OT: Good Tequila...an oxymoron? (No, try the good stuff)

[kgreene10]

I think that the only good tequila is sipping tequila, so that takes out silver completely. Among the more or less reasonably priced brands, my favorite is Gran Centenario Anejo -- about $40 in duty free. Someone mentioned El Jimador. It used to be much cheaper and gained popularity in Mexico as the cheapest decent tequila, but since that time the price has increased substantially.

About a year ago, I happened to meet one of the two owners of El Patron outside a neighborhood market in Santa Monica. I was admiring his ridiculously expensive Mercedes McLaren and still talking about it as I walked into the market. He overheard me, threw me the keys, and invited me to sit in it. The guy actually stayed in the market as I walked outside with the keys to a car that probably costs in the hundred thousand dollar range. I still haven't tried his tequila, but this reminds me that I should. BTW, the car was fantastically nice, but I think I could have taken him on my Fierte with a good tailwind.

[dave thompson]

I'm going to Cabo in January on my yearly search for the world's best Tequila.

[Jeff N.]

Over the past couple of weeks-especially while in Las Vegas- I've tried nearly all the high-dollar premium tequilas, including the ridiculously priced Patron Platinum. For me, there is no better tequila than Patron Anejo. It's smoothness and taste cannot be matched by any other. Jeff N.

[William]

Originally Posted by dave thompson

I'm going to Cabo in January on my yearly search for the world's best Tequila.

Take me with you...........please?!




William

[WadePatton]

I grew up on (at college) Jose Cuervo! It seemed to be the "good stuff" at the time. We played Tequila Darts--shots for penalties, penalty was going ahead on points in cricket. I forget the rest of the rules...

A few years ago I revisited tequila with some help from the gals a the "local" mexican restaurant. I won't ever forget the first sip of a good anejo--had peppery undertones much like a Zinfandel. I was hooked-again. 'Bout $60 a bottle for good stuff here. Sampling by the shot is cost effective!

As to white/silver, I was pleasantly surprised when a friend offered me some. It is less subdued, but fantastically fresh tasting. But I still prefer the complexities and tone imparted by barrels--it's the wine snob in me.

Anything tastes better out of the proper Riedel glass--really.

mmmmm tequila.

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by William

Take me with you...........please?!




William

If you have couplers I can fit you in my suitcase.

I'll be thinking of you whilst doing my research there. Not!

[William]

Originally Posted by dave thompson

If you have couplers I can fit you in my suitcase.

I'll be thinking of you whilst doing my research there. Not!

That's what I thought you would say. But I was surprised there wasn't a "Bite me" in there as well.




William

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by William

That's what I thought you would say. But I was surprised there wasn't a "Bite me" in there as well.




William

If you insist. Bite me!

[William]

So Dave,

What would you consider your top five?

Just curious...for testing purposes.





William

[jimcav]

Originally Posted by kgreene10

I was admiring his ridiculously expensive Mercedes McLaren ...with the keys to a car that probably costs in the hundred thousand dollar range.

a base sl500 is nearly 100k, if it was a Mclaren, that is a whole different level.

jim

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by William

So Dave,

What would you consider your top five?

Just curious...for testing purposes.





William

My all time best is Ancestra Blanco Extra Suave. I've not been able to find it in the U.S., just in Mexico. It's got the full Tequila taste that I like, very smooth and should be sipped from a small wine glass to be appreciated fully. This is not a Tequila that should be mixed or used in other drinks, it's much too good for that.

Second is Tequila Corazon Blanco. Similar to Ancestra but a little 'brighter' and not quite a smooth but with the good Tequila taste.

Then Patron Silver. Lighter and slightly less Tequila taste, it still offers what I like in Tequila.

At the rock bottom of my list; anything made by Jose Cuervo. Cheap (not necessarily inexpensive) often adulterated with colorings, flavorings and who knows what else, they cater to the mass market, sort of the Budweiser of Tequila. Good marketing though. Unfortunately most folks have their first Tequila drink with a Cuervo product and think all Tequilas are this bad. This is the brand of Tequila you might consider if you were going a make a washtub of Margaritas.

[Boundgear]

Casa Noble Reposado

Tastes like cream soda but it's tequila. Something wonderful about it.

[Acotts]

I prefer bad Tequila.

very, very bad

[William]

So far we have the following for recomended good Tequila's....


