Here's a list of tequilas I personally enjoy Cazcanes, fortaleza, siete leguas, g4, el tesoro, lalo, tapatio, siembra valles, cimarrón, siembra azul, tequila ocho, Volans, el Tequileño, Pasote, Arette. cheers
Siete leguas is great! Have you tried Cayeya yet? Delicious single barrel additive-free tequila. I use the reposado to make tequila old fashions. Delicious. Super smooth, and easy to sip on.
Great video! I just have a couple things to add as minor corrections. 1) even though the vast majority of tequila is from Jalisco, it can legally be produced in Nayarit, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, and Guanajuato as well! 2) Additives total are allowed to be 1% by volume, not 1% each by total volume. 3) the term is Cristalino, not Cristalano (small note, but worth knowing!) 4) there are some Cristalino tequila that are made by additive free distillers! (Partida and el tequileño are just a couple!) Hope this helps. Salud!
Last year I vacationed in Guadalajara. There are tourist bus companies that give tours of the actual town of Tequila and the tour includes a visit of the blue agave fields and the distilleries to show how tequila is made. Then they give you lunch and and you serenaded by a Mariachi band (Mariachi music was born in Guadalajara) and then on to taste testing! I had a great time. The town of Tequila is especially pretty. I had a great time! Viva Mexico!
exactly thats why I love bourbon. there rules are so strict so strict that you dont have to worry about those things. there are some loop whole like popular scotches have been know to put food coloring. and cheap whiskeys like Seagrams 7 are 75% neutral grain spirit (vodka) and 25% whiskey .
i've gotten legitimate handcrafted tequlia when visiting mexico, truely the best stuff around, go to areas with the locals, you won't regret it one bit
As someone who works in a a liquor store, I found this video extremely helpful. I knew some of the brands shown as recommendations were solid, but my god do I feel bad for all the bottle of 1942 and Clasa Azul I have sold..... Thank you for posting this, and showing some insight into the world of tequila. Will need to pour a glass of some Tequila Komos Reposado Rosa and watch again soon.
Glad it was helpful! they'll love you even more with better recommendations. I love my liquor store people. a close friend of my that works at a liquor store once sold me a bottle of bourbon I didn't care for but has introduced me to many more I love
Don't feel bad, Clase Azul and Don Julio 1942 are great for most people. Most people aren't so worried about the nitty gritty and they enjoy the taste as well as having the flashy bottle. Tequila connoisseurs are not buying it, but they aren't who it is made for either. I work as a sales consultant with a liquor retailer, you should be looking to meet the guest with what they want, rather than what you want for them. Once they have a base level of trust with you, you can develop that and find if they want the more refined experience that other brands like Fortaleza or Siete Leguas can offer. (keeping my references to brands shown in the video) More than anything its important to be more educated in the topic as you can often be the middle man who people are looking at as an expert of sorts to give them recommendations. If your company has higher margin items they want you pushing, learn what you can about them to direct customers looking for that product towards it. Your goal should be a happy customer, because a happy customer buys again. Often management can overlook that aspect. And never beat yourself up for giving someone something they are going to be happy with.
@@abonyngeexactly, I have people tell me recommendations and I’m looking at horror to what they like, but it’s what they like so who am I to criticize peoples preferences. Take 1942, I drink it because it’s convenient. I find it on trains, airports I go to dinners it’s there. I wouldn’t buy a bottle ,but it’s where I’m at and it’s recognizable it won’t surprise me but more importantly It won’t let me down.
@@abonynge totally agree with you. I really mean this with all the respect you are speak perfectly as a sales consultant. but the problem is Clase Azul and 1942 high prices are for flavor you get in the in the candy isle at the dollar store. People want honesty and clarity in what they are getting. I do many blind tastings with novice and experts and 1942 and Clase Azul fail almost every single time when but up to quality tequila you can buy a a fraction of the price. I get sales, I was selling old fashioned and margaritas for $15-$20 when my guest could walk around any corner and get them cheaper and in many cases free but I was able to do that because mine where that much better. people will like you for giving them a good product, but they'll love you for giving them a great one. yes some people are hard headed and will want to spend the money, I alway have those 2 tequilas at my bars because they are popular high ticket items but not because they are better
I tried Don Julio 1942 for the first time last night and it was terrible. For $200 it was straight up horrible, no soft clean tasting notes but over powering notes of alcohol.
