Ray Isle, senior editor at Food & Wine magazine, says stash the Margarita mix, rinse out the good glasses, and pour one of the new luxury class tequilas meant for sipping straight up. Here are some to get you started:
Blanco: The finest tequilas made from 100% blue agave. They're expensive and worth it. Try Certeza Blanco ($40), a peppery sip with a slightly sweet finish.
Añejo: These aged tequilas are required by Mexican law to spend at least a year in oak barrels. Some remain much longer. Sip neat or with a single ice cube. Look for El Diamante del Cielo Añejo ($60). The aging time for this 100% blue agave is two to four years. Notes of vanilla and pepper star in this pale amber libation.
Reposado: Lighter than añejos and richer than blancos, Reposados spend two to twelve months in wood. Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Reposado ($80) is one to try. This triple-distilled 100% blue agave, aged for ten months in new oak, marries oakey vanilla with bright and minty vegetable flavors.
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