Hey Lui, you helped me start my tequila journey last year, I am getting awesome additive free ones without too much trial and error or money waste to this day, because of these videos. Thanks.
I have scars from the last time I drank Jose, because it was $.99 shots, and my night got a little fuzzy. I really couldn't stand the smell of tequila for decades because of it, until I was at a staff party where someone brought a tall bottle of Don Julio. That showed me how smooth and complex a tequila can be. I'm now trying different ones, with a focus on reposado and anejo varieties for a little more smoky or vanilla notes.
I tried the El Tequileno after watching one of your “Try these instead” videos, and it’s saving me a fortune. I go through almost a bottle a week, and was spending $75-100 for tequilas I like. To me, the flavor is very similar to El Tesoro, just not quite as smooth. It’s now my go to for my personal variation on a tequila Old Fashioned, and is a phenomenal Reposado for $30. I’ll give the Cimarron a go this weekend. Thanks again, Lui 👍🏻 Old fashioned: 2oz tequila, 1/4oz Heering Cherry, 1/4oz agave nectar, 6 drops agnostura bitters, cinnamon smoked glass
So I was not a tequila drinker, the occasional shot, yes of Cuervo. My first decent Blanco was Cimarron, awesome, especially for the price. I'm on my second bottle and I think it will always be my budget choice. Keep up the great work.
Lui! Just became a subscriber and I love your videos! You’re dropping some serious truth bombs about Tequila! I just scored myself a bottle of Fortaleza blanco in Miami and it was every bit as good as you said it was. Thanks man
Thanks for the recommendations. You're not the only one vomiting drinking or smelling Jose Cuervo. Buddy bought me a shot of Jose Cuervo at a Jack White concert in 2022. Took a whiff. Almost threw up. Took a sip. I couldn't drink it.
Hello Lui, thanks for that amazing content, we are really spoilt! At some point, you were also recommending Olmeca Altos Tequilas, is it still the case, because they are a lot easier for us Europeans to find (at least in France). Thanks.
I found a bottle of Cimarron blanco and it took the place of Tres Agaves as my Margarita Tequila. It has a ton of flavor and comes through really well in a cocktail.
I’ve tried Cimarron, El Tesoro, and just got some El Tequileno last trip. I found El Tquileno to have a super neutral taste, almost like vodka. It still has that tequila sweetness, I massively prefer cimarron since it has so much more flavor packed into such an affordable bottle. I enjoy a lot of bourbon and Cimarron has so little burn it comparison, it goes down like water. Plus, additive free tequila and pure vodka have the least amount of congeners compared to the likes of whiskey, bourbon, cognac, and rum, meaning ya’ll less likely to get hangovers from those if you’re partying.
This video is an unfair comparison. You have to use the original Jose Cuervo "Tradicional" brand which is 100% agave for a fair comparison. JC might still lose the comparison, but it would be a more fair comparison.
Thanks - nice recommendations. Based on one of your earlier videos, I've been using Cimarron for making cocktails at home (as well as Altos Olmeca). They make great cocktails (such as an El Diablo or a dead man's handle). I will give Arette a shot in the future.
You had two of my favorites. El Tequileno, but I drink the 1959 line that’s number one for me and totally fantastic also Arette, but I drink the the Artisansal line which is terrific. My second favorite tequila is Mala Vida owned by Alex Gonzales the drummer for the Mexican rock band Mana. Mala Vida Reposado can be purchased for $40 while the Arette comes in five dollars more. Both great products and great values. Suerte repo is very very good too and a great value. Looking forward to trying Cobalto and El Mexicano repos in the near future. Both have good price points and are well regarded. Price point is why I’m not a Fortaleza fan. The three I like are can go head to head with Fortaleza in taste and win with your wallet! BTW, can’t believe you drank the Gold straight up. Brave!
Unfortunately, over here in Ontario, Canada our tequila selection is pretty garbage. Managed to and a bottle of El Tesoro Blanco when I was in the states and luckily caught my local liquor store selling a small number of bottles of El Tequileno so nursing those so they last longer.
Hey Lui! Im a huge fan! Im researching tequila.. the only additive free tequila ive had is olmeco Altos.. im going to Philadelphia in a few months and i wanna bring a nice tequila under 50 bucks that i can enjoy over ice but put in a cocktail.. was thinking of the tres agaves blanco.. any other recommendations
Lot's of knowledge on this channel. Thanks for putting in the time! 👍🏼 So I have to imagine you are not a fan of the Jose Cuervo margarita mix either? Would you recommend a mix or do you make yours yourself? If so can you share your recipe or direct me to it? Thanks again! ~ JJ
On your recommendation I tried the Lalo tequila. Bad. Really bad. I finished the bottle in margaritas. I normally use Cazadores or Hornitos for margaritas. Half the price of Lalo. I'd rather sip tequilas from a plastic handle.