Great Stuff here! As a premium rum drinker, I swore off tequila years ago (and dumped down the drain the half a Cuervo 'Especial' 1.75L bottle I had for years after a party - I couldn't imagine drinking or mixing it). NOW I KNOW to maybe try tequila again but better brands. Thanks, again for your great channel.
thank you🙏🏼. Jose Cuervo is the perfect example of everything wrong with large tequila companies . give it another try. I find rum and tequila similar in variety and how I enjoy them they are great neat, in cocktails, aged not aged.
I would recommend El Tesoro, Siete Leguas, G4, Tapatio (the tequila, not the hot sauce), Tequila Ocho, Mijenta, or Fortaleza (if you can find it). They’re all made the right way without using any additives, and you’ll wake up the next morning and you’ll feel fine, aside from being a little dehydrated.
Fortaleza was the first bottle of tequila I ever bought, and I loved it. It has since become much more expensive, and by the time I convinced myself to spend the extra money, now I can't even find it at all 😭
you are lucky I think my first bottle was Sauza😂. It is definitely getting harder to find. might be impossible in ten years. tapitio was one of my favorites but I swear it went up $20 in the last year
I've been bartending for years, (mostly in an Asian restaurant) so we barely carried tequila. I never had a huge request for it so I never dove into it. This is a fantastic video. After watching a few of your videos, you are putting out quality knowledge. Well done!
This video demonstrates why Tequila matchmaker is such a good website. You can see exactly how a tequila is made and what people think of it before you buy
I refused to drink tequila, until a month ago when I met someone at a business conference that convinced me to give it a go. I didn’t drink any at that time, but did buy a bottle on a whim when I got home. I appreciate the info, it made a lot of sense. And it seems I got lucky, finding a mid level casa noble, which is what I wanted. It doesn’t have as much nose as scotch, but it was smooth and had a nice palette.
Great video! Its about time someone puts these huge corporations and celebrities producing absolute trash and destroying small family tequila businesses in their place.
thank the deceptive greed is a problem. fun fact Jose Cuervo, Don Julio and Casadoros are a few example of great tequila that was ruin when large companies bought them out. their family went on to produce other high quality tequila
Correction: Tequila does not have to be produced only in Jalisco; these are the five authorized states: Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas.
@@leonmladosic5774 I am just clarifying that tequila does not necessarily have to be exclusively produced and bottled in Jalisco. Other states are also capable of producing it. This is similar to how Bourbon is often associated with Kentucky, as the majority of it does come from there, but the other 49 states are also capable of producing bourbon.
@@robertlopez9347 It is what I had thought as well, but there are plenty of "tequila" producers in those other states, for example NOM 1628, 1511, 1566, 1593, etc. Now are they any good? That can be up for debate…
Cazcanes, fortaleza, siete leguas, g4, el tesoro, lalo, tapatio, siembra valles, cimarrón, siembra azul, tequila ocho, Volans, el Tequileño, Pasote, Arette theres 15. really give that website a try for more
Thanks for this video! I knew most of this being a retailer for many years. But it did help with my theories and tasting journey. Also noticed fortezela is hard to find and out of stock nowadays that this info is spreading!
Great Video, Please pass this along to your friend's that think celebrity brand tequilas are good. I learned this about three years from a bartender at a high end tequila bar in one of the Marriott hotels in FT Lauderdale Florida. (I wish I could remember the name) It's not that all the celebrity tequila's are garbage, it's that you are paying about 30% more for the same quality of tequila because of the celebrity endorsement.
I'm primarily a malt whiskey drinker but I do find that I like Corralejo añejo tequila. It does say that it's 100% blue agave on their website and it's also fairly cheap, especially compared to trash like Don Julio.
My father always said don’t buy big name they dilute there stuff because they have reputation. Try undiscovered because they want it to leave a good impression. To this day it’s been true. Also a big fan of centenario
Hi, thank you now I know why I got really sick drinking margaritas in Tijuana😮...I swore off Tequila after that (my first time drinking)😂😂😂😂😂😂 I may try again 😊
Cazcanes, fortaleza, siete leguas, g4, el tesoro, lalo, tapatio, siembra valles, cimarrón, siembra azul, tequila ocho, Volans, el Tequileño, Pasote, Arette theres 15. really give that website a try for more
Great info. If I can add one thing... although I agree with your opinion on additives and celebrity "owned" tequilas, what we need to remember is that those types are what's really growing the tequila market. It can help the smaller producers, even though it's a little.
