What Type of Tequila Should I Use For Cocktails?
Not all tequila is the same, and we’re not only talking about brand differences. Tequila comes in three main varieties based on how long the alcohol has been aged.
Blanco tequila, which is clear, is aged only up to two months. It may also not be aged at all, going straight from the still to the bottle. The flavor is bright, tangy, and a little harsh.
Reposado tequila is aged for a minimum of two months but no longer than a year. As the tequila ages, it turns from clear to light amber or gold. The aging mellows the harshness found in blanco tequila.
Anejo tequila is aged for a minimum of one year but no longer than three years. The long aging process gives the tequila a dark brown color and turns the complex agave-forward flavor of blanco tequila into a subtler, smoother drink.
Many companies produce mixto tequila, which blends the agave with fructose or glucose sugars, but the best tequila is made using only 100% Blue Weber agave and water. We recommend Espolon tequila for a 100% agave tequila that is more affordable than its competitors without sacrificing quality or authenticity.
How is Espolon Tequila Made?
Espolon elevates the creation of tequila from a process to a craft. Using only hand-harvested Blue Weber agave, Espolon tequila is fermented to the sounds of classical music, aged in charred oak barrels, and bottled in glass featuring artwork inspired by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. While their complex craft blends old-world technique with modern innovation, their tequila remains true to the spirit of Mexico’s most beloved spirit. Unlike competitors who add coloring and sugars to their bottles, Espolon tequila is pure and unadulterated. Available in blanco, reposado, and anejo varieties, each version is suitable for different drinks and uses.
Best Blanco Tequila Cocktails
Blanco tequila is best in drinks with complex flavors that lean on the sweet or sour side. You’ll need strong-flavored mixers, like sour lime juice or cola, to match the bite and tang of the agave.
Espolon Paloma
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Espolon Blanco
- .5 oz lime juice
- 4 oz pink grapefruit soda or grapefruit seltzer
Instructions: In a tall glass, or Collins glass, mix the tequila and lime juice over ice, then top with the grapefruit soda. Garnish with a lime wedge, grapefruit peel and/or salt rim.
Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Espolon Blanco
- 1 oz. fresh lime juice
- 3 oz. orange juice
- 3/4 oz. grenadine
Instructions: Combine the tequila, lime juice, and orange juice in a tall glass. Add ice until almost full, then slowly pour the grenadine down the side of the glass so it pools at the bottom. Don’t stir, or you’ll mess up the sunrise ombre effect. Garnish with a lime wedge and maraschino cherry.
Batanga
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Espolon Blanco
- .5 oz lime juice
- 3.5 oz cola
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions: First, stir the pinch of salt with the lime juice in the bottom of a tall glass. Once the salt has dissolved, add ice and the other ingredients, then gently stir to combine.
Best Reposado Tequila Cocktails
Reposado tequila has a mellower flavor than blanco but still has distinct agave notes. It can be used in drinks with strong mixers like ginger beer or margarita mix, as well as minimalist, classic cocktails where it can be the stand-out flavor.
Espolon Spicy Margarita
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Espolon Reposado
- .5 oz Ancho Reyes ancho or poblano pepper liqueur
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- .5 oz agave syrup
Instructions: Shake the ingredients together with ice, then strain into coupette glasses to serve “up.” Garnish with a lime wedge and optional sea salt rim.
Mexican Mule
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Espolon Reposado
- .5 oz lime juice
- .3 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz ginger beer
Instructions: Pour the tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup into a copper mug or tall glass and stir to combine. Top with ice and ginger beer.
Reposado Manhattan
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Espolon Reposado
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes orange or angostura bitters
Instructions: Stir all the ingredients together in a mixing glass, then strain into a coup. Garnish with a lime peel twist or cocktail cherry.
Best Anejo Tequila Cocktails
Anejo tequila is aged so long that the strong flavor of the agave has turned subtle. As a smooth liquor akin to Scotch, it can be sipped on its own or added to mixers that still allow the aged spirit to be the defining flavor of the drink.
Espolon Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Espolon Anejo
- .5 oz agave syrup
- 2 dashes of bitters
Instructions: Combine the ingredients in a rocks glass, then add ice and stir until chilled. Garnish with an orange peel.
Basil-Grapefruit Anejo Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Espolon Anejo
- .5 oz green chartreuse
- 4-5 basil or Thai basil leaves
- ½ of a lime, freshly squeezed
- San Pellegrino Pompelmo (grapefruit)
Instructions: Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice, then strain into a rocks glass with more ice. Top with the grapefruit soda, then garnish with a lime wedge or sprig of basil.
PCH
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Espolon Anejo
- 5 oz simple syrup
- .75 oz passion fruit nectar/juice
- 5 oz lime juice
- Dash of sriracha
- Ginger beer
Instructions: Shake the first five ingredients together and strain into a tall glass. Add ice, then top with ginger beer. Garnish with a pineapple slice or lime wedge.
