Why does tequila seem to give such a disguisting hangover while beer/vodka/other party favs on a college campus don’t seem to touch people the next morning? The same number of shots (or equivalent amount of alcohol in beer) can be taken, the effects just don’t seem as nice the next morning. I can pound screw drivers or budweiser all night…give me half a bottle of tequila and the next day i’m hurtin…
Jose Cuervo is crap, that’s why. Try a better tequila. Honestly.
Anyone have a technical explanation, or am I full of it? It seems to me that “cheap” anything gives me bad hangovers if I imbibe just a little too much. But an overdose of “better” quality stuff doesn’t make me suffer so much the next morning. If it were just the alcohol withdrawal contributing to the hangover, it seems brand/quality wouldn’t be important. But I perceive it as indeed being important (that’s where I could be full of crap and subjectivity).
"Try a better tequila. Honestly."Wow, what an insightful answer…
Honestly, jim, eat me…
Jose Cuervo Especial isnt exactly crap- it isn’t liquid gold either…I’m a college student, a $20 bottle of tequila is pretty damn entertaining to me, so if you’d like to test your amazing answer then contact me and send me something expensive-
Does anyone else have something to say about tequila in general, so we can let this dumb response from jim in missouri drop? Would be greatly appreciated- and bibliophage, while this might sound spiteful to jim, his response is in fact a waste of all of our time…if i’m getting busted for not having questions with answers all the time, how about we make some responses have actual answers…
i’d like to see the hangover jim gets after “eating” rico…talk about bad things going down your throat…
i’d also like to thank rico for his entertainment, with recent posts about alcohol, special brownies, crappy love songs and then the response to jim, it makes the boards that much more interesting again. later rico
i’m here to serve the people…(except jim, sorry jim- you mocked my drink)
I don’t have any proof, mind you, but gold tequilas do bad things to me and some other people I ocassionally drink with. We don’t have this problem with the silver tequilas.
A better suggestion would be to lay off the booze entirely. What the fsck are they teaching you in college? “MI” is the abbreviation for “Michigan” you dumb-ass. Okay, my spite to your ignorance being satisfied, let me expound on my “dumb” response in a true and rational manner:
You see, this is why I put in the word “honestly”; you let you know that it was a sincere suggestion, taken from my own personal experience. You’re obviously open to drinking other things: “beer/vodka/other party favs.” You obviously prefer tequila, and I have to credit your good taste; there’s nothing better. You expressed the same truth that I perceive, namely, that certain things will make you suffer worse in the morning.
Jeesh, I didn’t say “tasted like crap;” I said it is crap. In any case, I didn’t recommend Porfidio, which is both expensive and crap. A very good lower cost tequila is Sauza Conmemorativo (the brown label bottle; not the green label which isn’t Conmemorativo). It’s $25 in these parts, but you’ll find that it’s worth the extra $5.
I’ll reference my original response, where I think I clarified, civilized, and added a little class to your appeal:
So, (honestly) does anyone have anything to contribute? What contents contribute to the severity of a hangover? Aside from being able to convince rico776 to switch to a non-crap tequila 
we can all learn something. I’m genuinely curious. I don’t think it’s just the alcohol; there must be some other consideration.
Jose Cuervo has coloring added to make it “gold”. This is to make it look more palatable to college kids who buy it in great quantities without regard to the fact that it is crap.
It also is not a 100% blue agave tequila. This means that a portion of the sugars used in fermentation are not from the blue agave plant, but are usually corn syrup.
With blue agave plants being more scarce than sugar cane, you will have to pay more for tequila made from 100% blue agave.
Sauza Conmemorativa is also not 100% agave, but it is quite a step up from Jose. Sauza Hornitos is the 100% agave in the same price range, and is the “green bottle” referred to above.
Even though these two tequilas are much more drinkable than Jose, they are still on the lower end of the scale, relatively speaking. I relegate their use to mixing Margaritas.
Margarita: 2 shots (Decent!) Tequila
1 shot Cointreau or Triple Sec
1 shot fresh sqeezed lime juice
Serve over ice, not slushed in a blender, in a salted rim
glass.
A proper Margarita doesn’t have any foul “Margarita mix” involved. You will also note that these are quite expensive compared to the “bucket o’ Margaritas” down at the local dive.
This deadly soup of mixes aslo adds to the hangover experience.
For drinking, try some Herradura Silver or Silver Patron. These are good tequilas for drinking straight. A little more expensive (~$40).
