Didn't want to hijack the state liquor store thread, but wondered what you guys like.

I travel to Mexico for two weeks every year. I used to buy Hornitos, then went to Patron, then just bought the most expensive bottle at the Commercial Mercado - kind of like a Mexican version of Costco- and then switched to Herradura – all anejo.

Funny the guy that owns the home we rent never wanted to stop for a drink with us till he saw we had a bottle of Herredura Anejo. Then he was all over it.
Even there it’s not all that cheap. It was till about 15 years ago when it got all popular. A top notch 750 ml bottle of any anejo will run $40-$80 in Mexico.

BTW many Mexicans drink it with Vampiro, a blend of tomato juice other veggies and of course peppers.

i like Patron but after about 10 shots it all tastes the same

If you can tell tequila from Pendleton after 10 shots you are better than me.

10 shots and I wouldn't be telling night from day.

Anything 100% Agave Resapado. I'm not a big Anejo fan. Would rather have aged tequila. El Jimador , Jose Cuervo 1800 or Traditionale. Horny Toes, Sauza, its all good. I've done the Patron shots. I grabbed a bottle of Lunazul last night.

I might do a shot after my crab digests.

In Puerto Escondito, mescal is very popular, the state drink in fact. Every time we go down. I bring home a few bottles. I prefer Don Pedro, much smoother than any tequilla in my opinion.

I'm not a big Anejo fan. Would rather have aged tequila.


Blanco ("white") or plata ("silver"): white spirit, un-aged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels;
Joven ("young") or oro ("gold"): is the result of blending Silver Tequila with Reposado and/or Añejo and/or extra Añejo Tequila;
Reposado ("rested"): aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels;
Añejo ("aged" or "vintage"): aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in oak barrels;
Extra Añejo ("extra aged" or "ultra aged"): aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels. This category was established in March 2006.

Aha Toro had a 10 year old extra anejo in a Red bottle sold in a wooden box that was freaking awesome. The one they have now is only a 3 year old in a gold bottle and isn't worth the bucks.

Don Jullio or Patron are always a good bet. Keep em in the freezer.

No Matter what any of you think, say, anticipate, consider, or otherwise ponder about tequila...do not, and I repeat do not attempt to drink Tequila with Achewter and his Drinkin buddy Kelly. It'll be the last night you remember for some time to come, your wife will be pissed when you get home really late, and you'll probably miss a few days from work.

And I trust that whatever Art says is good, is good, cause I know he's likely drank them all, literally.

Alright Dave, just trust me on this one. I have a group of friends that go to Mexico every year and always search for the ultimate tequila. These guys literally bring back tequilas that range up to 200 bucks even in Mexico. Believe it or not their reigning champion teguila is made by Jose' Cuervo and is their "Reservia". It is a bit expensive at around 135 bucks. Another absolute standout is called Don German and I believe you can only find this in Mexico. These are both Anejos. As far as a daily drinker goes the 1800 anejo is a tequila the tastes like a top shelf for about 35 bucks.

The Don German is my absolute favorite!

Jose Cuervo makes some good tequila, and they make some cheap crap. The best tequila is made from 100% aguave. Some of the cheap stuff is made from sugar cane.

BTW It's Mescal that has the worm - not tequila.

You all missed it.

The best tequila is free.

C&P from another site, but good info:

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
Short answer - Gran Patron (sometimes called Platinum)

Long answer - Patron, while good, is often thought of as the "best" tequila because they spend more marketing dollars than any other tequila company, and thus when college kids are ready to move up from Cuervo, they often go to Patron as they see it advertised so much, and their exploration stops there.

Make no mistake, Patron isn't bad by any means. But you can get better for less.

Whether you're dead set on getting them Patron or open to suggestions, you should know the following:

The aging has a lot to do with the taste and the cost, so make note of how the bottle is labeled. Generally, the longer the aging, the smoother the taste and the more expensive.

Blanco (because it's totally clear) - no aging. Sometimes called silver
Reposado - minimally aged at least 2 months, but can be up to 1 year. Sometimes called gold.
Anejo - heavily aged, minimally 1 year but less than 3 years.

The really expensive ones can even be aged longer than regular anejos, and these are often referred to as ultra anejos. In the Patron family, there's is called Gran Patron (or sometimes referred to as Platinum).

Also consider how he's going to drink it.

Slammed shots - go for a blanco. Anything else is a waste of flavor and $$

Sipped shots (how I recommend it) - go for anejo only and savor with no salt and a squeeze of lime. Chilled or on the rocks is good as is straight.

Margarita - anejo is a waste, especially if he isn't using fresh squeezed lime juice. Go for blanco or reposado.

If you're open to alternatives, any of the following are better, and often cheaper than Gran Patron:

Don Julio 1942
Cuervo Reserva de la Familia (note - this is 1 of 2 good tequilas Cuervo makes. The rest is garbage)
Herradura Seleccion Suprema

If you don't want to spend that much (Gran Patron is over $200 for a 750ml bottle), then I recommend the following in the $50 range:

Corzo
Dos Lunas
Chinaco
Arette
El Tesoro
El Charro

this is the point where you become invisible. best not have any lighters on you either.

If yer going to Ole Mexico, I found some stuff called Regimentio that was pretty yummy. They do tequila like we do microbrew.
IMHO, as for what's available up here, Patron is good, but Herradura is good for cleaning my battery terminals, and that's it.

Liquor stores will let you taste test down there so take your time and ask the clerk. You get a free buzz by the time you're done.

My favorite tequila is....


...beer.

Fish on...