My wife and I were having dinner in the bar at a Mexican restaurant last night. I scanned the bar shelf and only saw 1 Tequila that I was interested in trying Mijenta Blanco. A very nice tequila
For me Cimarron has such a distinct palate from among most other blancos of that price range. There is in my opinion a lot of spice and cinnamon I get from it and it’s almost off putting in my margaritas. I think it’s great on its own!
Don Fulano and Cazcanes have a strong cheese or heavy distill taste to me, not bad I actually drink the res Don straight because I like the barrel selection in their aging process but could you give some suggestions on cocktails that let the tequila still stand out? Like El Tesoro in the ole fashioneds is incredible but I don’t think Don stand out in that cocktail well. Maybe something with lime I was thinking? Just looking for ideas. Thanks guys
How would you rank El Tequileño, Arette, and Cimarron for: (A) sipping, and (B) in a cocktail such a margarita? In other words: Which would be choice #1, #2, and #3 in each use case?
I can’t remember the first time I tried Tequila, but I’m pretty sure it was Jose Cuervo. Back then it wasn’t a big deal because I would drink it in Tequila Sunrises. But once I tried Patrón it was all over and now when I smell or taste Cuervo it is pretty rank because I’ve tried so many other brands. Some were good some were bad but if it’s not additive free I probably won’t try it.
El Tequileño's blanco mixto is, in my view, the *only* acceptable mixto in the U.S. market. It's meant as a mixer and not meant to be sipped but it's very serviceable when you need something really cheap. The piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar cones) actually compliments the agave but I find it a bit rough and unrefined for my taste. The only other mixto I know that's worth buying is a Mexico exclusive: San Matias Gran Reserva, and not the U.S. version of the bottle because that's 100% agave.
This was my reaction for years after drinking cheap tequila... the smell would make me wretch. After many years, and working my way to a point I didn't have to buy cheap, I started exploring decent to good tequilas. WORLDS of difference. There are so many much better options you can get without breaking the bank.
The look on your face while pouring this dram bro i don't blame you. How my Mother drank this salty everclear smelling nightmare of a hellish hangover. This reminds me of a really cheap Mezcal i drank 25 years ago Montey Alaban.
A buddy bought me a shot of Jose Cuervo at a Jack White concert. My reaction was similar to yours, I also almost vomited. Thanks for the alternate choices.
I was a bit surprised that you recommend El Tequileno as it is, as you said, not 100% agave. Well, the blanco isn't. The reposado says 100% agave on the label, but is that yet another trick, is it wrong kind of agave? It seems that El Tequileno might be available to me so if you say it's good, I just might buy it and get back to you ;-)
No its just a way for them to make a good budget tequila. It's still additive free even if it isn't 100% agave. It's a mix of Blue Weber agave and Cane sugar alcohol. It's a way for them to make a price accessible good product.
Jose is great for shots because with the salt and kime, one is less likely to taste it. A friend uses the blanco in tequila sunrises because the other ingredients. H8de the raste of the Jose.
The El Tequileno reposado in the round bottle that is like $2 more than the mix to blanco is actually 100% agave, and is waaaayyy better than their mixto. Also, El Tequileno's mixto is somewhere like 65% tequila instead of the 51% of other mixtos.
What are your thoughts on Altos, El Jimador and 1800? There is not much choice in the UK for reasonable price tequila but I go for those instead of Jose Guevo and Sierra which are very popular because of their price.
Olmeca Altos, Arette, Cimarron, Suerte, Tres Agaves, Tapatio, Tromba, and Insolito. Ranging from least ($18-22) to most expensive ($35-45) are all VASTLY BETTER options than Cuervo, Sauza, 1800, Cazadores or any other bottom barrel diffuser garbage. Even better than Casamigos, Teramana, 818, Lobos or Gran Coramino!
Just tried Jose cuervo for the first time 2 nights ago and I couldn't even stomach half a shot. Just smelling it makes me wanna hurl, hell, watching you drink it made me gag
It's not even tequila FFS! This is why people don't like tequila. But it's a recognizable name so seems good, right? Hell, used motor oil tastes better than this crap!
Being polite and not declining shots of JQ in the Army made me think all tequila was nasty until a few yrs ago when some Mexicans gave me real stuff at a party.
Lui I love you but your videos are clearly biased towards anything not confirmed additive free. Telling people you think Cuervo is lying about being the oldest distillery in LA and then giving no reason or proof why you think that is an obvious teller. Along with this, I can tell that every time you taste a tequila on Tequila Matchmaker, you are just reading word for word the aromas/flavors listed on the app lol. I believe in drinking additive free tequilas too, don't get me wrong. But to drink something like a don julio 1942 and say its terrible and people should drink ocho or fortaleza instead is misleading because if someone who doesn't know tequila likes the 1942, they are gonna be incredibly turned off when they taste the additive free ones that aren't as "smooth" tasting to them. You know in a blind taste test, 90% of people will pick the 1942 over fortaleza, it just is what it is. I know you are trying to get people to become tequila purists, but to bash brands and claim things without proof/reasoning is very bad practice
