# Recommend a good Tequila **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067 "2005-12-17T17:22:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/1 "2005-12-17T17:22:17Z")
Any Tequila snobs out there to recommend a good bottle that I don’t have to go to Mexico for? ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/2 "2005-12-17T19:11:49Z")
I’m more of a vodka girl myself, but I am rather fond of 1800 Reposado. It’s the only tequila I can drink that doesn’t make me regret it in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/3 "2005-12-17T19:15:44Z")
Don Eduardo is nice and smooth. Chinaco is more flavorful. Patron is one of the big-name good tequilas, so it may be easier to find. (I’m speaking of silver tequilas; it’s been a long time since I’ve drunk much anejo.) ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/4 "2005-12-17T19:25:51Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > Don Eduardo is nice and smooth. > Chinaco is more flavorful. > Patron is one of the big-name good tequilas, so it may be easier to find. > > (I’m speaking of silver tequilas; it’s been a long time since I’ve drunk much anejo.) I rather like 1800 silver. It has a really good flavor, has never given me a hangover or made me sick, and it is in a pretty bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/5 "2005-12-17T19:36:06Z")
My roommate speaks highly of Cabo Wabo tequila (his favorite brand), and says Patron isn’t bad either. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/6 "2005-12-17T20:20:46Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > Don Eduardo is nice and smooth. > Chinaco is more flavorful. > Patron is one of the big-name good tequilas, so it may be easier to find. > > (I’m speaking of silver tequilas; it’s been a long time since I’ve drunk much anejo.) So what is the difference between silver and gold tequila? Barrels that the old stuff was stored in? Some Cuervo 1800 is gold colored but not advertized as being old, some is silver, and some is gold and advertised as anejo. Oh, and to clarify… $50 bottles are out of the price range. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/7 "2005-12-17T20:43:14Z")
I’m rather partial to Tres Generaciones Añejo. Herradura also makes a rather nice añejo. Don’t care much for anthing “silver”. Not enough body to the taste. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/8 "2005-12-18T00:40:30Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > So what is the difference between silver and gold tequila? Barrels that the old stuff was stored in? Silver = aged only a little bit (weeks, not months) Anejo = aged significantly (over a year, potentially more) Reposado = aged up to a year Gold = silver + food coloring I personally see no real point in drinking gold or reposado–I figure, if you want aged tequila, then get genuinely aged tequila. The choice of silver vs. anejo is a matter of personal taste. On another note, do we have to remind you to only get bottles that say “100% agave”? ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/9 "2005-12-18T00:59:46Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > The choice of silver vs. anejo is a matter of personal taste. > > On another note, do we have to remind you to only get bottles that say “100% agave”? Personal taste, and, apparently, at least $15/bottle. I was going to ask why you preferred the silver, but I then I reasoned that your answer would be “Because I like how it tastes.” Which wouldn’t be much help. I did know to look for 100% agave, but you had no way to know that so thanks for the note. Many many moons ago I noticed the difference between 100% agave (no idea what brand) vs cheap bar label tequila. Looking to get some Tequila for **BoringMom** ’s strawberry margaritas, I said “Hey! Been a long time. Maybe I should get some good tequila to go with my authentic Mexican food purchased at Taco Bell.” But then I faced _THE WALL OF TEQUILA!_ at the liquor store, and panicked. Wife got premixed Jose Cuervo Tequila mix, and I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/10 "2005-12-18T01:00:34Z")
**Hunter Hawk** pretty much has it. Except Añejo will have natural color from being aged in an oak cask. Cheap stuff like Jose Cuervo has the artificial carmel coloring (it’s often called “gold”), and should be avoided. If you’re trying to stay pure, at any rate. If you’re just making margaritas, use whatever cheap crap you want. Sometime go to a nice bar and try Blanco (silver), Reposado and Añejo. See what you like. It’s ok to have it with some lemon or lime & salt, but even though it’s served in a shot glass, quality tequila shouldn’t be a shot. Sip it. Savor it. People who order a shot of tequila and then actually toss it back in one gulp are crass. It’s probably best to pass on any bottle with a worm in it. That’s Mezcal anyway, and the worm is just a gag. I mean that in both senses. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/11 "2005-12-18T04:36:32Z")
I like the silver best because it has more of the agave flavor. Aging seems to dim that flavor or mask it. If I want barrel flavor in my liquor, I drink whiskey. The sharper agave flavor is pleasant unlike the raw flavor of many unaged spirits. Also, I much prefer to use a mixture of blue curacao and agavero instead of cointreau in my margaritas. The silver tequila makes for a prettier drink than the others would. ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/12 "2005-12-18T09:24:10Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > Silver = aged only a little bit (weeks, not months) > Anejo = aged significantly (over a year, potentially more) > Reposado = aged up to a year > Gold = silver + food coloring > > I personally see no real point in drinking gold or reposado–I figure, if you want aged tequila, then get genuinely aged tequila. The choice of silver vs. anejo is a matter of personal taste. > > On another note, do we have to remind you to only get bottles that say “100% agave”? Silver/Blanco is not aged at all. If it were aged, it would have color to it from the barrels. Reposado is good for mixing when you don’t want the harsh (IMO) taste of blanco. This is what I usually use for margaritas (usually Cazadores, which is pretty good and can be found for about $30 for a liter at Costco). ---
**Author:** ![Exploding\_Kitchen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Exploding\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exploding_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/13 "2005-12-18T09:45:44Z")
Patron is my choice for blanco tequila. And yes, sip it. It’s tequila to enjoy, not tequila to get smashed on. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/14 "2005-12-20T03:15:10Z")
> [@spiralscratch](#): > > Silver/Blanco is not aged at all. If it were aged, it would have color to it from the barrels. Cite? My sources say that is aged, just not very much. Dale DeGroff notes that it’s held in stainless steel tanks rather than in wood, which would account for the lack of color. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/15 "2005-12-20T07:16:19Z")
> [@Exploding Kitchen](#): > > Patron is my choice for blanco tequila. And yes, sip it. It’s tequila to enjoy, not tequila to get smashed on. Another vote for Patron. 1800 is a half step above quervo gold… 4 steps below patron. ---
**Author:** ![spiralscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@spiralscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spiralscratch)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/16 "2005-12-20T07:54:04Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > Cite? My sources say that is aged, just not very much. Dale DeGroff notes that it’s held in stainless steel tanks rather than in wood, which would account for the lack of color. [http://www.itequila.org/types.htm](http://www.itequila.org/types.htm) I would suspect that holding tequila in a stainless steel tank would be equivalent to a bottle. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/17 "2005-12-24T04:07:59Z")
> [@Eleusis](#): > > Another vote for Patron. > > 1800 is a half step above quervo gold… 4 steps below patron. Yet another vote for Patron No salt or lime needed very smooth with no bite $40 a bottle - not your slamming shots Tequila ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-tequila/336067/18 "2005-12-24T05:45:20Z")
If Don Julio is available in any form, then that’s what I’d recommend. I prefer the añejo but the reposado and blanco are top notch too. Also Cuervo Tradicional is nice and it won’t break the bank.