Help Me Pick Some Tequilas

[GB]

wanna be, with the lower end tequilas (think Jose Cuervo) there is not much of a difference, at least not one that matters. With the op shelf stuff there is a world of difference between different types and even within the same brand from blanco to reposado, to anejo.

Originally Posted by bigdaddy3k

I treat a good tequila like a fine scotch. Sipping only please. If you have to shoot it you may as well make a marguarita with it.

Great way to put it. I agree wholeheartedly.

BD, thank you so much for this list. I am putting it on my iPhone so when I am there I can refer to your notes. This is extremely helpful!!!

I am glad to see your notes on Don Julio. I knew nothing about that one, but for some reason it was sticking out in the list for me. Your description sealed the deal for me. This is one I absolutely want to try. I also agree with your notes on Patron. I think it is a very good tequila, but it gets way more credit than it deserves. Interestingly enough, when a friend of mine came back from Mexico he told me a story about a bartender they became friends with. My friend had ordered Patron and the bartender said that they must be from America because only Americans drink that stuff. You won't even find it in Mexico. He then proceeded to give my friend a lesson on tequila with a taste of a number of diferent ones. My friend was amazed and now has a hard time drinking Patron knowing what else is out there. Not that Patron is bad in any way, just there are so many amazing other options.

[Selkie]

Please let us know what you discovered during your "tasting".

My tequila drinking has been limited to Margaritas, primarily because I have yet to find a tequila that I like straight up. Who knows, maybe I wouldn't even like the best, but I would at least like to give it a try.

[bigdaddy3k]

Originally Posted by GB

Interestingly enough, when a friend of mine came back from Mexico he told me a story about a bartender they became friends with. My friend had ordered Patron and the bartender said that they must be from America because only Americans drink that stuff. You won't even find it in Mexico. He then proceeded to give my friend a lesson on tequila with a taste of a number of diferent ones. My friend was amazed and now has a hard time drinking Patron knowing what else is out there. Not that Patron is bad in any way, just there are so many amazing other options.

Same thing happened to me but I was telling the bartender that I didn't want to order what the American's ordered, that I knew there had to be better. He and his brother took me on a three night, 12 bar odyssey. Most places I didn't even have to pay for a drink! They were so enthusiastic about a gringo tequila lover! It was great, I tasted about 25 different tequilas (no, not full shots, I still own a liver) and ate at some joints that had never seen a gringo before. This is the adventure where I ate a worm taco!

I really don't expect that everyone would be treated this way. I think they got to liking me because it was an open mic bar and I was singing some traditional spanish folk songs in spanish (karaoke style). Now that I think aobut it I did have to sing in all the bars we went to. Maybe I was their equivelent of a dancing bear. (Come see the singing, tequila drinking giant!)

[Andy M.]

Originally Posted by bigdaddy3k

...Now that I think aobut it I did have to sing in all the bars we went to. Maybe I was their equivelent of a dancing bear. (Come see the singing, tequila drinking giant!)

Not a high price to pay for that kind of experience. Sounds like you had a great time and learned a lot too.

[GB]

Originally Posted by Selkie

Who knows, maybe I wouldn't even like the best, but I would at least like to give it a try.

The best is subjective. You best and my best may not be the same, but they are both the best for each of us respectively.

[GB]

BD that sounds awesome!!! That is the kind of culinary and drinking experience everyone should have at least once. Very cool!

[bigdaddy3k]

The people I started the trip with all freaked out. "OMG you ate from street vendors? You're going to get so sick. You're going to be killed, mugged, stabbed, dissappear forever..." There are easier people to do all of the above to, I am not a small man. Thieves are notoriously lazy, thats why they're thieves! As for getting sick, you only live once.

[bigdaddy3k]

I need an update GB, how was your tequlinary adventure?

[GB]

We had a great time and I found my new favorite tequila. I had 2 flights. The first consisted of El Tesoro blanco, Don Julio reposado, and El Mayor anejo. The second was Cabo Wabo blanco, Chinaco reposado, and Casa Noble anejo.

The winner for me by far was the Casa Noble. It had a very vanilla sort of taste and was just amazing. I spent a good part of the day trying to find a bottle. The bar tender said it is very hard to find, but he gave me a couple of places to try. Neither had it, but one had the reposado so I got a bottle of that. Unfortunately, I am not crazy about it. The owner of that store said he would try to get the anejo for me though.

We had a lot of fun. We got to the place and put our name in. The wait was at least 2 hours so we found a spot at the bar luckily. We got a guacamole sampler. There was regular guac, a tropical guace that had different fruits diced and mixed in, and a crunchy one that had corn nuts and jicima. By the time we had finished the guac and had our drinks we didn't need our table anymore so we gave it up and just hung in the bar. It was a lot of fun, plus the bar tender was someone who obviously loved what he did. He was pationate about all the tequilas and spent a lot of time talking to me about was there. Twice during the night he said that Don Julio does not make a bad tequila so good suggestion on that one BD! That was probably my second favorite. My least favorite was the Cabo Wabo. It was not bad, but a bit harsh. All the others were great!

[mexican mama]

Jose Curevo Gold is the one i like best if you are into the stronger taste I also find Sauza brand great and affordable.