Tequila recs?

[yumcha]

I want to get my boyfriend a nice tequila for our 3 year anniversary. I know he likes Patron, but I'm kind of clueless about anything with tequila.
Does anyone know any good sipping tequilas that might even be better than Patron?

[streetgourmetla]

Carralejo is great.grown in Guanaguato, one of the few states outside Jalisco that is part of the tequila region.

My current favs from my 40 bottle collection, and counting....

Aha!Toro Anejo
San Matias Gran Reserva- best fine tequila for the price
Pueblo Viejo Reposado- another great value from the fine city of Tepatitlan
Gran Conquistador- limited production with hand painted bottles( no two alike)
D'Reyes Anejo
Cofradia Anejo
Hacienda del Cristero Blanco
Tapatio Blanco- earthy goodness
La Cava de San Augustin Reposado
and my Herradura Selecion Suprema for my educated tequileros to indulge on special occasions $350+ in the U.S., but scored it for $160 at the duty-free in D.F.

The Viuda Romero reposado is a fine bargain.

[shehulk86]

Any ideas on where to get the D'Reyes Anejo online? Or at all?? Thanks!

[streetgourmetla]

If you are close to TJ you can get it at Leyva's Licores on Revolucion, my favorite place to shop for tequila, outside of Guadalajara.

[nieves]

I'm more partial to a Reposado, but I'm surprised at how few here have heard of or tried Coralejo. The Coralejo Reposado is just about the best tequila I've ever had--and am married to a Mexican, spend a lot of time in Mexico and really like Tequila. We keep a selection of Tequila's at home for mixing and for sipping and think that Coralejo Reposado is the smoothest....no need for lime or salt.

[Eat_Nopal]

Quick question.... what do you guys think about Triple Distilled tequilas? Special or just a marketing trick?

I do enjoy a Corzo Platinum (which I believe is Triple Distilled) because its very clean like Vodka but still has an Agave flavor. To that end its almost like a superior version of Vodka... so maybe they are worth the high prices.

On the other hand.... they offer less flavor and complexity than a good quality Silver or Reposado... and usually more expensive. I tend to prefer the more flavorful traditional Tequilas.... but the Triple Distilled do quench a thirst every so often.

[shastashark]

if it's for sipping or tasting... buy anything with the words ANEJO on it. there are three types of tequila... blanco (young), resposado (between young and age), and anejo (aged the longest). anejo has been aged the longest and has a much smoother taste. for buying the right one at the right price... I would suggest you go to beverages and more (bevmo) and buy something out of the glass case. it will cost a little... but if you sip it... it will last a long time. enjoy!

[Eat_Nopal]

Question.... what is the cheapest 100% Agave tequila that is readily accessible? I had high hopes for Trader Joe's $10 Zapopan... but it doesn't even say Tequila (requires at least 51% Agave)... so I am sure its not much.

I know of Hornitos... that has always been a good deal since it was readily available for $15 in the mid 90's. Now its $23 at Trader Joe's... is this as cheap as it gets?

I am throwing a Cinco de Mayo party and will be making Tequila based cocktails for mainstream Sonoma County people... so I don't want to waste good money on cocktails.

[Veggo]

Cazadores is equal to most of the stuff in the fancy bottles. You are a knowledgeable guy so you know that most of the Jalisco distilleries use nearly identical methods.

[Eat_Nopal]

Yup... Cazadores is min $30 in my area though.... I don't think there is anything cheaper than Hornitos?

[Veggo]

$30? Ouch. I think I paid about $13 in Mexico last week. I know there are some taxes, but the distributors are clearly getting rich from the current "cool" of tequilas. I guess $30 is the basic ticket price for a seat in the agave bleachers.
A curious observation about some of the high end (over $75) tequilas in the fancy bottles: some of them in the gringo tourist tequila stores in Mexico are priced higher than on american shelves. Splain it to me, Lucy.

[swsidejim]

I am going on vacation soon to Mexico, how many bottles of tequila, or liquor is each person allowed to bring back through customs.?

Re: Cazadores, my local liquor store has it for $24, but some of the local bars try to get $9 a shot for it...!

[Veggo]

I think it is still the case that the first 4 bottles per person are permitted duty-free, but you can of course bring back as much as one can manage, and pay a small (10%?) duty on the overage. It is of course most fun to bring back selections that are simply unavailable home. For all else, you have hired yourself as your own pack mule for a price you have agreed upon with yourself. Heavy lifting is not my idea of moonlighting!