I disagree. the number of tequila producers has actually gone down due to the popularization of mass produced, factory style production of the bigger brands, including the celebrity ones. It's actually incentivizing companies to reduce traditional, manual methods in favor of using machinery.
One exception to the "avoid mixtos" rule - El Tequileno blanco, which is 30% Piloncilo sugar and is very good. Might be my favorite blanco in the $20-25 range.
A friend of Mine just got me a Bottle of "El Tesoro" Reposado tequila. I literally juat had it 2 days ago with a coke. I dont really drink tequila i mostly have Whisky Jameson Black Barrel with Ginger Ale or basic Rum and Coke. Anyway so i only had coke in the house i said F it let me try this. It was way better then any Rum and coke ive had and better then mt Jameson ginger ale. It had this sweet smoke flavor. I was about to turn on the firepit relax and have more of this drink. My friend said Reposado is not for Mix, you need the Blanco for Mix. Im not a bartender but i have taste buds and for my taste buds this smokey wood flavor of the Tequila with the sweet flavor of coke is on point. But everyone taste buds is different but this just became my new Favorite drink.
I’ll Tesoro is great! I personally don’t drink sodas or mix my alcohol with them. But there is nothing wrong with it if that’s how you like it. A lot of people with try to same people for mixing higher end spirits with coke. But soda can actually lengthen out a lot of those subtle flavors and mix well with Flavors in coke. So drink what you love. You made me curious, I think I’ll try some el Tesoro and coke. Cheers
you're welcome. It's great for anybody who wants to know more about tequila or find better tequila. I would pull the app up everything I was in the liquor store. 🫡 salute
my buddy went down to jalisco for tequila and got some great stuff , i consider myself a tequila snob , but the 3 best tequilas i have ever tasted are #3 2010 republica mexicana bicentenario joyas de mexico anejo #2 corralejo 1998 marked AA or AB red or black letters, red underline blue bottle " buy as soon as u see it " and # 1 drum roll please a no name 2 liter bottle of coke said buddy brought back from jalisco , small batch family made priced at less then 30 bucks you could taste the history .
there are some I guess hidden in there, but It why I highly suggested using tequila matchmaker. everybody market, taste and price range will be different. where im at I always get Fortelza, el Tesoro and tapitio. budget wise and for cocktails Ive been using Cimarron, dulce vida and espolon. I was using tapitio but I swear their prices went up $20 in the last year. G4 and Siete Leguas are 2 others I really like but I have to cross state lines in order to find them. but there are so many many more that are great. I depends on what's available around you. really give that web site or app a try
Sorry but your video is full of wrong information. First, tequila can be made in Jalisco, Guanajuato, Tamaulipas, Nayarit, Michoacán (limited to certain municipalities). Second, you have no idea what a mixto tequila is. 51% blue agave doesn’t mean that the rest of the 49% is garbage. You can obtain outstanding spirits through the combination of agave and the sugar from piloncillo… which is the case of el Tequileño, which is even used as the house tequila at one of the top 50 bars in the world. Another example is San Matias. Giving a bad reputation to anything not made from blue Weber agave is just absurd. There are plenty of spirits made from different varieties of agave that pay homage to the oldest traditional ways and have superb quality. You have amazing raicillas, bacanoras, mezcales, and even many with no denomination. Now to the additives… Yes it is a terrible practice and I hate it, but the information is wrong. There are many other additives used in the industry and they can only be a total of 1% of the total volume, not 4 % or 1% of each additive. By the way, I hope that bottle of tapatío was an empty bottle filled with water for illustrative example. Then Cristialinos (pronounced cristaleeno, not cristalano) is a whole new topic of it’s own and not everyone uses charcoal, and not everyone turns it into trash. The whole point of the cristalino is of course a gimmick for the American market, which now has gained popularity in Mexico too, not theres much more to it. The Lincoln county process used in Tennessee whiskey and some bourbons such as Evan Williams are meant for “mellowing’. In tequila after being aged, some brands have been using it to keep some qualities of aging and bring back specific fruit and floral notes…. That’s with good quality and responsible brands of course.
