Raise a glass to agave’s beautiful creation, tequila. Today marks the happy day when everyone can enjoy the floral, slightly sweet, slightly fruity liqueur made from blue weber agave in Mexico’s Tequila near Guadalajara. Unlike vodka, which is meant to be pure and free of flavor, the beauty of tequila is that it has flavor, becoming an integral element to the cocktails it enhances, whether it be sweet, savory, or spicy. So raise a glass!

When buying Anejo Tequila, meant for sipping slowly, splurge for the good stuff. Your palate and your hangover will thank you. We love Roca Patron and Don Julio Anejo.

For clean, light cocktails, like when mixing up Ranch Water, a quality tequila is recommended, like Casamigos, Casa Dragones, or Teremana.

For cocktails with many other ingredients, like mixing Margaritas or Bloody Marias, good entry-level tequila is absolutely fine (even Costco’s Kirkland Blanco Tequila.) We also like Herradura and Cazadores.

#Cheers!

Classic Margarita
2 oz. Herradura Reposado Tequila
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. Lime juice
Preparation: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice. Shake and strain into a Margarita glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and salt.

Ranch Water
Ingredients for one cocktail:
2 ounces Don Julio Blanco Tequila
squeeze of lime
Topo Chico mineral water
1 or 2 thin slices of fresh jalapeno (optional)
Preparation: Add ice to a tall Collins glass. Add the tequila, jalapeno, and squeeze of lime. Top with Topo Chico, stir, and enjoy.

Bloody Maria
2 ounces Cazadores Blanco or Reposado Tequila
4 ounces tomato juice
1/2 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 tablespoon prepared horseradish, to taste
5 dashes Worcestershire sauce (we love a lot of Worchesershire)
2 dashes Tapatio hot sauce
1 pinch celery salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
squeeze of fresh lime
Preparation: Add all ingredients to an ice-filled shaker and shake to chill. Strain over fresh ice in a Collins glass.