Jose Cuervo does make some higher end reposado and anejo tequilas, I have never had the guts to try them.
I echo what Balthisar said…if you want to drink tequila without feeling like you have been hit by a Tijuana taxi, stop drinking the rot-gut stuff.
And my scientific proof?? Field research.
Jose Cuervo has coloring added to make it “gold”. This is to make it look more palatable to college kids who buy it in great quantities without regard to the fact that it is crap.
It also is not a 100% blue agave tequila. This means that a portion of the sugars used in fermentation are not from the blue agave plant, but are usually corn syrup.
With blue agave plants being more scarce than sugar cane, you will have to pay more for tequila made from 100% blue agave.
Sauza Conmemorativa is also not 100% agave, but it is quite a step up from Jose. Sauza Hornitos is the 100% agave in the same price range, and is the “green bottle” referred to above.
Even though these two tequilas are much more drinkable than Jose, they are still on the lower end of the scale, relatively speaking. I relegate their use to mixing Margaritas.
Margarita: 2 shots (Decent!) Tequila
1 shot Cointreau or Triple Sec
1 shot fresh sqeezed lime juice
Serve over ice, not slushed in a blender, in a salted rim
glass.
A proper Margarita doesn’t have any foul “Margarita mix” involved. You will also note that these are quite expensive compared to the “bucket o’ Margaritas” down at the local dive.
This deadly soup of mixes aslo adds to the hangover experience.
For drinking, try some Herradura Silver or Silver Patron. These are good tequilas for drinking straight. A little more expensive (~$40).
Jose Cuervo does make some higher end reposado and anejo tequilas, I have never had the guts to try them.
I echo what Balthisar said…if you want to drink tequila without feeling like you have been hit by a Tijuana taxi, stop drinking the rot-gut stuff.
And my scientific proof?? Field research.
Congeners (which is what makes it mezcal/tequila, rum, vodka, gin, whiskey/scotch, rather than 40% ethanol-water solution) seem to be the key players. Also, experience and general observation tend to point to adequate hydration and nourishment during and after the drinking as an important factor in minimizing the aftermath whatever the drink-of-choice.
That said, I will side with Balthisar and the Duke in that it IS true, better-quality tequila will provide a more moderate morning-after experience, even amazingly so if you’re more familiar with the ususal American-market mezcal-for-the-masses. Better ingredients and procedures make it possible to avoid unnecessary roughness w/o losing any character (something we can all benefit from, really)
Gee, you really are hurting aren’t you? :wally
Anyway, in my experience Balthisar is absolutely correct; Cuervo is crap. Whenever I drink Cuervo, I feel terrible the next day, but if I drink something good like Silver Patron, I feel fine. Similarly I have experienced the same effect with cheap whiskey vs. good whiskey or scotch, with cheap vs. good vodkas and even with the elixir of life: grappa.
If you don’t believe this, why not try an experiment and “pound” some good stuff instead of the crap. Others in this thread have given you some recommendations that are not much more expensive than Cuervo.
Pay attention, kid, you might learn something.
Cuervo Gold is a low quality tequila and in my experience is much more likely to give you a hangover. Cuervo 1800 is more expensive but is an anejo blend. It goes down a lot easier and your head will thank you the next day. On the exteme end of the Curevo family you’ll find the Reserva. It’s pure anejo but also about $80 a bottle. It’s as smooth a drink as you’ll ever find but not worth the price tag.
I rarely drink alcohol and when I do, it’s premium tequlia. I won’t touch the low end stuff 'cause it makes me ill.
Haj
Hey, you guys sound like some fellow tequila lovers, but I do have a stupid question about it that’s not worth starting another thread.
I’ll admit that something called “1800” tastes pretty good straight (that’s exclusively how I sip my tequila). I’ve been told it’s Cuervo, and I’ve heard of Cuervo 1800. But, can anyone tell me conclusively if the 1800 I’m thinking about really, truly is Cuervo? Here’s the description:
The bottle is the typical 1800-looking, squared off bottle. There is NO REFERENCE whatsoever to Cuervo anywhere on the bottle. Not a single word. A trademark would advertise that fact, right? I remember with certainty that it was distilled in Zapotlanejo, Jalisco because we stopped there to eat once at a truly awesome hovel of a place.
I’ll have to try the other tequilas some of you mentioned – I take it Silver means Blanco (I never noticed; I ususally stay clear of the blancos). Herradura’s good, but I only know reposado and/or añejo. I never new that Sauza Hornitos was 100% agave; it’s usually a couple of dollars cheaper than the Conmemorativo reposado, so I never bothered to try it, but now maybe I will.
