Tequila at Temptation

My take on tequilas....

As an avid Tequila drinker, I must tell you of my progression through the world of the agave distillates....

 

My take on tequilas....

As an avid Tequila drinker, I must tell you of my progression through the world of the agave distillates....

I started with the golds. I always enjoyed Cuervo for mixing but have recently started drinking Jimmy Buffett's lable, Margaritaville Gold for that purpose. They can both be purchased for less than 20 bucks a bottle. You can shoot it and I used to, but I figured why make that grimace after you drink something. My inner tastebuds told me to find something smoother.

I soon found Patron silver which is much better than gold to drink straight... But I knew there was something better just over the horizon. A friend turned me on to Cabo Wabo Blanco as a Christmas present. I was in Heaven, smooth and flavorful.... Just awesome.

Then I found the Reposados.. In my opinion, these are nothing more than Anjeos that were not left in the oak long enough to develop the complex flavors that any good aged liquor should possess. Most Resposados to me taste of cheap ethanol with no redeeming smoothness. I will give them this...at least they lack the "oiliness" of some tequilas, which I loathe. However, we get something even worse; their taste most resembles drinking the last quarter-inch of water out of the bottom of a fishtank that hasn't been cleaned for a while. Just my opinion....

From there I found my favorite liquors of all time... THE ANJEJO'S.... I have developed a taste for Anjeos. A true Anjejo is semi-dark in color and has the oaky flavor of a good bourbon or scotch. These are a few of the Anjeos that make my "A" list....

Cuervo 1800 Anjeo with the wooden top is the best overall value for the money. Around 35 bucks a bottle.
Don Julio Anjejo is great. 45 to 50 bucks a bottle
Hurradura Anjeo is smooth but a little over priced. Around 50 a bottle and should be more in the 35 range concidering its overall quality.
Don Eduraro is one of my favorites and goes for about 40 a bottle.
Sammy Hager's lable Cabo Wabo Anjejo is excellent about 45 a bottle.
Tres Mujeras is something I found for about 30 a bottle in Cancun, but it isnt available where I live.
Aho Toro is just smoking but it is tough to find in my state.. 52 bucks a bottle.

One cool thing about most top shelf Tequilas is the quality of the glass they are bottled in. Some are heavy and truely works of art. I bought a bottle on sale last week for 29 bucks called Casino Azul Anjeo. It has a glass rose blown into the inside bottom of the bottle. It isnt my favorite tequila but the bottle is beautiful.

Anyway enough of this rant. As far as Im concerned any Anjejo is worth a try. They are about as any fine liquor gets.

 

tequila

Hey everybody another great tequila is "Azul" We have only found it at the liquor store accross from Walmart in the little plaza. Cant remember price but very good, buy at least 4 bottles not including the other great stuff

 

What is the Mexican tequila that has the blue cactus plant made out of glass in the bottom of the bottle. Especion, or something like that. The best I have ever had. Really smooth for sipping or shots.

 

Clase Azul reposado - Expensive but I bought a bottle of this at the mall last time I was down there.....and it was AWESOME. I killed it in no time back home!!!

Herradura Reposado - Drank way too much of this on Saturday night practicing for our trip in 25 days!!!!

 

Porfidio has a cactus in the bottle.

Porfidio Super-Jalisco Anejo is really good but runs about $120 per 750ml bottle here in the U.S.

 

One more recomendation on the tequila selections at Wal-Mart...

Last trip down I stopped in a picked up some Correllejo (Reposado) for about $16.50 a bottle. I gladly pay $35 per bottle for the same stuff at the liquor stores here in Dallas.

Now this is coming from tequila snob and a Reposado drinker. My reasons for which are as follows:

Mixtos are complete crap that I could probably mash up a better distillate with a mesquite wood fire, prickly pear cactus and a bathtub. (These are good for nothing)

Blancos are nice for mixing and let the true agave shine through but for a straight drink they are a bit bland in body and a bit overbearing in alcohol flavor. (These are good for mixing)

Reposados are a smooth, refreshing agave flavor that have sat just long enough to take the edge off the alcohol while allowing for a bit of mellow, aged flavor to be imparted to the sprit. (These are good for mixing, sipping, shooting or enjoying with a good sangrita)

Anjeos, while a close second to the reposados, are often times aged to the point that the true agave flavor is over powered by the woodiness of the casks or barrels that they are rested in. It really depends in the quality of barrel they are using and the length of rest that is given as to how much I enjoy these. (I find these to be a waste for mixing but the better ones are not bad straight up or alternated with a sangrita)

So, my two cents is to save a little money and try the Correllejo (which is also available in the Blanco or Anjeo) and get that one special, high dollar bottle of something else to take home with you.

And for those that like beer with their tequila pick up a few six packs of Montejo in the bottle while your at Wal-Mart.

 

I'm not sure where you're at in Texas but I can recommend a couple of good Tequila bars in Dallas that you could try a variety of quality sipping tequilas. They might even be able to make a passable sangrita to sip along side.

Def. - Sangrita - A tomato/citrus base, spicy beverage that is often served as a side drink to tequila in one to one ratios. Take a sip of tequila, take a sip of sangrita, and repeat as nessasary.

I was turned onto sangrita by the Cancun locals a few years ago. It's a great way to slow down the speed of intoxication and get a little extra enjoyment out of the drink. I've since found a premixed version in the local liqour stores. But in Mexico the bartenders usually have their own recipe that they are very proud of so it's kind of fun to try their different takes on the mix. It really adds to the drinking experience.

Enjoy!

 

Hey Lemonhead'
Thanks for the information, yet I am in the panhadle of Texas about 400 miles from Dallas. I will try to check that out this summer or in November as we have a small group of about 5000 people that visit there.
I am going to print this information out as it is great. I don't think I can remember it all.
I really appreciate everybodys response as I am learning a lot. I will look for the brands in May to try.
Don