Tequila Rant
Storing this here so I don't have to keep re typing it:
Tequila is my drink of choice. My preffered brand is Antigua Cruz. Unfortuionatly for y'all that don't live in Texas (aside from the fact you live in a lesser state or country :wink: ) you can only get it here. Other good brands at reasonable prices include Hussong's, Herradura, Tres Generaciones and Sauza, although really as long as you get 100% Agave it's going to be pretty good. Part of the problem with trying to reccomend tequila is that alot of people don't understand the distinctions and catagories. So, a quick rundown of how tequila works:
Tequila comes in 2 broad catagories. At the low end you have "Mixto" or mixed and at the other end you have 100% de Agave. The 100% stuff is exactly what it says, the contents of the bottle consists 100% of distilled Blue Agave plant. Mixtos, as the name implies, consist or 51% agave, while the other 49% is anthing else they want, ussually cheap grain or corn alcohol. This is your "gold" (oro) stuff, like Jose Cuervo. Unless you are making a bucket of margarita for a college party, don't use this stuff. Seriously, just don't.
100% agave is furthur broken down into 3 catagories:
1. Blanco (also called white or silver tequila) is unaged tequila. It ussually has a stronger agave flavor and generally sharper flavor all around. I prefer this for mixed drinks, because it's sharper flavor is les likely to be drowned out.
2. Reposado (spanish for rested) is aged in oak barrels for up to a year. This is the one I see most commonly at bars and resurants. It stands well in mixed drinks, but is also pretty good alone.
3. Añejo (aged) tequila aged in Oak for over a year. This kind is my favorite. Because it is aged longer, it tends to have much more varied and complex flavors, and is smoother. This kind should really only be consumed neat, as the more subtle aspects of its flavor are lost in mixed drinks.
My personal pet peeves:
1. Lime And salt tequila shot (tequila cruda). Unless you are a frat boy on spring break with daddy's credit card, you should not be shooting mixto anyway, so the lime and salt (to lessen the 'bite' of the cheap ingredents) are unnessiccary. An acceptable complement if you are really attached to the lime and salt is Sangrita, an orange and pomegranate/tomato juce cocktail. Less traditionally, one of my friends likes to chase her favorite blanco with fresh pinapple juce, sometimes with a dash of cinnamon.
2. Patron. Specificly targeted and (over)priced for afore mentioned frat boys, it's no good. This is probably the worst 100% Agave tequila I've ever had. If I'm stuck choosing between "puh-trone" and cheap mixto, I'll choose the latter, because at least then I'm getting what I pay for (though I still decline lime and salt).
Personally, I think a generous 'shot' of Antigua Cruz Añejo, just below room temperature in a glass wide enough that I can really enjoy the aroma while I sip it, perhaps with a hommade Sangrita to co-sip is as close to the perfect drink as you can get.
Tequila is my drink of choice. My preffered brand is Antigua Cruz. Unfortuionatly for y'all that don't live in Texas (aside from the fact you live in a lesser state or country :wink: ) you can only get it here. Other good brands at reasonable prices include Hussong's, Herradura, Tres Generaciones and Sauza, although really as long as you get 100% Agave it's going to be pretty good. Part of the problem with trying to reccomend tequila is that alot of people don't understand the distinctions and catagories. So, a quick rundown of how tequila works:
Tequila comes in 2 broad catagories. At the low end you have "Mixto" or mixed and at the other end you have 100% de Agave. The 100% stuff is exactly what it says, the contents of the bottle consists 100% of distilled Blue Agave plant. Mixtos, as the name implies, consist or 51% agave, while the other 49% is anthing else they want, ussually cheap grain or corn alcohol. This is your "gold" (oro) stuff, like Jose Cuervo. Unless you are making a bucket of margarita for a college party, don't use this stuff. Seriously, just don't.
100% agave is furthur broken down into 3 catagories:
1. Blanco (also called white or silver tequila) is unaged tequila. It ussually has a stronger agave flavor and generally sharper flavor all around. I prefer this for mixed drinks, because it's sharper flavor is les likely to be drowned out.
2. Reposado (spanish for rested) is aged in oak barrels for up to a year. This is the one I see most commonly at bars and resurants. It stands well in mixed drinks, but is also pretty good alone.
3. Añejo (aged) tequila aged in Oak for over a year. This kind is my favorite. Because it is aged longer, it tends to have much more varied and complex flavors, and is smoother. This kind should really only be consumed neat, as the more subtle aspects of its flavor are lost in mixed drinks.
My personal pet peeves:
1. Lime And salt tequila shot (tequila cruda). Unless you are a frat boy on spring break with daddy's credit card, you should not be shooting mixto anyway, so the lime and salt (to lessen the 'bite' of the cheap ingredents) are unnessiccary. An acceptable complement if you are really attached to the lime and salt is Sangrita, an orange and pomegranate/tomato juce cocktail. Less traditionally, one of my friends likes to chase her favorite blanco with fresh pinapple juce, sometimes with a dash of cinnamon.
2. Patron. Specificly targeted and (over)priced for afore mentioned frat boys, it's no good. This is probably the worst 100% Agave tequila I've ever had. If I'm stuck choosing between "puh-trone" and cheap mixto, I'll choose the latter, because at least then I'm getting what I pay for (though I still decline lime and salt).
Personally, I think a generous 'shot' of Antigua Cruz Añejo, just below room temperature in a glass wide enough that I can really enjoy the aroma while I sip it, perhaps with a hommade Sangrita to co-sip is as close to the perfect drink as you can get.
posted by Gonzo at 10:27 PM
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