[swsidejim]

thanks for the info, I will be looking for some unique bottles, and brands when I go.

[Veggo]

I just checked the customs website- one liter of spirits (33.8 oz) is permitted per person, and the duty on the overage is calculated based on its proof rather than its cost. Sounds capricious to me. I brought back and declared 4 bottles last week and nobody said a word. No duty on wine.

[Eat_Nopal]

Mexico enacted a luxury tax back in 1995.... which includes spirits over a certain price per 750mL. As far as I could tell... most tequilas were more expensive in Mexico than in the U.S.... I don't know if the luxury tax is still in place.

[pitu]

I *love* Centenario, which is waaaaay cheaper in DF than in NYC.
Herradura Silver is my other fave, cause it's very peppery.
I don't love the Hornitos.

[Eat_Nopal]

Thanks... I will look out for in the shops... I've only had it at bars... yup Herradura Silver is nice... that is kind of a forgotten brand.

[hungry_fox]

You really can't go wrong with Don Julio, the 1942 is the best, but they're all really really good. Regardless of what you end up getting, make sure it says "100% Agave" on the bottle, if it's not 100%, it's not worth it.

[Rubee]

Oh, I'd love a great sangrita recipe too!

[Veggo]

Lots of good recommendations here. When I lived in DF I learned to drink my reposados with a companion glass of sangrita and I have since lost my local recipe, although I can approximate it somewhat. The bottled sangrita is pure crap. Any hound have the perfect sangrita formula? (cristina- I need your help!)
Veggo

[anejospirit]

Casa Noble Reposado and freshly made sangrita mmmm!

Here is one I like that a friend from Guadalajara gave to me:

8 oz. jugo de tomate
4 oz. jugo de naranja
1 oz. jugo de limón
3/4 oz. worcestershire
1/2 cchta. salsa de tabasco
1 cchta. cebolla finamente picada
1/2 cchta. Sal
1/2 cchta. Sal de Ajo
Pimienta al gusto

[Veggo]

mil gracias!

[tlegray]

What's cchta? I'm looking for a good sangrita recipe.

[Eat_Nopal]

Teaspoon

[tlegray]

Thanks. I love this stuff and can't find it. I drink it without the tequila. Have even just tried Bloody Mary mix on a suggestion from someone else....not even close.

[cristina]

If you can find a bottle of Don Eduardo reposado or añejo, you'll be blown away by the taste, the smoothness, the feel of it in your mouth. This is not a tequila for mixing into a margarita. This is a sipping tequila, to be savored.

Here in Mexico, Cuervo is considered to be of fairly low-quality, a tequila for amateurs. I was invited to a Cuervo 1800 tasting in late November and tried all three, the blanco, the reposado, and the añejo. The añejo was the only one that approached being drinkable. The other two scoured both the palate and the throat.

Don't believe everything your liquor store guy tells you, and don't believe everything your drinking buddies say. Not all tequilas are worthy of the name.

[chickstein]

Cielo Anejo. They age the tequila in bourbon barrels. Totally different than anything else I have tried.

[uglydumpling]

I'm curious what people think of Corzo Anejo which I recently purchased for a present. I was initially put off by the sleek, fancy packaging, but after several recommendations from random strangers in the liquor store, I caved and bought it. I got a little taste and thought it was delicious - a very round, smooth taste! Has anyone else tried it?

[MC Slim JB]

It didn't take much tasting for me to conclude that pure blue agave tequilas are essential for sipping versus mixtos. That eliminates many of the most popular and widely available tequilas, though better tequilas have made great inroads into my area liquor stores' shelves.

I think a useful guideline (for wines as well as tequilas) is to avoid heavily-marketed ones. You want to pay for quality ingredients and craft, not advertising. I rarely see ads for El Tesoro, and think its tequilas (Plata, Reposado, and Anejo) are excellent values at $30-40, and superior to many $50-and-up tequilas.

[Mr Lee Ho]

Guess it depends on how much you want to spend. 3 of my favorite high end ($100+)tequilas are Jose Cuervo Reserva de Familia, Patron Gran Platinum and Don Julio 1942.

[jimtak]

Tres Generacion Anejo, but enjoyed as tequila completo -
with a side of real Sangrita - blood orange, seville orange, red jalapeno or serrano and pomagrante concentrate (as sweetened)= blended and served cool....

[KOK]

I will also add Tres Generacions by Sauza. Very smooth, never harsh. And it comes in the cool brown 'I Dream of Jeanie' kind of bottle (looks more like it after several tequilas).

