The Truth About Tequila

By Niall Roeder…

Do any of the following ring a bell? Cabo Wabo, ArteNOM, Casa Cuevo, Casa Noble, La Fortaleza, Correlejo, Don Julio, El Tesoro De Don Felipe, Gran Centenario, Herradura, Partida, Porfido, Patron or Sauza. It’s not the Mexican football team. It’s a few of the 50 tequilas lining the bar at Stingray Lounge.

Now, you’d be forgiven if you shudder at the thought of tequila. Drunken flashbacks of slamming back a salty shot, chewing a lime wedge and wincing, all in the name of a good night. We’ve all been there. Just know, you’ve been doing tequila wrong.

Whether it be in a cocktail or sipped neat, a good tequila is made to be tasted, embraced and yes, enjoyed. Another point to note is that all tequilas are not made equally. This is one time in life where you should discriminate! You shouldn’t suffer bad tequilas. Unbeknownst to most, a tequila is only a true tequila if it’s made from the blue agave plant from specific regions within Mexico. It just so happens that the majority of tequila production hails from the state of Jalisco in a town called, yep you guessed it, Tequila. Same deal as champagne, but way less smug.

You might have seen the word mezcal thrown around too. A mezcal is the liquor made from other species of agave and is produced throughout most of Mexico. So you see, all tequilas are mezcal, but not all mezcals are tequila. The liquor philosophy class continues…

Now that you’re a little more tequila-informed, you need to know the different types of tequila. To put it simply, there’s the good stuff, which is 100% agave. And then there’s Mixtos, which use no less than 51% agave and make up the rest with caramels and sugars. These are the mass produced, cheaper and less palatable tequilas.

Next point to jot down is “tequila flight”. A tequila flight is a sample of tequila blanco (silver), reposado (rested) and anejo (aged) from the same tequila family. To put it simply, it’s a tequila taster. Stingray’s resident senor Tequila, Jordan Melling, has put together his own spin of the tequila flight, accommodating those who’d like to taste a few white tequilas, smokey mezcals or tequilas through the ages (silver, rested and aged). Then of course there’s the flight for those who have to take it that step further (we’ve all go those friends). The Premium Anejo Tequila Tasting, which includes La Fortelaza Anejo, ArteNOM Anejo and
Don Julio 1942 Extra Anejo… you mightn’t recognise those labels, but they are straight from the top shelf.

It’s up to all of us to dispel the myth that tequila is hectic. Once you try high quality tequila, you will know – it can be sipped. Tequila CAN be sipped. Sounds crazy I know, but sipping is believing. For those not willing to let themselves go just yet, grab a margarita. As well as the classic, Jordan has crafted Day of the Dead, Rhubarb Crumble, Mi Casa Su Casa and Smoked pineapple margaritas. And they are delicious.

Of course you can just resort to your old rookie ways; salty shots with lime. Some people just can’t handle the good stuff.