Tequila Taste Test

Which is the best?

Tequila has become my favorite liquor. It is only fitting that a rugged dude would favor a beverage distilled from a tough North American native, like agave. I grow a few small, young agaves as houseplants. The tequila agave is no houseplant. Agave tequilano can grow over 15' tall and wide with a flower stalk towering to 30'.

Tequila is made from the heart of mature plant. Leaves are stripped and the heavy heart is heated to remove the sap. The distilled sap is made into tequila. Mezcal is made from a similar process, but is consider a more traditional drink. (Mezcal is lighter, smoother, and not as potent.)

I have had great tequilas in fine restaurants and bars from Brooklyn to San Diego, from Vancouver Island to Tampa Bay, and from San Antonio to Ottawa. Yet the varieties are so numerous I can't consider myself an expert like some people. For example, while at a bar this year I was scolded by strangers for drinking Jose Cuervo instead of Patron. I argued that 1800 Silver was as good as Patron, but I was mocked. Finally, they bought me a shot of Patron for my trouble, but I was still unconvinced that Patron was markedly better than any other. (If it costs twice as much, it should be twice as good. Right?)

My sister always buys quality goods. So once she knew I liked tequila, she always had something new for me to try. Even her work friends got involved. Carlos Urquiola brought in a bottle of Casadores for me. It was quality. But it is hard to compare liquors from month to month. So In November, Tee, April, and I decided to have our own taste test. Below are the results rated from 1 - 5.

Last month April, Tee, and Jennifer decided to continue without me. Clearly they had a good time. The lushes drank all the 1800 Silver 100proof and I'm worried about the Milagro Reposado.

 

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	Name	Comments	Rating
	Milagro Reposado	Aged tequila. Smallest bottle, but best taste! Smooth, mildly sweet, and stout. I highly recommend this variety. It would be fantastic in mixed drinks, but I prefer it straight. Definitely one of the best liquors I have ever imbibed.	4.5
	1800 Silver 100proof	I typically buy 1800 Silver and I like it. The 100proof variety is even better. The bottle is smaller but the drink is more potent, so 750 ml will do just fine. A quality drank.	4
	Jose Cuervo Platino	Jose is an old friend. This is his silver platinum version. I enjoyed reading the history notes on the bottle and the wooden box is neat, but the taste was only average. It gets the sideways thumb.	2.5
	Milagro Silver	The opposite of Milagro Reposado. Harsh and funky. This is the kind of liquor that gives you headaches. Definitely not for drinking straight.	1
	Casadores	Above average tequila. I need another bottle for a fair comparison.	3