Dumb question about Tequila

[Dave1982]

Ok, as I've noted a few times now, I don't usually drink. However, when I do drink, I like to have something that tastes good and is made right; quality vs quantity, you know?

I was at the liquor store today and they had nips of Jose Cuervo plata tequila (ie silver/white tequila). On a whim, I grabbed a couple, figuring I'd use them to make a margarita, which I'd never tried before. I already have real Cointreau and a still-fresh bag of limes, so at $1 each, I figured I didn't have anything to lose.

Until now, I'd never had tequila of any kind.

Now, here's my stupid question. Is tequila supposed to smell and taste - literally - like someone put a cigarette out in it? I am dead serious. It tasted like that. I took one sip and had to pour the rest out.

$1.50 worth of Cointreau wasted.......

I know Jose Cuervo isn't exactly quality tequila, but oh my GOD, I didn't think it'd be THAT BAD.

So, did I just make a poor brand choice or is this what it's supposed to be like?

[lupo pazzesco]

Poor brand choice, IMO. But then, I don't really much care for white/silver tequila, personally. They're the harshest kind, at least that I'm aware of. I prefer the reposado or anedo varieties, personally. They're aged, so they're not quite as harsh as the plata, or white/silver varieties. My personal favorite is Cabo Wabo, or, if I can't find that, Patron. I've heard really good things about the Don Julio and the Trago, which are far, far FAR out of my price range. Hell, I only get tequila once a year, if I'm lucky, and I make the bottle last as long as possible, within reasonable limits, of course.

My long winded babbling is my way of saying I'd never drink Cuervo. I don't think it's supposed to smell or taste anything like you've described though, but YMMV.

Sorry you had a bad experience with one of my favorite liquors.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Now, here's my stupid question. Is tequila supposed to smell and taste - literally - like someone put a cigarette out in it? I am dead serious. It tasted like that. I took one sip and had to pour the rest out.

Well....yeah, kinda. I've yet to come across any kind of tequila I'd drink straight.

Margaritas as a drink are okay but I'm not huge on them. I'll stick to my Jamesons thankyouverymuch.

[Dave1982]

I didn't drink it straight. I took a whiff and should have capped it up and given it to my worst enemy, but I'd (stupidily) already put the Cointreau and lime juice in the shaker, so I went ahead and added the tequila, shook away, and gave it a go.

I should've put in some cranberry juice and citrus vodka instead and turned it into a Cosmo. At least then the Cointreau wouldn't have gone to waste.

I should also note that I've heard silver tequilas are better for margaritas than aged tequilas because much of the character of the aging will be lost in a mixed drink.

[edible_hat]

I thoguht it was supposed to taste like a mixture of turps and metho.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've never been a fan of tequila. The only margarita I ever liked was a strawberry one that was heavy on the strawberry...so you couldn't taste much of anything else. Gimme a vodka drink over tequila any day.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I am a tequila drinker. All cactus juice is NOT created equal. Tequila, like any other spirit, has a flavor you will either like or not. I personally dislike the taste of gin and scotch. Some of my scotch drinking buddies detest tequila. It's a matter of personal taste.

Having said that, different tequilas taste differently. A cheap tequila will probably taste fine in a mixed drink. If you want to drink it straight, you might want to go with a more expensive bottle. Sauza Hornitos is a fairly inexpensive bottle that is VERY nice, and if you like tequila you can probably drink straight. Has a light, citrusy flavor. Patron gold, fairly expensive, is very smooth. It may be my favorite. Cabo Wabo is very smooth, too, but it has a more pronounced "tequila" flavor than the Patron. I personally love the stuff, but it's not cheap so it's an infrequent treat. And across the board, I definately prefer a gold tequila to a silver one.

Cuervo has a new cheap tequila on the market now, Jose Cuervo Black. It's a little harsh for drinking straight, but since it's aged in oak barrels like whiskey, it's good with coke, much like a Jack and Coke. I also actually use it to cook with, it's good on grilled meats because it has a strong, whiskey-like sweetness.

My advice to you is to go to a bar and order some tequila shots of very good quality cactus before you decide you dislike it. A shot of Patron will run you about 10 or 15 bucks, but it's cheaper than buying a bottle of it and at least you can taste what it's like.

You might just dislike it. Or you might just not have found any you like yet.

[Dave1982]

I take it then, that a decent brand will NOT taste like it was steeped in an ashtray?

I'll have to see if I can get a nip of a decent brand to try again.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Nosir, it does not. At least as far as I'm concerned.

It does seem to have an odd mouthfeel that other liquors don't have, which to me is part of it's appeal.

Make no mistake, I've sampled some stuff that was too harsh even for me. And I can throw back oven cleaner.

[Jester]

As a margarita drinker and one of the resident CS.com bartenders, I feel I have to comment here. (Also because, let's face it, I always have an opinion on things. Especially booze-type things!)

First, Jose Cuervo is utter crap. Chances are good that whatever the well tequila is at your favorite bar, it is on par with or better than Cuervo. I credit the folks at Cuervo, though, for having done a fine marketing job. They have convinced the majority of the American public that Jose Cuervo is actually good tequila.