Because of the agave shortage, a lot of typically “100% agave” tequilas no longer bear that mark. The most tragic loss (I feel) is Corralejo reposado. Still excellent and reasonably-priced for not being 100% agave. I went to the Corralejo distillery in December hoping to get the añejo, but they told me it was for export only! So if anyone sees it (red bottle instead of blue), let me know…
…and Duke of Rat, we have a Jose Cuervo Tequileria at the Detroit airport. That’s just the name; it’s really a restaurant. Aside from serving Negra Modelo, they offer Cuervo tequila exclusively. Some of the higher-end stuff is pretty good. At least I think so. That sampler of seven or so types of Cuervo may have affected my judgement by time I got to the “good” stuff. I don’t think I’d buy it in a non-locked-in-the-airport-for-two-hours-with-nothing-to-do situation, though.
Insults are not permitted outside the BBQ Pit. You may consider yourselves warned.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
Balthisar
There will be a NOM designation on each bottle of tequila. Write the number down and you can Google the NOM and it will tell you the name of the distiller who made the tequila.
Sauza is NOM 1102 for example.
This Site has some reviews of different tequilas by NOM.
Have fun!
It honestly doesn’t matter what brand of tequila you purchase, as long as somewhere on the bottle it says “100% blue agave.” It’s the caramel coloring and grain alcohol (and yes the additional cogeners) that get added to stuff like “gold” tequilas that make you feel like cagada.
Reposado tequila is 100% blue agave that has been given a little aging in oak barrels. It takes on a slightly yellowish hue and is a bit more expensive than blanco, or unaged clear tequila.
Anejo has been given signigficantly more barrel aging and is closer to “gold” tequila in appearance. It is very smooth but pricey.
Basically barrel aging mellows the tequila and the wood imparts natural and flavorful compunds (cogeners) that enhance the drink.
I recently had occassion to share a few drinks with noted spirtis expert Gary Regan and was pleased to find out that he and I both shared a favorite bargain tequila: Jose Cuervo Tradicional, in fact. It’s a reposado and about $30 a bottle it’s got great wood flavors with a nice vanilla undertone and just a hint of fresh herbs. Great for sipping straight and superb in a margarita (which should always be shaken with ice and served ice cold, but never frozen or on the rocks.) The above recipe otherwise works: Two parts tequila to one part lime juice and one part orange liquer of choice (triple sec, curcao, or Grand Marinier).
Amateurs…Gold Cuervo is good tequila, maybe not top of the top shelf but definitely NOT crap.
If you don’t believe me try some aztec or any of a dozen other brands that go for cheap. (A 5th or a quart of Cuervo Gold is around $20, A half gallon of Aztec is $12, here in Texas anyway)
First off tequila is a drug categorized w/ the hallucinogens. THAT is why it fucks you up like it does. It’s not a typical hangover like is experienced with simple alcohols. You need to build up a tolerance level to be successful at drinking tequila.
If you ARE getting a BAD experience in the AM it’s probably the crap you have mixed with the tequila. Tequila should be drank cold and straight. If you need to chase the taste a bite of lime will usually do it.
Margaritas mixed properly are the gods nectar BUT lookout…most people will overdose and suffer from minor alcohol poisoning and have w/drawl symptoms due to the direct connection that tequila has on your central nervous system.
THAT’S right! YOU have a neurotransmitter receptacle that accepts tequila perfectly…so beware. It’s not a kids drinks and if you think it’s nasty, well that’s cool too. Go back to your mudslides and banana daquiris. Leave the hard shit for someone that appreciates it.
1800 Cuervo makes pretty good drinks, but it’s a little too smooth for me. I like the taste of tequila. I met an old mexican man in the Sierra Madres, he used to make his own and got me started on it many years ago.
Granted, there are more expensive and smoother tasting tequilas out there. But don’t think they’ll treat you any better, ALL tequila will mess you up if you don’t watch it.
BTW: I go through about a gallon of Jose’ Cuervo Especial per month, sometimes a little more. I buy it in Mexico whenever I’m down there.
Hmmm…I wonder if that makes a difference.
AND NEVER DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE it will sneak up and bite you in the ass
THANKS TO DEVENA- finally an answer that isb’t based off the level of tequila, rather the fact that it IS tequila and not beer…jim, i don’t have much to say to you, the missouri thing was a mistake i made at 3am (i think anything that late is acceptable)-