Renowned for its varied flavor profile, tequila has become integral to Mexican heritage and culture. A symbol of craftsmanship and fine art, tequila is a celebratory drink consumed across many continents. As if the beverage wasn’t popular enough, premiumization, rocketing cocktail combinations, and countless celebrity promotions have certainly elevated the beverage's popularity. The Epicurean Trader’s website features a wide range of tequilas, emphasizing diversity and renowned brands for you always to have a premium experience.
One always assumes “Shots!” whenever tequila is brought into conversation. Would ‘shots’ be appropriate for a formal occasion though? Suppose not. Through this guide, we will help you determine the various types of tequila, and how to pair it with appropriate occasions.
Understanding Tequila
Tequila is a distilled beverage that is made with blue agave. Piñas from the agave plants are roasted in huge ovens called Hornos. Juices from the roasted piñas, called mosoto, are extracted, fermented, and then distilled twice to achieve tequila's perfection. There are various types of tequila with minute changes in production processes to achieve different kinds of tequila. These can vary from the caramelization of piñas, fermentation processes, additives, and most importantly, aging. Some of the many types of tequila are Blanco or silver tequila, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo.
The price factor is often irrelevant when you’re on the lookout for good tequila. There are inexpensive tequilas of great quality, and there are expensive tequilas that lack the basic essence of tequila. To distinguish between top-shelf and regular tequilas, various aspects need to be considered. Oftentimes, the production processes differ, and most commonly the ingredients can easily help you tell one apart from the other.
High-quality tequilas are traditionally made from 100% blue agave. To consider a beverage as tequila, it should contain at least 51% contents of agave and the other 49% can be various additives, which makes it a mixto. Mass production often takes away the quality and depth of the beverage, ending up with harsh notes and a lack of aroma. Artisanal brands conventionally focus on a lot of details when they are creating tequila. Keeping an eye on the ingredients and a little bit of research, can help you from not having a fiasco.
Best Tequilas for Sipping
What type of tequila should be ideal for sipping?
Unaged tequilas or Blanco often carry a crispy fresh taste of agave, which sometimes may not be ideal for sipping. To sip, a beverage must be smooth, rich, and complex for one to appreciate its true potential. Ideally, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo would be great for sipping.
Solento - Organic Tequila Reposado
Reposado, aged for a minimum of 2 months but less than a year, builds subtle hints of the oak from the aging process in the barrel, making it a perfect mix of freshness and smoothness. Añejo is aged for anywhere between a year to three years. The long aging process creates a deep, complex structure with hints of oak, caramel, and vanilla, making it perfect for sipping and savoring. Extra Añejo is aged for over three years and is rich, and decadent. With complexity, it also offers notes of dark chocolate, dried berries, and smoky oak.
What we would recommend
Made using Lowland methods creating a balanced sweetness, with the perfect blend of smoothness, and freshness of the agave, Fortaleza Tequila Reposado stands as a great choice for you to sip on. Aged in a blend of Cognac, Bourbon, and Sherry casks, we also offer you Clase Azul Reposado, made from 100% blue agave, for you and your guests to savor.
Best Tequilas for Cocktails
Determining the perfect tequila for a cocktail
To create cocktails, you might need something versatile that pairs great with a variety of ingredients. Blanco is often a great choice for cocktails cause of its freshness, and versatility, and it does not overpower the drink. If you want to add a hint of depth to your cocktails, making it more nuanced, you need to go for Reposado. Añejo and Extra Añejo are usually very complex and are recommended to be sipped alone. However, if you want to go the extra mile to add sophistication to your drinks, Añejo would be a stunning choice.
Famous cocktails with tequila
Tequilas are usually paired with fruity cocktails such as a Margarita, a Paloma, or a Tequila Sunrise. Aged tequilas are often sipped neat or on the rocks. However, they can added to simple cocktails such as old-fashioned to make them more refined.
Featuring green apple, and fragrant spices with a hint of white pepper Kokoro Spirits - 'Plata' Tequila Blanco is a handsome choice to be mixed into a variety of cocktails such as Palomas, and Margaritas. A smooth, sweet-tasting tequila with an amazing rosy hue and rested for 1 month in Napa Cabernet French Oak, presenting you Codigo 1530 - 'Rosa' Tequila with its fine floral notes.
