Which tequila to use for mixing

[Mike S.]

Jeff, if you like the Herradura style (I certainly do), you MUST try to find the 100% agave El Jimador bottlings. If we were talking wine (esp. Red Bordeaux), we'd call El Jimador the "second label" of Casa Herradura -- (nearly) just as good for (nearly) half the price. I know they make El Jimador blanco and reposado, both at ~$20/750 around me, but I can't recall seeing an anejo. Outstanding product, great price-point, hard to go wrong. My wife does not drink much, but she do like some Margaritas, so we've been running taste-test comparisons with a variety of reasonably-priced 100% agave blancos over the past months. Bar none, the El Jimador Reposado is her favorite (and she can pick it out blind, without fail).

Other bargains that scored very well (for me, anyway) are:

Casa San Matias “Pueblo Viejo”

Tierra de Agaves “Lunazul”

Neither one of us were much impressed with the value-priced “Tenampa Azul” bottling from Gran Centenario. I know others love this stuff, but our bottle will probably become taco meat seasoning (not a bad thing!).

[Corinna]

My brother brought me a bottle of Aha Toro tequila from Mexico for my birthday. Is anyone here familiar with it? Is it appropriate to use as a mixer?

TIA.

[TexasCocktailGeek]

Bobby Heugel (of Anvil in Houston) has some pointers on tequila here (near the end of the article). I haven't tried the Siembra Azul Blanco (his recommendation), but it's on my list. I've seen it on the shelf at Spec's on Smith St. for about $36.

[Chris Amirault]

Is anyone using the Lunazul blanco? We have it at work as the well tequila right now. At home, just got my first bottle of Milagro blanco; haven't started fiddling with that yet.

[brinza]

Is anyone using the Lunazul blanco? We have it at work as the well tequila right now. At home, just got my first bottle of Milagro blanco; haven't started fiddling with that yet.

I've only had the Lunazul reposodo which lent itself quite well to mixing, but I imagine the blanco is good too. I've also had the Milagro blanco and that's a very nice tequila, and a decent price for a 100% blue agave.

Disclaimer: I'm not much of a connoisseur of tequila, so take my assessments with a lick of salt.

[Chris Amirault]

It's quite good. The in-laws particularly liked its round character -- no sharp edges. Me, I am pining for that Chinaco blanco I ran out of the other day....

[Chris Hennes]

Wait, which? The Lunazul or the Milagro?

[Chris Amirault]

Sorry.

We use Lunazul blanco at work as the well tequila and I like it just fine. But I was talking about the Milagro blanco.

[KatieLoeb]

We've been using the El Jimador reposado at work lately. It's pretty tasty. Sadly, the PLCB has raised the price of the Siembra Azul astronomically.

At home, I've been working my way through a bottle of Gran Centenario Blanco a friend brought me back from Mexico. It's quite delicious and seems to be available here as well.

[Mike S.]

Both the Lunazul blanco and reposado are very, very good at their price points. Highly recommended, along with the 100% agave El Jimadors.

[Human Bean]

I agree with Mike S - Lunazul reposado is a nice bargain tequila for sipping (I'm not much on the spendy stuff, it tends to get used up too quickly). I haven't dome much mixing with it though.

I don't like El Jimador as much for sipping, but it makes a damn fine paloma. They say that theirs is the "authentic" paloma recipe. I don't know about that, but it's definitely tasty.

[eje]

It's not cheap, but I sure do like Charbay's Tequila.

My current favorite Blanco.

Smooth and well distilled. Nice vegetal apple/pear character. Incredible length. Very tasty.