“Everyone has that first (or second or third…) alcohol story about how they drank so much it made them swear off drinking. My first adventure with alcohol was the opposite. My poison of choice: tequila. I was 21, in the Los Feliz apartment belonging to the cute guy I was dating at the time. He brought out a bottle of Don Julio 1942 (must’ve been his dad’s). We listened to music and we drank. And drank. And drank. He switched to Jaeger (weak), while I remained faithful. And what began as two kids experimenting with liquid courage, created a long-standing romance—between myself and tequila, definitely not with the guy. After years of “researching” various kinds, I’ve compiled a list of my top five favorites, in no particular order. Lots of “experimenting and clinical studies” went into this list. Enjoy, and remember, no great story ever began with, ‘So I’d had too much salad…’ “
DON JULIO 1942
“Ahh, my first. Vanilla, caramel, butterscotch. Rich, velvety, and kind of a “woodsy/oaky,” finish. Definitely a shame to shoot this one. Classy and won’t put an extra hair on your chest (or hers). Smooth from start to finish. Pair it with a Cohiba. Or if you can’t get your hands on one of those, an Arturo Fuente Hemingway.”
MILAGRO SILVER
“Most tequilas are distilled twice, but this one is distilled three times. Hints of mint, citrus, a little aroma of agave. Leaves a nice lingering zest after it goes down. Perfect for cocktails or great on its own, and without breaking the bank.”
CODIGO REPOSADO
“Country icon George Strait backs this tequila—which in and of itself would be good enough for me. That said, it’s peppery, chocolatey, and aged six months in a Napa cabernet casket. Some reposados have a difficult time balancing the spiciness of a silver and the smoothness of an anejo. But this one does an A+ job.”
DON JULIO BLANCO
“The world’s first luxury tequila was founded by a teenage Don Julio at 17. Though most silvers have that infamous “bite,” this one plays tricks on your senses. Notes of lemon-lime, grapefruit and pepper linger to a sassy finish. Clean and crisp, it deserves to be sipped and savored. Have this one on its own. It’s sacrilegious to mix it.”
TEQUILA OCHO EXTRA ANEJO
“Have a need to impress the boss, the soon to be in-laws, or just be the fuckin man around town? Bust this daddy out. Aged for three years in whiskey crates, this tequila brings forth notes of caramel, cinnamon, black pepper, and vanilla—all mingling with a slight peaty whiskey finish. Each sip brings out more and more flavors, leaving you guessing as to what you’ll taste next. Silky smooth from start to finish. Presented in a custom wood box, this tequila impresses even before the first sip. Pair this with a lighter bodied cigar, such as Heritage Maduro or Cellar Reserve.”
