive to use in mixed drinks, reposado can be drunk straight or on the rocks.
Type |
Brand |
|
100% blue agave |
José Cuervo Tradicional, Pueblo Viejo, Sauza 100 Años, Corralejo, Don Eduardo, Espolón, Corazón, Corzo, Gran Centenario |
|
Tequila mixto |
Dos Manos, El Jimador, Ancestra, Señor Almendrado |
Añejo and Extra Añejo
Tequila labeled añejo (aged) has been aged for 1–3 years, while extra añejo has been aged for 3–6 years. Añejo and extra añejo are the premium tequilas, often likened to fine cognac, and are usually drunk straight from a brandy snifter.
Type |
Brand |
|
100% blue agave |
1800 Antigua, Dos Manos, El Tesoro, 7 Leguas, Don Eduardo, Gran Centenario, Frida Kahlo, Milagro Select Barrel, XQ Tequila Gran Reserva |
|
Tequila mixto |
José Cuervo Black Medallion, Sauza Comemorativo, Viuda
de Romero |
Mezcal
Tequila is closely related to the alcohol known as mezcal, so when considering tequila it’s helpful to have a basic knowledge of mezcal as well. Mezcal is the name given to any alcohol made from those varieties of the agave plant other than the blue agave used to make tequila. Mezcal tends to be rougher-edged and less expensive than tequila and is strongly associated with the Mexican region of Oaxaca. Mezcal is aged in a manner similar to tequila and is broken into the following age classifications:
- Joven: Aged for two months or less
- Reposado: Aged for 2–12 months
- Añejo: Aged for 1–7 years
Mezcal takes on the color and taste of the barrels in which it’s aged.
Con Gusano
It’s a common misconception that some tequilas are bottled along with a dead worm. This is untrue—only certain brands of mezcal are sold con gusano, or “with worm.” The “worm” is actually the larva of one of two insects that live and grow in the agave plant. When bottled in mezcal, the larva is called the maguey worm (maguey is another name for the agave plant). Maguey worms are perfectly edible and are considered a delicacy in much of Mexico.
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