Say Yum: Tequila Tasting

Hola, chicos y chicas! Today, we're participating in the Cornflake Dreams blog crawl.

It's Cinco De Mayo - one of Deacon's favorite holidays ... mostly because his favorite spirit is tequila. We know what you're thinking:


But that's not it, although we do love that song. Tequila has long been one of our favorite spirits for its complexity and inherent ability to stand both alone and in cocktails. Not unlike fine bourbons or scotches, tequila has a wide variety of tastes and textures... it's not all Cuervo and Patron, that's for sure.

We opt to drink ours straight up, usually with a lime wedge or splash of lime juice (unsweetened, usually from Whole Foods) or a little bit of Key West Lime Juice if we want something a dash sweeter.

If we're making cocktails for friends, we'll add a splash of Cointreau or Triple Sec, a packet or two of Truvia, and a healthier dash of lime for our own take on the Skinny Girl Margarita.

But the most important base ingredient is the tequila itself. You'll be tasting it, not shooting it, so it's important to pick one that's full of smooth flavor and lacks that acidic bite at the end. If we're making things in batches or have to go for what's in a regular bar, we usually turn to Patron Silver or Cabo Wabo, both of which have good flavor. These "white" tequilas are fine for shooting, sipping, or mixing. We like the "silver" tequilas because they are typically un-aged, where the true flavors and the intensity of the Agave are present, as well as the natural sweetness. 

But if you really want to enjoy your experience, we'd suggest one of our favorites - these tequilas are all reposados,  the first stage of "rested and aged". The Tequila is aged in wood barrels or storage tanks between 2 months and 11 months. The spirit takes on a golden hue and the taste becomes a good balance between the Agave and wood flavors. Many different types of wood barrels are used for aging, with the most common being American or French oak. Some Tequilas are aged in used bourbon / whiskey, cognac, or wine barrels, and will inherit unique flavors from the previous spirit. Reposado tequilas aren't usually the most expensive, but they still have great flavor. Our favorites?

Clase Azul

 Casa Nobles (the blue bottle is their reposado)

 Herradura (while not a white tequila, we love this flavor)

Drink responsibly, and enjoy! We're still enjoying our week in Montauk (pics to come soon), but don't worry, we'll be raising a glass in celebration tonight!