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 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 and provide insider tips — demonstration included– for making the perfect tequila cocktail. So 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 of silver tequila
1-ounce fresh lemon juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup
3 dashes of 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 a lemon wheel and mint sprig.

Elderflower Tequila Slipper
Ice
2 ounces of silver tequila
1 1/4 ounces elderflower liqueur, preferably St-Germain
4 dashes of 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 of 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 a 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 it in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of a rock’s 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 of ginger beer
For garnish: 1 paper-thin slice of 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 a glass, top off with ginger beer, and stir gently.) Garnish with ginger slices and blackberries. Serve immediately.