People are divided into two categories: Those who hate tequila and those who are its most loyal fans. Here you can read some useful information about your favorite drink.

Some basic information about tequila

You can find different types tequila out there. Generally there are five distinct species that you should be aware of.

  • Blanco: This is the most common type and the easiest to come across. It has not been aged, it has simply been kept in oak barrels for two months.
  • Joven: It is also not an obsolete species. It has a light, golden color, since it contains tequila blanco combined with a more aged type called reposado.
  • Responsive: Medium aged tequila. It has been left in oak barrels for more than two months and less than a year.
  • Añejo: Tequila kept in oak barrels for up to three years.
  • Extra Añejo: This is an ultra aged tequila, having been in sealed oak barrels for more than three years.

It is worth mentioning that there is another type of tequila, Tequila Mixto. It is not made from 100% agave. It is a mix of agave and other sugars.

How to choose the perfect tequila

  1. There are two simple rules worth keeping in mind when trying to choose a bottle of tequila.
  2. The bottle should say: 100% Blue Agave. Generally, the best types are made purely from agave.
  3. Try to try the oldest tequila available. This is how you will discover the big difference in taste compared to the newer ones.

6 ways to drink tequila like a pro

  • Straight: Truth be told, this is how we should drink tequila. By following the above tips and having found the right one, you will be able to enjoy it straight.
  • With lemon & salt: Licking some salt off your hand before drinking, followed by eating the inside of a lemon slice afterwards is probably the most common way to drink tequila today. This method has its roots in Mexico: Legend has it that this ritual was created at the end of the 19th century. As the drink became more popular, its quality declined. So salt and lemon were recommended as a way to withstand the bad taste. This tradition still characterizes Mexican culture today. Now, this is also the way Blanco or Joven tequilas are drunk.
  • With beer: This way of saying tequila is called Submarino, implying that a shot of tequila is submerged in the beer. It can be done in several ways. Sometimes just by dropping the shot into a beer glass. Others, you can just drink the shot first and the beer right after.
  • With sangrita: The sangrita is a hot tomato juice that comes in a shot glass, next to the shot of tequila. Ideally, you should take sips from one and from the other alternately, for a better taste.
  • With sangrita & lime shot: This way of drinking tequila is called Bandera (flag). For this reason, the shots of tequila, sangrita and lime juice represent the colors of the Mexican flag – green, white and red. This combination is drunk slowly and there is also a correct order. That is, according to the colors: First the lime juice, then the tequila and finally the sangrita.
  • With soda: It is typically called a Tequila Slammer. This shot gets its name from the way it is drunk. A shot of tequila is mixed with soda, leaving some space in the glass for the foam. After you finish it, you should tap the glass on the table, covering the top of it with your hand. There are several ways to alternately drink the slammer: mixing tequila with equal amounts of lemonade and white wine. Or using Sprite and grenadine.