Herra-Dura Silver
Don Julio
Patron Silver
Patron Reposado
Patron Añejo
Sauza Tres Generaciones
Tres Generaciones
Ancestra
Ancestra Blanco Extra Suave
Cabo Wabo
Corazon
Corazon Blanco
Herradura
Sotul gold
Leyenda del Milagro
Espalon
Gran Centenario Anejo
Sauza Commerativo Anejo
Don Augustin
El Tesoro Anejo
El Jimador
Casa Noble Reposado


William

Now, I hear that Tila Tequila can go both ways.

[William]

http://www.itequila.org/distillers.htm

Tequila Blanco (Silver)

Casa Noble. Tequila. 80 Proof.
Chinaco. Tamaulipas. 80 Proof.
Corralejo. Guanajuato. 76 Proof.
Don Julio. Atotonilco. 76 Proof.
El Viejito. Atotonilco. 80 Proof.
Hacienda del Cristero. Amatitán. 80 Proof.
Herradura. Amatitán. 92 Proof.
Herradura Ligero. Amatitán. 80 Proof.
Lapiz. Tequila. 80 Proof.
Las Trancas. Capilla Guadalupe. 76 Proof.
Mayor. Guadalajara. 76 Proof.
Patron. Arandas. 80 Proof
Pura Sangre. Tequila. 86 Proof.
Real Hacienda. Tequila. 80 Proof.
El Tesoro de Don Felipe. Arandas. 80 Proof.
Tres Generaciones Plata. Tequila. 80 Proof.

Tequila Reposado

Alteño. Tequila. 80 Proof.
Arette. Tequila. 80 Proof.
Atalaje. Capilla de Guadalupe. 76 Proof.
Bambarria. Guadalajara. 80 Proof.
Caballo Negro. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Cabrito. Arandas. 76 Proof.
Casa Noble. Tequila. 80 Proof.
Cazadores. Arandas. 76 Proof.
Centenario Cuervo. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Centinela. Arandas. 76 Proof.
Chamuco. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Chinaco. Tamaulipas. 80 Proof.
Conmemorativo 100 Años. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Conquistador. Atotonilco. 76 Proof.
Corralejo. Guanajuato. 76 Proof.
Corralejo Triple. Guanajuato. 76 Proof.
Cuervo Tradicional. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Don Andrés. Tesistán. 76 Proof.
Don Julio. Atotonilco. 76 Proof.
Don Leoncio. Guanajuato. 76 Proof.
Don Tacho. Arenal. 76 Proof.
Dos Amigos. Arandas. 76 Proof.
El Charro. Arandas. 80 Proof.
El Tequileño Especial. Tequila. 80 Proof.
El Viejito. Atotonilco. 80 Proof.
Galardón. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Herradura. Amatitán. 80 Proof.
Herradura. Antiguo. Amatitán. 76 Proof.
Honorable. La Laja. 76 Proof.
Hornitos. Tequila. 76 Proof.
La Cofradía. Tequila. 76 Proof.
La Perseverancia. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Las Trancas. Atotonilco. 80 Proof.
Ley .925 Tequila. 80 Proof.
Mayor. Guadalajara. 76 Proof.
Milagro. Tepatitlán. 76 Proof.
Oro Azul. Jesus María. 76 Proof.
Patrón. Arandas. 80 Proof.
Porfidio. Arenal. 80 Proof.
Porfidio Single Barrel. Arenal. 80 Proof.
Pura Sangre. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Real Hacienda. Tequila. 80 Proof.
Revolución. Antonio Escobedo. 76 Proof.
Sauza 100 Años. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Siete Leguas. Atotonilco. 76 Proof.
Tequileño Especial. Tequila. 76 Proof.
El Tesoro de Don Felipe. Arandas. 80 Proof.
Zafarrancho. Jalisco. 76 Proof.
30-30. Capilla de Guadalupe. 76 Proof.

Tequila Añejo

Centenario 3 Años. Arandas. 76 Proof.
Chinaco. Tamaulipas. 80 Proof.
Conmemorativo. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Cuervo 1800. Tequila. 76 Proof.
Cuervo Reserva de la Familia. Tequila. 80 Proof.
Don Julio. Atotonilco. 76 Proof.
Gran Centenario. La Laja. 76 Proof.
Herradura. Amatitán. 80 Proof.
Herradura Selección Suprema. Amatitán. 80 Proof.
El Tesoro de Don Felipe. Arandas. 80 Proof.
Tres Generaciones. Tequila. 76 Proof.