Well I guess the video reach the point where that 1% of people here what they want. The point was of what big tequila does to been the rules with tequila so people with stop order crap because of big budget marketing like the #seller Jose Cuervo. Nothing in my video was wrong. I said “Jalisco region” which includes those areas. And I said oversimplified explaintion. 2nd I know exactly what mixtos CAN be. Yes el tequileno bottom brand is an excellent example of what mixtos SHOULD be. But you’ll see Cuervo and Sauza everywhere. I’m truly sorry you mistook and try to twist my words and heard what you wanted to hear. Look I don’t know if you are a home bartender or one with actual real world experience. But most most people are ordering crap tequila. If you want to talk about wrong what other additives did I not cover??? And I understand what you are saying about the 1% put I dug hard into that research and that come from a man that knows more about tequila and the industry than you and me combined. The cristalano bit I flat out addressed it’s the possibility and not all are like that. And charcoal filtering only strips flavors out that’s what the “mellowing” means. Where ever you picking up that market crap from about aged tequila. It’s not bringing back flavors it’s strip long other out so those fruit and floral notes stand out more. You really shouldn’t try to say someone is wrong than use wrong information. Normally I would ignore this type of post but as somebody else that makes cocktail videos I figure you would have more respect than to twist my words for whatever reason. I get you did a little research, you know a few things I’m sure you can make some nice drink a home but I have a feeling you’ve never been on the other side of that bar
You da man - I do find USA does not understand tequila - the stripping does not get vodka it brings out vanilla and butterscotch My understanding the process removes colors and creates a less Smokey ie. Bourbon taste All is to the like of the consumer. Appreciate your knowledge
Cazcanes, fortaleza, siete leguas, g4, el tesoro, lalo, tapatio, siembra valles, cimarrón, siembra azul, tequila ocho, Volans, el Tequileño, Pasote, Arette. and in the pin comments now. thanks for the advice
I've read all of this and keep a list of the best tequila in my pSir! for years and yes I have the app too. But your explanation is by far the best I've ever heard it explained. Well done sir!
Excellent video! I visited Tequila, Jalisco back in the 80's and toured many of the distilleries including the Herraduras one which was in a 400-year-old house surrounded by a big wall! In Mexico, as stated, only liquors coming from Tequila, Jalisco are called tequila but there are others made similarly with other names. Like Sotol, Mezcal etc. Sotol de Vibora was an interesting one. Instead of a worm in the bottle, it has a snake, usually a rattlesnake.
Thank you! I have a friend that brings me a bottle every time she goes back home to Mexico. last time it was a mezcal with a worm but ill have to see if she can bring me one with a rattlesnake
Suave Tequila (a good brand albeit a pricy one) does have some Jovens under their belt that were transparent where they were adding a small portion of blanco tequila to their 4-5 year XA tequila. It was non-additive confirmed. I support experimentation, but I agree a lot of these categories of the tequila market have been made to abuse the additive rules or to sell aged tequila to someone who wrongly believes "clear spirits" are better for them
they are pricey but still would like to try it if I ever come across it. I like that idea. sometimes I find myself want more agave in XA tequilas. I also support experimentation, bourbon is a good example of it. unfortunately big tequila ruins it. all these example were sort of good things turned bad. el tequileno makes a good cheap mixto. Diffusors were originally be use to extract extra sugar to how tequila is traditionally made, not replace how it's made.
Good video. But when talking about bad practices by tequila companies, there is frequently a bottle of Fortaleza on the screen. Just for the record: Fortaleza is a vey high quality tequila, is 100% Blue Weber agave, and does not use additives in their tequila.
Back 'in the day' when Quervo Blanca' was the best tequila you could get in the states, I probably drank more than 1,000 gallons of it...but when I could sense that the taste changed, I got rid of the Quervo and in talking to a close Mexican friend of mine, found Patron to be just as good (albeit, due to storms and pricing increases, was about 6-times what Jose Quervo had once cost me)....for affordable 100% blue agave tequila, it's hard to find a more affordable 'true old world tequila' than Patron, now.
Tequila from mexico also taste way better than U.S. couterpart . My fav is don julio and the us version just taste like there is additives of course its owned by corporate so wouldnt doubt it
Codigo Rosa is unique. Not exceptionally great imo, but it has a taste I haven't experienced elsewhere that I can see some people loving. Would recommend trying a 50ml.
Cristilano tequilas make next day feel better or like you didnt drink if your a hardcore alcoholic like myself. Its crazy how dif you feel next day same time they taste strange. Best tasting one is kevin hearts it was shockingly good for price and surprising.
Thank yo for the great overview presnted ina simpified manor that is easy to understand. Perhaps revisit the voice over narration so you are pronouncing the Spanish words, such as Mixto ("Mee-Stow") and Cree-stee-lee-no"correctly to round out a great presentation.
Tequila isnt only made in Jalisco. In order to make tequila it has to come from the DO Tequila region and that would include Several states not just Jalisco.
