Luxury Tequila & Cocktails
Thursday, May 5 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm EDT
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican culture that means many things to many people. But to us, it’s all about that famous blue agave juice from Jalisco, more commonly known (and heartily consumed) as Tequila. We run this class before every year. It’s a Wine School tradition. After all, luxury tequila is one of the best things in life.
We’ll taste through a selection of the finest small producer blanco, reposado, and anejo varieties, as well as provide insider tips — demonstration included– for making the perfect tequila cocktail. Put down that margarita mix, register for the class, and become a tequila aficionado.
Previous Tasting Sheets for our Luxury Tequila Class
May 2019
Blanco with Sangrita
Agave de Cortes Joven Mezcal
El Tesoro de Don Felipe Blanco Tequila
Cocktails
Paloma
tequila, agave, grapefruit soda
Margarita
tequila, triple sec, agave, lime
Barrel-Aged
Don Julio Añejo
Ayate Reposado Tequila
May 2018
Paloma
1 ounce tequila, 3 ounce soda
Margarita
1 oz Tequila, 1/4 oz lime juice, 1/2oz orange liqueur
Matador
1 oz tequila, 3 oz grapefruit/orange juice, 1/4 ounce lime juice
Blanco
1. Agave de Cortes Joven Mezcal
2. 123 Tequila “Uno” Blanco Tequila
Barrel-Aged
1. Siembra Azul “10th Anniversary” Reposado
2. Don Julio Añejo
May 2017
Infusion
Strawberry-Cucumber Tequila
The Essential Cocktails
1. Tequila & Tonic
2. Splashy Margarita
The Essential Spirits
White
1. 123 Organic “Uno” Blanco Tequila
2. Alipus “San Juan del Rio” Mezcal
Brown
1. Corzo Anjeo Tequilla
2. Siembra Azul 10th Anniversary Reposado Tequila
May 2016
The Classic Cocktails
Margarita
Tequila blanco, agave syrup, fresh lime juice, salt
Paloma
Fresh grapefruit juice, tequila blanco, blood orange soda
Tequila is Mezcal, but Philly?
1. Alipus San Juan Mezcal Blanco
2. Siembra Azul Tequila Blanco
Mexican Whiskey, Pennsylvania Oak
1. Casamigos Tequila Añejo
2. Corzo Tequila Añejo
May 2013
The Cocktails
Blood Orange Paloma (blanco tequila, blood orange soda, and lime)
Margarita (blanco tequila, Triple Sec, and lime)
Matador (blanco tequila, unsweetened pineapple juice, and lime)
Luxury Tequila
1. Corzo Tequila Silver
Luxury & Oak
1. Casamigos Blanco Tequila
2. Casamigos Anejo Tequila
May 2012
Santa Carla (Tequila Collins)
ice
2 ounces silver tequila
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
3 dashes grapefruit bitters
sparkling water such as San Pellegrino
garnish: lemon wheel and mint sprig
Procedures
Fill Collins glass with ice. Add tequila, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters directly into the glass, top with sparkling water and stir gently. Garnish with lemon wheel and mint sprig.
Elderflower Tequila Slipper
Ice
2 ounces silver tequila
1 1/4 ounces elderflower liqueur, preferably St-Germain
4 dashes grapefruit bitters
1 slice of grapefruit
Combine tequila, elderflower liqueur, and bitters in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir until chilled, and strain into a coupe. Garnish with grapefruit.
Siesta ( Hemingway Daiquiri)
ice
2 ounces silver tequila
1/2 ounce Campari
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
garnish: grapefruit twist
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add tequila, Campari, lime juice, grapefruit juice, and simple syrup. Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with grapefruit twist.
Rose #4 (Margarita)
Salt, for rimming the glass (optional)
Ice
1 1/2 ounces tequila blanco
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 ounce Cointreau (not Triple Sec)
If using salt, place in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a rocks glass with a dampened paper towel, then dip in salt. Fill the glass with ice; add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau; and stir a few times until chilled. Serve immediately.
All the King’s Men
ice
1 1/2 ounces reposado tequila
1/2 ounce Amaro
1/2 ounce ruby port (we like Noval Black)
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar
1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 to 2 ounces ginger beer
For garnish: 1 paper-thin slice fresh ginger, 2 blackberries (optional)
1 Combine the tequila, Averna, port, honey, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Cover and shake for 10 seconds.
2 Fill a Collins glass with ice. Simultaneously strain the mixture and pour the ginger beer into the glass. (Or strain mixture into glass, top off with ginger beer, and stir gently.) Garnish with ginger slice and blackberries. Serve immediately.