Facts - and Some Fiction - About Tequila

Tequila: it calls to me like an insect, drawn to the luminescent glow of a bug zapper. Surely, the destination is tragic, but the journey makes it all worthwhile. Truth be told, tequila is not as wild and crazy a liquor as it is made out to be- rumor has it that the good stuff might not even give you a hangover!

Of course, any hard alcohol worth it's weight may cause obnoxious behavior in an individual (and possibly puking), but why does tequila get the bad rap? Is it due to the boisterous spirit of the Mexican people? What is it about this mysterious spirit that sets it apart from the others? The unique experience provided by a few shots of tequila or mescal is one that should not be missed by any connoisseur of inebriation.

So what should you look for when shopping for your next bottle of tequila? Here are the basics:

100% pure agave- the good stuff bears this phrase, or something similar- perhaps it will appear in Spanish- 100% de agave or 100% puro agave. Regardless, this is the best indication that you are looking at a quality tequila. What it means? These spirits were produced using only fermented and distilled agave juice with water. Otherwise some other sugars were used in the process, possibly cane sugar. This is really the most important thing to look for- the rest is a matter of opinion. The highest quality tequilas will have this printed on the label- Cabo Wabo, Patron and Cazadores are among a few of the finest tequilas you can find. Expect to pay around $50 for a 750 ML bottle of the best stuff.

Silver/Blanco/White: These are your clear tequilas- they are either aged less than sixty days in stainless steel tanks, or not aged at all. This variety of tequila is best used for mixed drinks- especially the fruit flavored variety. Think margaritas when you see this type of tequila.

Gold: this is usually just silver/blanco/white tequila with coloring and flavoring added. Odds are it is not 100% agave.