Kokoro Spirits - 'Plata' Tequila Blanco
Best Tequilas for Parties and Gatherings
How to select a tequila for parties and gatherings?
Social gatherings call for lively, fresh-tasting beverages. You might need a tequila that is optimal for both sipping and cocktails. A reputable brand such as Don Julio, would be considered a solid option, considering it would be appealing to newer tequila drinkers and a classic to enthusiasts. Every party table needs to be well presented and well paired. Different types of tequila pair with different foods, read ‘The Ultimate Guide to Tequila’ (insert link while posting) for more knowledge.
Recommendations
Añejo is often enjoyed neat, and to please the crowd, Calirosa-Tequila Anejo assures you a guaranteed victory. Striking the perfect balance between agave, wood, and a rosy hue color, is bound to make you a great host. With aromas of roasted fruits, the Prospero Tequila - Tequila Anejo will surely knock you off your feet with its complex notes including dark cacao, spices, and toasted caramel, making it yet another gifting option.
Prospero Tequila - Tequila Anejo
Best Tequilas for Gifts
What makes the perfect gifting option?
Tequila can serve as a great gift option. Who wouldn’t want a great bottle of tequila as a gift? There are some things that you should make sure while selecting a tequila to gift. Analyze their taste and their preference, if they prefer something robust, Blanco would be the way to way to go. However, if they prefer something smooth, luxurious Añejo, and Extra Añejo would be amazing choices. Something middle ground? Reposado it is then! Try to look for a reputable brand and an attractive bottle with minimalistic, classy wrapping, and voila, you are probably the best among their friends.
Recommendations
Fruity notes with a hint of pepper and an extremely smooth mouthfeel, any friend would be grateful to you if you handed them a bottle of Dona Loca - Organic Tequila Anejo. Aged for a minimum of a year, in oak casks, and is luxurious enough to be suitable for sipping. The prominent aroma of agave, provides subtle hints of vanilla, oak, and fruit, Maximo Imperio - Tequila Reposado with its unique bottle and aging gifts you with perfect sweetness.
Dona Loca - Organic Tequila Anejo
Best Tequila for Collectors
What makes a tequila collectible?
Tequila connoisseurs probably have a shelf of tequila bottles that are premium and limited. Any enthusiasts would know how much the limited editions, or unique bottles and packaging mean and how rare one must be. The unique bottle shape, the decadent taste, and the heritage that the bottle carries are appreciated intricately. Like the Clase Azul Ultra Extra Añejo, aged for more than 5 years, creates a surge of appreciation among collectors.
Recommendations
Holding a rich history, a bottle that took years to perfect with fine ceramic carving and providing you with premium taste, Arte Azul - 'Ultra Aged' Tequila Extra Anejo with an amber color, is an underrated tequila that one should own. Scents of apples and citrus, with hints of dried fruits, Clase Azul - 'Gold' Tequila with its beautiful bottle and rich taste, assuredly adds a gem to your collection.
With that, we wrap up our guide to tequilas for various occasions. To recap, there are various types of tequila and each one can serve a different purpose. Sipping is often done with aged tequilas that are smooth and have a complex flavor profile due to the extended aging process. Añejo and Extra Añejo are the optimal choices with some Reposados. For cocktails, you need something versatile and fresh to lighten up the environment. Blancos are great as they are versatile with various cocktails. For parties and gatherings, you need something that is people-pleasing or easygoing. Blancos would be great for the cocktails while Añejo could be great as a sipping option. Collectors are usually fascinated by limited editions and unique bottles which are great to showcase, hence, often they prefer high-end brands that are not easily accessible.
We serve a diverse range of tequilas only at The Epicurean Trader’s website! Check out the tequila options by clicking here. We also offer an array of things for your kitchen and your party tables, make sure to go through the various delicacies that we have to offer, and to read more detailed fun blogs, head over to our blogs and recipes section. We also have stores across the country, locate the nearest store to you and we would be glad to serve you!
