What? No Tequilas?

[BobKincaid]

Just went through five pages and found no mention of the elixir of the noble agave.

Being as how I've been sipping at some delightfully cheap-but-flavorful Giro as I've browsed, I felt compelled to stand up for what I often find to be the most extraordinary distilled spirit going.

As a caveat, Cuervo doesn't count. That swill is Mexican kerosene.

[Puros Y Vino]

Tequila has always been equated with the salt & lime ritual and as a shooter. I like my Tequila in a properly made cocktail. Usually the Blanco type in a Margarita. I've found that Anejo is by far the best to enjoy slowly. Very smooth and powerful, like a good Cognac or Scotch. Of note, Hornitos is an excellent brand, despite being bought out by Sauza. They have a 3YO Anejo out on the market. Gold in colour and very complex on the nose and palate. No harshness likes its' younger siblings.

[BobKincaid]

Tequila has always been equated with the salt & lime ritual and as a shooter. I like my Tequila in a properly made cocktail. Usually the Blanco type in a Margarita. I've found that Anejo is by far the best to enjoy slowly. Very smooth and powerful, like a good Cognac or Scotch. Of note, Hornitos is an excellent brand, despite being bought out by Sauza. They have a 3YO Anejo out on the market. Gold in colour and very complex on the nose and palate. No harshness likes its' younger siblings.

In good, warm weather there is nothing better than an ice cold margarita. For the most part, though, I far prefer "sipping" tequilas. As you note, the anejos are completely different from the harsh young blancos. Many years ago, one of the earliest bloggers, Bartcop, introduced me to Chinaco Anejo which, while often hard to come by, is among the very best. Don Julio is probably my second favorite.

Where cigars are concerned, I find a good anejo (or even the above-referenced Giro) goes very nicely especially with a cigar of full body and flavor. The almost astringent qualities don't intrude upon the nature of the cigar, allowing the flavors to marry and compliment each other.

If one thinks only of tequila as something for reprobates and women who want their clothes to fall off, it might well be time to give it a second look.

[redlir]

I'm not sure we should be putting Rob onto Tequila and cigars. The Rafael Gonzales 2001 review is ringing in the back of my head LOL

I've tried margarita's with cigars.. I love margs... good margs... just couldn't match them up. I may have to try just a sipping tequila and see if it's a different story.

[Colt45]

There actually are a few tequila threads - try a search for tequila. I enjoy tequila - usually mixed - but don't find it a good match with cigars.

[BobKincaid]

I'm not sure we should be putting Rob onto Tequila and cigars. The Rafael Gonzales 2001 review is ringing in the back of my head LOL

I've tried margarita's with cigars.. I love margs... good margs... just couldn't match them up. I may have to try just a sipping tequila and see if it's a different story.

I've done margaritas and daiquiris both with cigars. They certainly don't go well with a full-bodied beast, but can work with a lighter smoke. Mostly, though, as with all liquors, I prefer them neat for cigar-smoking purposes. Any anejo pairs nicely, especially the ones with a nice honeyed or peppery character. Had a Boli RC with some relatively cheap-but-cheerful tequila last night and was really pleased.

[docbp87]

I have tried a few "good" tequilas in my day, but for some reason they have just never clicked for me. I will however, gladly include tequila shots in a night of so-drunk-someone-is-either-gonna-die-or-at-least-get-arrested type fun.

[thechenman]

I am a fan of tequila and will enjoy it with cigars as well. My favorite brand is Don Julio, but there are many fine tequilas out there...tons of them. Even Cuervo makes a good anejo. For me anejos pair well with cigars when taken neat. They are more similar to a fine cognac or single malt, than anything resembling most peoples view of tequila. Reposados are nice as well, and obviously don't hit the wallet as hard. Blancos are great as well...though I prefer to pair those with a nice sangrita rather than a cigar.

[BobKincaid]

I am a fan of tequila and will enjoy it with cigars as well. My favorite brand is Don Julio, but there are many fine tequilas out there...tons of them. Even Cuervo makes a good anejo. For me anejos pair well with cigars when taken neat. They are more similar to a fine cognac or single malt, than anything resembling most peoples view of tequila. Reposados are nice as well, and obviously don't hit the wallet as hard. Blancos are great as well...though I prefer to pair those with a nice sangrita rather than a cigar.

If you like the Don Julio Anejo, do yourself a favor and keep an eye out for the Chinaco variety of anejo. It's not over-marketed, over-hyped or over-produced. As such, it's pretty special.