Can often get it on sale for $35 +/-

Thanks,

Kevin

[Eat_Nopal]

Trader Joe's has it for $30 consistently.

[zin1953]

For me:

Don Julio 1942 (great but ridiculously expensive!)
Don Julio Reposado
El Tesoro Reposado

. . . and a bottle I bought in Todos Santos at the Hotel California.

[Rubee]

Your top three are some of my favorites also. The DJ 1942 is great when we have friends over who can appreciate it.

I just went through my tequila shelf, and my latest acquisition is a bottle of 4 Copas anejo, seleccion artesanal. It's a tall, smoky blue bottle. Has anyone had this one? Not that I need an excuse to open it.

[haydn1796]

I have a bottle of 4 Copas silver and we all seem to like [brass players] after a concert.
Also
7 Leagues
Para Mi
Don Julio 42 although I prefer silver to drink the 1942 anejo was stupendous.

[swsidejim]

Tequilla for me is always for sipping,

I wouldnt use such a beautiful tasting liquor by dumping it in a Margarita, Tequila Sunrise, or doing shooters.

Especially when my choices for Tequila typically are $20, $30, $40 per bottle.

[Alice Letseat]

Just for sipping? Tonala Anejo.

[jbyoga]

Don Julio - anything but silver....anjeo or reposado...for sure!

with a bit of lime between sips...

[Mutt]

For true sipping, I'm partial to Anejos. My favorite are:

Riserva del Dueno
Los Azulejos (very limited distribution)
Cuervo Riserva de Familia
Tres Generaciones

[swsidejim]

I have not tried any of the ones you have listed, I will have to add them to my list on ones to try, thanks

[swsidejim]

Revising a previous post,

I now have been enjoying Cazadores Reposado @ a local bar, and have updated my favorites:

1) Cazadores Reposado
2) Patron Anejo
3) Cabo Wabo Reposado
4) Cuervo Tradicional
5) Cuervo 1800 anejo
6) Cuervo 1800
7) Cuervo Gold

[anejospirit]

Interesting choices in your list, the one that really stands out like a sore thumb is the Cuervo Gold, which is a mixto (not true 100% blue agave)

My list of top 5 in this moment is:

Casa Noble Crystal (Nothing better)
Tesoro Reposado (Second best)
Don Julio 1942 (Great Anejo)
Centinela Reposado (Sweet!!!)
Herradura Blanco Suave (Wow)

[swsidejim]

thats why its down @ # 7, and I imagine will move lower as I try others.. ;)

It comes down to availability many times, and I know can always find regular old Cuervo @ the bars I go to (i live in a small town, and am just getting exposed to some of the "top shelf" tequilas).

I am still a "beginner" in regards to tequila, but I truely enjoy it. I am writing down many of the reccomendations I have seen, and a couple of yours are on my "must try list". thanks

[Greg B]

Cuervo Gold may not be the best tequila, but it should always be on the shelf in deference to its inclusion in the lyrics of Steely Dan's "Hey Nineteen", a truly great song from the early 80s. :)

[swsidejim]

I agree, its not like Cuervo Gold is Montezuma Tequila or something like that..

With a baby, a mortage, and other bills sometimes I cant afford to dish out $40,$50+ on a bottle of Tequila, or $9, $10 for a shot of cazadores, so I have to settle for Cuervo.

I am just a regular guy with a regular job, who used to be a cook, and has a taste for some of the finer things, but not always the cash in the wallet to indulge my tastes. And having no Tequila is just simply not an option.

[braineater]

I find that, when purchasing tequila on a budget, Sauza Hornitos (reposado) is a good buy at about $25 for a fifth. It's good enough to sip on if chilled slightly, and not so expensive that I'd be upset if someone used it in a mixed drink.

As has been mentioned, El Tesoro reposado is also a good buy, for maybe an additional $10.

[swsidejim]

thanks for the tip, I have been drinking the Cabo line of tequilas lately, I can get shots of Cabo Reposado, Blanco, and Anejo at a new bar I am going to for $5 a pop, not too bad..

I am going out to buy a new bottle of tequila tonight, I will take a look for your recommendation of Sauza Hornitos Reposado. I also want to check out some of the mezcals the liqiuor store may have available.

thanks for the tip

[anejospirit]

If you can find Mezcal Del Maguey I highly recommend it.

