Upgrade your liquor cabinet with these 4 Tequilas:
TANTEO HABANERO TEQUILA ($40)
Tanteo Habanero, which delivers maximum heat and flavour instantly. The habanero, being much spicier on the Scoville scale than its jalapeño cousin, is responsible for the sustained heat you’ll feel while you work through your drink. I recommend having fun and playing with your spicy margarita by experimenting with a multitude of citrus (I’ve found that HoneyBell oranges, in season mid-winter, bring a burst of tropical flavours while taming the heat). And adding “offbeat” and unconventional garnishes can often be delightful. Or you can try to replicate The Ivy’s spicy cucumber margarita with serrano chiles. What have you got to lose?
SANTERA REPOSADO ($51)
Santera Reposado has been aged for approximately seven months in new American oak barrels—and it’s got a little more going for it in terms of its flavour profile. It’s not as grassy, floral, or herbaceous as one would expect. It tends to align itself more with warming spices such as cinnamon and black peppercorns—with a touch of heat and sweetness.
CUTWATER BLANCO ($35)
The fantastic thing about liquor—and wine—is that it’s possible to find something good within any price range. So when it comes to a reliable tequila that’ll never disappoint you, Cutwater Blanco is the way to go. Despite its modest price, the Blanco is made of 100-per cent blue Weber agave and is cooked in a traditional brick oven, the old-fashion way—before it’s left to nature so open and natural fermentation can do its magic.
TEQUILA OCHO BARREL SELECT 2020: TROPICAL ($80)
It’s aged in rum casks from Fiji, Trinidad, and Panama—giving the resulting añejo a creamy yet spice-forward profile. It’s easy to catch hints of cinnamon, clove, and dark chocolate on the palate. Also the long finish makes it doubly pleasurable. It also doesn’t hurt that its price range is reasonable.