Some of the best fun I've recently had was sitting down to a tequila-tasting last summer in Vegas. Being able to smoke at the same time was delightful. Pity they weren't CCs! If that opportunity ever arises again, they WILL be!

[lancerv43]

Best tequila ever is los arango tequila reposado so smooth and tasty. Way to tasty to shoot

[tmac77]

I love the pairing of tequila with cigars.

The best tequila that I have had is a limited edition Gran Maracame I also love the Maracame Anejo which has a smooth butter and nut flavour and IMO really compliments a good cigar.

Unfortunately I have not been able to get my hands on this tequila outside of Mexico.

[BobKincaid]

I love the pairing of tequila with cigars.

The best tequila that I have had is a limited edition Gran Maracame I also love the Maracame Anejo which has a smooth butter and nut flavour and IMO really compliments a good cigar.

Unfortunately I have not been able to get my hands on this tequila outside of Mexico.

Sadly, there's a real threat to the tequila supply. With the mad rush for so-called "biofuels," a lot of tequila plantings were dug up and replaced by corn for ethanol. Given that an agave requires seven or so years to reach maturity, there may well be a tequila drought in just a few years time. If you like the good stuff, it might be wise to stock up and put it back against such a dark day.

[gsmoke]

I have been having good luck with Hornitos reposado lately. Almost like a white wine with some spice in the back, which i have found to stand up to many of my favorite cigars. Good stuff for the warm weather lately.

[LuciusSulla]

I prefer to drink good tequila neat and usually drink reposados or anejos. I like:

Espolon Reposado

Fina Estampa - the whole line

Cavalino - Repo and Anejo

Don Julio 1942

Partida Anejo

Casa Noble - the whole line

Milagro Barrel Select Reposado

Riazul Anejo

Campo Azul - Reposado and Anejo

Corralejo - Reposado and Anejo

There are probably some more I am not thinking of. And now that I have moved to Florida from Texas, I can get just about none of those. It's horrible!

[Hohenthal]

Nobody has added Herradura (any, but Anejo in particular) to the list yet.

Feel obliged to do so,

cheers!

[hdryder]

I'm a fan of Patron either Anejo or silver but prefer the Anejo

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor

Cheers

[icproperty]

My favourite;

Jose Cuervo La Familia

Herradura Suprema

If I’m at a bar and have no choice of bringing my own I will then only have Anejo..

I drink it neat especially with a Cuban cigar.

[phoenix]

Usually the Blanco type in a Margarita. I've found that Anejo is by far the best to enjoy slowly. Very smooth and powerful, like a good Cognac or Scotch. Of note, Hornitos is an excellent brand, despite being bought out by Sauza.

Sauza Hornitos as well as the Jose Cuervo Tradicionale are !excellent! and my 2 FAV Reposados for the money ($).

Cost no objective my FAV Tequilas are made by Porfidio (Puerta Vallarta). Their 'small batch' reposado and numerous anejos are out of this world.

[ptrthgr8]

I'm really only familiar with Patron Silver - I'll buy a bottle of that every few months, but we mostly use it for shooting.

[phoenix]

I'm really only familiar with Patron Silver - I'll buy a bottle of that every few months, but we mostly use it for shooting.

Nothing wrong with a shot or two or twelve every now and then....

[ptrthgr8]

Nothing wrong with a shot or two or twelve every now and then....

Indeed, sir!

[LGC]

The ones that I've tried and like are Don Julio, Herradura, and Corralejo Añejos.

[thechenman]

Don Julio Reposado is a go to for me. Love the Anejo also and can't forget the 1492. Milagro...also has fantastic Reposados and Anejos.

[sbmcduffee]

Centanario Anejo is my personal favorite. I used to be a huge fan of Tres Generaciones, but discovered Centenario in a little Tequileria in Mexico last year. Not only do I find it to be one of the best balanced and smooth, it also happens to be about half the price of Tres Generaciones or Don Julio.

[Guest Robo]

I recently purchased a bottle of Cabo Wabo Reposado from the Duty Free shop in Ft. Erie, Canada. It was recommended by the staff there. I have to say that it's excellent tequila. (although I'm not a tequila expert ) I haven't heard anyone on this topic post it so I thought I would.

From Wikipedia:

"In the late 1990s, rock musician Sammy Hagar began selling the patrons of his chain of nightclubs and restaurants, located in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, a house brand of hand-made tequila he commissioned from a family-owned distillery in the state of Jalisco. In 1999, a wine importer from Napa Valley began to import the tequila in to the United States. An instant success, sales rose from 37,000 cases the first year to 140,000 cases in 2006, making it the second-best selling premium tequila in the United States."