@@stacky512aany google search will provide you with the correct information. This is from wikipedia: Mexican laws state that tequila can be produced only in the state of Jalisco and limited municipalities in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. Get your facts right son.
Thank you. I have, so far, never liked Tequila. I now believe this is because I have never had a genuine Tequila. I shall be looking for 3 Amigos on Friday
Wish I had stumbled on this video earlier. Spent more than a day at work trying to figure out the best way to expand my tequila selection, and this video would have saved me so much time. Oh well, at least I know I was looking for the right stuff in the end.
As a mexican who live in mexico: 1) by law there are 5 states than can make tequila: Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato 2) food coloring is used not only on tequila but also on rum and other drinks 3) using Narcos meme as an "authority" in Mexico its a bit racist 4) you say "cristalano" instead of cristalino, cristalano its like say ass of glass. You're welcome
as bartender dating a Mexican and best friend is a Mexican (in Nationality and race) 1) I said REGION, not state 2) duh thats why its called food coloring but its not in all tequila 3) I can give you personal story on real world racism if you want. Cartel influence on huge business in Mexico is a problem. for instance look into avocados its really interesting 4)Im truly sorry that instead of taking in some info you instead found a reason to be butt hurt you're welcome
@@justhaveadrink 1) jalisco its not a REGION, its a state. Its not spain btw. You mention its the only region that can produce and thts not true. 2) sure so? 3) sorry if you have had a personal experience but, you just used a meme to make fun of the problem that hurt my country and my people, thats racist. 4) ok? If you want to mention a product and monetize by "teaching" about it, at least learn the DOC correct, dont say the names wrong, you can be a bartender, that doesnt give you full knowledge about drinks, we all can make a mistake sometimes.
@@Chefkikegarza look im truly sorry if youve mistaken anything ive done as making fun of you. but I have better things to do than argue with you Karen. try staying in you lane. best of luck to you and just have a drink
@@justhaveadrink just keep the study, you have manu things to learn. We can make mistakes, sorry if i was mad but, i think it would be the same if i said something about your place. Have a great day.
Tequila is just Mezcal with a better marketing department. There are also a lot of Mezcals out there that are better than most of the celebrity and big name tequilas.
yea Non tequila mezcals are still mainly small companies that still take pride in what they make. but thats about to change Mezcal popularity is really growing
Some would say mezcal is better, because they can have a larger range of flavors, tequila can only be made with one type of agave, mezcal can use different ones.
I love this video. I gotta give likes to Teramana tho, half way solid tequila (esp for a celeb version), mid tier-made, not complete trash, agree with codigo assessment: it’s a well made tequila that tastes like a friggin vodka. Something just ain’t right with codigo. Good stuff!
LOVE the channel!! Long time bartender/mixologist and I find great interesting content here. I really like taking the artificial crappy flavors and make them delicious. This channel gives me that kind of content. Any other ways we can make crappy into yummy? Love upcycling peels into acid adjusted juices. What else ya got up ya sleeve my friend?
thank you. milk clarified punches are some of my favorite things to play around with. Acid adjusting and super juices are defiantly a fun and economically friendly way to change up. especially making banana peel syrup. when I have some time I have a cheap overproof bourbon I different care for drinking neat. so when I get to chance I going experiment with clarify it and combining it with a shrub
If someone says they have a new Tequila from Texas, it’s probably Sotol that they thought was Tequila. Or they thought that since they bought it in Texas that means it was made in Texas. I’ve drank some bad tequilas in the past but now I only drink ones that are additive-free. Some people I know think I’m a tequila snob, but I’d rather take pride in knowing I can get an authentic quality product that’s free of additives that’s more affordable than the fancy “smooth” bottles that people go crazy for at clubs like Don Julio 1942 and Clase Azul.
Nghe anh nói whisky thì sướng tai thật. Nhưng mà tequila thì buồn quá. Thích ngay chai rượu toàn vị hương liệu . Đắt đỏ chỉ vì marketing tốt. Bao chai phần tư giá mà uống còn ngon hơn.
Yes your right for the most part that tequila comes from the state of Jalisco, but there is one other state in Mexico that produces tequila. That’s state is Guanajuato, in the city of Penjamo. Penjamo produces tequila Coralejo… this is the only other region in Mexico that produces tequila…
The tequila name is unique to to Tequila Jalisco, tequila is also made in other regions like in Sinaloa, and is great tequila but the bottles can’t say “tequila” Los Osuna is a great example.
