Forget about shots, slammers and margaritas, premium sipping tequilas offer up a unique combination of fruit and spice flavours to enjoy when sipped straight or over ice. If you’re keen to explore the world of tequilas, we’ve come up with a quick helpful guide. What the difference between mescal and tequila? Is a tequila blanco different to a resposado? And – more importantly - what are the best tequilas to try? You’ll find out below.
All about agave
The blue agave plant is the key to the distinctive flavour of tequila. This spiky plant grows wild across Mexico but only spirits distilled from agave grown in the volcanic soil of Jalisco state, and some surrounding areas, can be called tequila. Spirits made from agave outside of this area are called mezcal.
It takes between eight and twelve years for an agave plant to reach maturity before it can be harvested by cutting away the leaves leaving the piña, or heart, which can weight up to 240 pounds. The fructose-rich piña is slowly oven cooked to release the sugars needed for fermentation before being crushed and the juice collected to be fermented and then distilled twice. The result is blanco tequila, a spicy spirit with bold agave taste and aroma.
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Blanco, resposado and añejo
This blanco tequila can then be aged in barrels where it takes on increasingly complex flavours with good reposado or añejo tequilas displaying those wood characteristics of vanilla and spice and smokiness.Resposado means ‘rested’ and this has been aged in oak for between two and twelve months and should strike a nice balance between agave and wood character. Añejo translates as ‘aged’ and these spend a minimum of one year in barrel and display smoother richer flavours.
What to look for when buying tequila
When it comes to selecting a good tequila, make sure to look out for the term ‘100% agave’. This means the tequila has been made only from the blue agave plant, without the addition of any other juices like cane sugar, and it will show the most smoothness and agave character. If you’re looking for some quality sipping tequila and want to experience the different levels of aging and how it affects the taste of the final spirt, Patrón is an excellent range of premium tequilas to try.
Three to try
Want to discover the world of premium tequilas? These top class tequilas are a great place to start.
Casamigos Blanco
Mexico
WAS €75 NOW €65 (part of our Rum, Bourbon & Tequila sale)
Casamigos was founded by long-time friends, actor George Clooney and businessmen Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman and lives up to its starry reputation. Casamigos Blanco is made with 100% Blue Weber agave and rests for two months, resulting in a crisp, smooth pour with notes of vanilla and grapefruit.
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Don Julio Blanco Tequila
Mexico
WAS €70 NOW €60 (part of our Rum, Bourbon & Tequila sale)
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Hailed as the world's first luxury tequila, the award-winning Don Julio is a blanco tequila made from 100% Blue Weber agave. Sweet and fresh taste with notes of citrus and sweet agave is perfect served neat or over ice - and will really elevate a classic cocktail like a margarita.
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Patrón Añejo
Mexico
WAS €85 NOW €75 (part of our Rum, Bourbon & Tequila sale)
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Looking for something a little special? How about an aged tequila? Patrón Añejo is aged for over 12 months in a combination of French oak, Hungarian oak and American whiskey barrels. The result is a smooth, sweet and perfectly sippable tequila with hints of oak, vanilla, raisin and honey.
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