TEQUILA – WITH OR WITHOUT LEMON?

Tequila has had a bad rap for a long time due to its popularity amongst students and the subsequent hangovers it causes. However, in the last couple of years tequila has seen a meteoric rise in popularity and a new appreciation has emerged for enjoying this spirit in a more sophisticated way – sipped slowly and savoured. It goes without saying that ideally, you’d be sipping a more premium tequila rather than the cheapest one you can find which is more likely to be found in a student dorm room. One think to look out for on a tequila label is “100% blue agave” or “100% de agave”. If you see this, you know it’s made from pure agave spirit and not mixed with any cheap (and nasty) cane spirits, meaning a better quality tequila. And while there is no wrong or right way to drink tequila, it’s worth noting that people in Mexico never drink tequila with lemon and salt. These additions are thanks to those aforementioned students who use the lemon and salt to mask the taste of bad quality tequila. Whatever your preference, we have a few suggestions on how best to enjoy Mexico’s most popular export. 

Here are three ways to drink tequila:  

1: Neat, sipped slowly  

Choose a reposado (rested) or añejo(aged) tequila which have been aged in oak barrels from a few months to up to three years respectively. These tequilas have much smoother mouthfeel and richer flavour profiles which make them perfect for sipping and savouring, just like you would a fine single-malt whisky.  

2:  Neat, with sangrita 

Sangrita, meaning ‘little blood’ in Spanish, is a delicious non-alcoholic chaser traditionally made with tomato juice – hence the name. It’s served in a shot glass alongside a shot of tequila, usually blanco, and is sipped with the tequila, taking it in turns to sip one and then the other. Sangrita can be made easily my mixing equal parts tomato and orange juice with a squeeze of lemon/lime juice and a dash of Tabasco. Serve chilled.  

3: In a cocktail  

The Paloma cocktail is one of the most delicious and refreshing ways to drink tequila and is hugely popular in Mexico. Blanco or Reposado tequila is perfect for this drink. Here’s the very simple recipe: 

Mix and serve in a tall glass over ice. Enjoy!