It's not. It's crap. Hell, I use it as Punishment(tm) for patrons at the bar who are being bad. No. Seriously. Warm, straight Cuervo. Ick!

Now, on to the good tequila and one of my favorite cocktails, the margarita.

I should also note that I've heard silver tequilas are better for margaritas than aged tequilas because much of the character of the aging will be lost in a mixed drink.

That, like Cuervo, is utter crap. I have heard "purists" spew this line before. "Don't use that good tequila in a margarita. It is a waste of good tequila." Well, sure it is....if you think a margarita is a crappy drink. But like any other cocktail or food dish, a margarita can only be as good as the quality of ingredients you put into it. My best margaritas are made with anejo tequilas, such as Sauza Tres Generaciones, Patron Anejo, and Herradura Anejo.

That being said, you can have a fine margarita with a silver tequila. I recommend Patron Silver. And your thought to use Cointreau instead of regular old triple sec with it is a great idea, as long as you are using good silver tequila. If you are using an anejo or reposado tequila, I would use Grand Marnier. The richness of the GM complements the stronger flavor of the aged tequila, and honestly, Cointreau would be a bit lost married to it, just as Grand Marnier would bury the taste of a silver tequila.

Of course, if you're using crappy tequila (like, say, Cuervo), just use normal every day triple sec. Why waste good liquor on a bad cocktail?

And for those of you out there who are just now making their first margarita, let me give you a bit of advice. It is not enough to simply throw tequila, lime juice, sweetener (triple sec, Cointruea, Grand Marnier) and sour mix into a shaker. You have to get the ratios right. To wit: 3 parts tequila, 1 part sweetener, 1 part lime juice, and 1-2 parts sour mix. Also, if you are using top notch ingredients such as those listed above, why use something inferior like Rose's Lime Juice? Squeeze the limes FRESH. The difference is astounding.

Thus endeth today's lesson. Tomorrow's lesson will be about making the Original Margarita, which does NOT use any sour mix. Good bartenders know the secret to that one.

[Dave1982]

That, like Cuervo, is utter crap.

If you'd like to know, this is where I heard that (and also where I got the recipe to use)

http://www.smallscreennetwork.com/video/28/margarita/

[Jester]

If you'd like to know, this is where I heard that....

I couldn't get the sound. Weird.

But that is besides the point. That gentleman is entitled to his opinion. I have heard that particular one many times before from "purists." They also have not had MY margarita, which rocks, and does NOT use a silver tequila, but a fantastic anejo tequila.

Look, it all comes down to opinion. Purists will be convinced I am a heathen. I am convinced that they are close-minded. But if you are willing to have an open mind, experiment. Find what YOU like. Have fun. The margarita is, in my opinion, one of the greatest cocktails ever invented. Enjoy it!

Cheers!

[taxguykarl]

Now, here's my stupid question. Is tequila supposed to smell and taste - literally - like someone put a cigarette out in it? I am dead serious. It tasted like that. I took one sip and had to pour the rest out.
...
So, did I just make a poor brand choice or is this what it's supposed to be like?

First of all the only stupid questions are the ones not raised in a timely manner. That being said, NO! Tequila should not taste like someone put a cigarette out in it. The good ones taste more like a strong white wine.

When selecting a tequila look for: 100% agave azul or 100% blue agave or variation of that.

Yes, you did make a poor brand choice.

[AdminAssistant]

I agree with Jester, higher quality booze = better cocktails.

I do lurves a good margarita - on the rocks, please. I went out for margaritas with a bunch of gal pals for a birthday bash last Friday, and we decided to just get a pitcher. Except this one girl starting whining for frozen. So, the birthday girl ordered frozen. BLECH. Anyway.

Now, that said, anyone actually mixing good whiskey? No no no. You can make a wonderful drink with something like Jack or Most Wanted (a local whiskey) and Coke or sour mix or whatever you like. I actually witnessed someone ordering a Makers and Coke once. Why would you...contaminate...Makers with soda?? sheesh.

[Dave1982]

Now, that said, anyone actually mixing good whiskey? No no no.

Depends on what you're doing with it. I'm not a huge fan of whiskey (though I had a sip of Chivas once and thought it wasn't bad), but I can see why with certain drinks you'd want to use a higher quality whiskey. Say, in an Old Fashioned (made without soda water) or a Mint Julep, where the drink by and large IS just whiskey, then you'd probably want to start off with something good, since that's the primary flavor in the drink.

But yes, I do agree that a "Maker's and Coke" is a complete waste. You're diluting the whiskey so such that I doubt you could tell the difference anymore, so you're just throwing money away. But on the other hand, it's that fool's money to waste.




Anyway, I appreciate ALL your input, everyone. While I don't think I'll be trying this experiment again anytime soon (remember that this was done entirely on a whim), next time I'll try to find a higher quality tequila. I just hope I can find a nip of one, because I don't want to commit to a whole bottle of something I might not like. Though perhaps next time I go to Chili's (or some such place) I could order one and if I like it, ask what brand they use.