Regarding Sauza Hornitos, when I was in Mexico they called it the bug killer… I would go for the Tesoro Recommendation for $10 more…

[swsidejim]

thanks for the tip,

I purchased a bottle of Corralejo Blanco last week ($23), and am enjoying it very much.

[anejospirit]

Corralejo is a good basic tequila my favorite of their line is the Reposado Triple distilled which comes in a round bottle. I am glad they changed back to 100% agave, they were a mixto for a few years… Is your bottle 100% agave?

[swsidejim]

yes, 100% agave... and almost empty.

I have found a liquor store near my house that stocks about 50 different types of tequila, many that have been recommended on here. I am going to try out something new on my next visit later this week.

[anejospirit]

My favorites are
Casa Noble
Tesoro
Chinaco
Herradura
Don Julio

Let me know what you think if you try any of these...

[swsidejim]

Nice list,

I have tried the Chinaco Reposado, and Don Julio Anejo, and both are excellent.

[swsidejim]

We were out at a steakhouse in Chicago this past weekend, and we started at the bar for a few drinks. I started with a shot of Don Julio Anejo, then stepped up for a shot of Don Julio 1942 Anejo, and finished with a shot of regular Don Julio. All were served in a snifter glass.

The Don Julio 1942 Anejo was excellent, beatiful flavor, the best tequila I have ever had. Too bad it is about $90 per bottle from what I have seen. The shot was $25 but worth every penny.

[HaagenDazs]

Hmm... You are probably correct. I may have misread the article at the time. Cazadores has that little pour stopper in it, but it's not like it can't be taken out. Cazadores is good tequila too :-) Although that long skinny neck on the Corazon bottle would make for a good handle!

[HaagenDazs]

Corazon. Just ask Mel Gibson. That's what they found in his car on one famed night.

[anejospirit]

I heard it was Cazadores, I don't think he would be drinking out of a bottle of Corazon that would be hard... have you seen the bottle?

[SteveInSoCal]

he fouled it by even looking at the bottle

[tdo ca]

Centenario. Herradura. Don Julio.

[kenito799]

Herradura reposado for me, every time

[yumcha]

Thanks for the recs everyone!

I went to my liquor store and asked the clerk for help on the subject and he suggested the latest Jose CUERVO?! I forget the exact name, but it was a new type of reserve and he said it tasted better than Patron... I'm willing to believe him since he was pretty much down selling me, but still...

[ted]

Not sure if this is what was recommended, but I think you can't beat Cuervo Tradicional (reposado) for the price. That's what I keep on hand for mixing. Their Riserva la Familia is an excellent in the super-duper-premium category.

[swsidejim]

as a nightly after work drink with my first beer I have a couple of shots of Cuervo 1800, however for special occasions(fri or sat nights) I switch to the above reccomended Cabo Wabo Reposado... a nice treat. And when I say shot I dont tip the head back, and wash it down with the beer, I sip the tequilla,.

The Don Julio recommended is also good, but I do prefer the Cabo

[omnibibulous]

If you want to treat him to something unusual, I'd go for a bottle of Del Maguey mezcal. The "Minero" is really good, but you can't go wrong with any of them. They are to tequila what armagnac is to cognac - the more famous spirit's rustic cousin. I think they have more character and are far more interesting for sipping. Check them out here:

http://tinyurl.com/wk6cq

[CDouglas]

I will second the Don Julio Reposado as that is what I usually have on hand. A few others to try:

El Tesoro Reposado - amazing.

Cabo Wabo Reposado - had this for the first time in a while the other night and it was as smooth as I remember.

[jpschust]

The new rule is that if you buy anyone Cabo Wabo you also have to buy them the requisite Van Halen poster to go with it.

[CDouglas]

Shouldn't that be a Van Hagar poster?

[anejospirit]

Should be buy the poster of Sammy Hagar and get a bottle for free...

[jackie]

Any time I hear "Cabo Wabo" I cringe, remembering the time I watched a hostess pour her entire hostess-gift bottle of the stuff into a blender with a jug of Mr. & Mrs. T's Margarita Mix.

I think she was more of a white zin drinker, and wanted to sweeten it up. Oh well, it was her party!

[Munchkin]

Patron Reposado. Make sure it's chilled first, though!

[gina]

There are some great suggestions here:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[saeyedoc]

Patron is fairly mediocre for a sipping tequila. They can get out of control expensive. Anejo tequilas are designed for sipping but too much for my tastes. My favorite is Don Julio reposada, not too pricey (about $50).