Saturday is the day to celebrate this legendary distillate, and we have a mighty mix for summer.
Made from the blue agave plant, one bottle of tequila can take up to 20 years to produce. Unlike most alcohol, all tequila is made inside the Mexican state of Jalisco and in some municipalities in Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. Of course, aficionados understand the five types of tequila Before buying tequila—blanco, joven, reposado, añejo and extra añejo—which receive their moniker based on the aging process (for example, blanco is unaged, and an añejo can be aged for more than two years). When sipping tequila neat, the pros notice notes of citrus, roasted agave and floral, while tequila reposado, añejo and extra añejo have been aged in oak barrels giving them notes of wood, vanilla and caramel.
There is no shortage of tequila brands, which can make it hard to choose, so we’ve created our short list of standouts.
Clase Azul
Clase Azul is just as nice to look at as it is to drink. Known for its handcrafted and individually painted bottles, Clase Azul is the prettiest bottle in every liquor cabinet and is quickly snatched up by collectors. While looks sometimes can be deceiving, Clase Azul’s taste is just as every bit gorgeous as its looks. Each bottle is aged to perfection; the Clase Azul Ultra aging five years, Clase Azul will be some of the smoothest tequila you’ll ever drink.
Cincoro
The brand was launched as a result of a shared love of tequila among NBA owners Emilia Wyc Grousbeck of the Celtics (his wife Emilia Fazzalari is the CEO), Jeanie Buss of the Lakers, Michael Jordan of the Hornets and Wes Edens of the Bucks. Cincoro uses 100% blue weber agave from both the Highland and Lowland appellations of Jalisco, Mexico, to achieve its ultra-smooth and naturally rich taste, making it the perfect sipping tequila.
Villa One
Inspired to experience “life as it should be,” Nick Jonas and John Varvatos founded Villa One. Villa One slow-cooks its agave and double-distills, both done at its own distillery, Fabrica de Tequilas Finos in Jalisco, Mexico, where traditional techniques and natural ingredients are used. Its tequila silver, reposado and añejo all offer a variety of unique and complex notes both in smell and taste.
Lobos 1707
Lobos 1707 team is made up of Diego Osorio, an actor, documentarian and descendant of the Lobos 1707 legacy, Dia Simms, an entrepreneurial business icon within the spirits industry and NBA superstar and philanthropist Lebron James. Honoring Osorio’s great-great-grandfather’s tradition of aging tequila in his sherry wine barrels while transporting it to Spain, Lobos 1707 is created by Master Distillers from Mexico and Spain and finished in flavor-infused wine barrels from Spain. This detailed process results in elevated flavors with an extra smooth finish.
We recently received this great recipe from Lobos 1707 to celebrate National Tequila Day, and we can’t wait for you to try it out!
Hot Lima Recipe
1.5 oz Lobos 1707 Reposado
1 oz fresh lime juice*
1 oz simple syrup*
4 dashes Cholula hot sauce
Glass: Rocks Garnish: Lime wheel
Directions: Add all ingredients into a shaker, add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish.
*Fresh lime juice: Strain out the pulp after juicing.
*Simple syrup: Equal parts of water & sugar
Photography by: Johann Trasch/Unsplash