Todd

The bottle I have brought home from Mexico a few times is the Tequila Gran Centenario Reposado. Centanario tastes good in all price ranges, but the Reposado tastes smoother and is a great sipper. I had a Don Pilar last year that was excellent, but I can't find it.

I just started drinking Absinthe, and that's some pretty damn good chit too. There's a boutique distillery here in Woodinville called Pacifique that makes some really good stuff.

Pancho Villa Gold, I don't remember when I had it, but I did.

be careful with that stuff.......stop immediately if you feel the urge to cut your ear off and start painting.

Sky-guy's going EMO on us?

Myself I have had them all, Patron, Herradera, Don julio...all varieties. Lately I have been drinking Cazedores "the Hunter" excellent tequila in my opinion it near the top of the list. I slice of orange sprinkled with cinnamon to chase it down or straight.

The Absinthe does have a unique buzz to it, that's for sure... I haven't started hallucinating or anything yet tho....yet.


EMO..huh?

Are you drinking the Absinthe the traditional Czech way Ryley... with the cooked sugar cube?

Absinthe is made out of distilled Wormwood... which has some mild toxins in it that help create that "unique buzz".

Personally... I can't stand the stuff.

Just returned from CSL on Tuesday. I tried some of these microbrewery type Tequilas, I actually really liked one that tasted like coffee of all things. Cezadores was pretty good chilled, in a shot glass.

Honestly though, at most points of the afternoon, they could have just dipped my cup in the pool, and added some ice cubes and I wouldn't have known the difference.

I have tried it that way but prefer it with lukewarm water or straight. I'm going to buy the right glassware at some point so I can serve it that way.

Have you had any of the real, pure Absinthe 4salt? There are quite a few"knockoff's" that arent as high of quality as the real stuff that's distilled using the traditional methods.

...but I digress.

As a matter of fact, I have.

We produce a show that's now on the Travel Channel called "Three Sheets". The host, Zane travels around the world sampling all kinds of alcoholic beverages and exploring different drinking customs and traditions. One of the field producers brought back some Absinthe from the Czech Republic and I drank some.

Over there they have bars dedicated strictly to Absinthe and it's carried in most stores and markets.

I couldn't imagine drinking it straight and liking it.

Back on the topic of Tequila, courtesy of that show, I've had some pretty awesome stuff made in small distilleries that isn't commercially available... even in Mexico.

Van Gogh, not EMO................

How do I get THAT job???????????

I'm sure you'll let us know if you need any test samplers for the new show

Patron is always a solid choice. If you want to spend a bit less, Hornitos is good, too, especially for margaritas.

One of my personal favorites from the dark horse realm is Sauza Tres Generaciones, which is a mid-priced silver. Hey, three generations of Sauzas can't be wrong, right?

After a long nite at Talachepauqy's (spell check someone) downtown Seattle and countless slammer's I 'll never drink no friggen tequila ever again.

I have 17 stitches on my forehead due to tequila slammers. Took a nose dive into the rocks glass when I lost my balance playing air guitar to Van Halen in my underwear.

Like guns, tequila is bad. Even if free.

It's not real Absinthe unless it's chock full of laudanum.

The Czech stuff's not the real deal. I've had it. IIRC you have to go to The Azores to find the real thing these days.

For a real kick in the pants, pick up some Jager in Canada or Europe where it contains codeine. It's the best night-time mid-winter sleep aid you can buy.

tequila makes me think i can walk though walls. i made it though one i was told when i was made to pay for it.

It's kind of nice having Mingo play in the middle of the day. What's up with all the tequila amateurs?

im not much into tequila but when in mexico i drink and bring back
Corralejo Tequila Reposado
and
don julio.
we go every year and the two bottles i bring back usually last that long. guess we just get enoph of it in the week were there.

For a real kick in the pants, pick up some Jager in Canada or Europe where it contains codeine. It's the best night-time mid-winter sleep aid you can buy

i gatta find some of this................

I've had "real" absinthe, smuggled from Japan through Canada...the jury is far out on whether or not the "absinthe" they can sell us now is real like that was...but I've had a bit with SkyGuy, and I've got no complaints so far

Fish on...

Todd

it made me walk on cars one night, boy was that expensive

Pass..... That stuff hurts the head and pocket book....

Keith

Got hit by a car in downtown Seattle last time I was blind drunk on tequila, bad Tequila (New Years eve of 91/92). .. . at least I think that is what happened, still don't know for sure .... .. tire tracks don't lie though. .. ..

Prefer Patron Gold straight, no nothing. That said I love PV and in particular Bucerias and for those who know it...........their is a water front restaurant ( right turn street going North along the water in fact it is the only one that has a long driveway leading to it and is directly across from the Ice Cream shop ) that we always did X mas and New Years Eve at. The guys would bring out this Tequila after closing and start up with the whole crew. Do not remember the name but do remember about shitting my pants when told the price which was nearly 300 a bottle. I ex wife has never forgiven me.............made it through the front door of the Villa and hit the floor. As I have been told over & over & over ............ she had other ideas.

Miss the hell out of Mexico..................

Oh yeah, drink Aha Torro in moderation now .. . .good chit

Don't know much about tequila. Seems like with most liquor, aged longer drinks smoother. I bought a bottle of Miravalle anejo for $76 in Playa a few years ago. Wish I could get more, but it's a small distillery, and I think the guy who sold it to me said it isn't exported. I mostly drink beer and wine, so liquor lasts a long time around my house.

Sg

Sky Guy, if you can believe it they have Don Pilar for sale at Costco in California. As a matter of fact I met him at my local store and he signed a couple of bottles of it for me with a gold pen. he is like 6'-2' tall, blue eyes, interesting guy. My bottle is empty ( imagine that ) my friends is untouched ( not for long).