tequila

In Search of True Tequila

In an industry rife with artifice, Felipe Camarena is working against the tide to preserve true tequila.

• story: Wyatt Peabody
• photos: Peden + Munk

The Mexican Gentleman

Spain meets Mexico in Denver bartender Sean Kenyon's take on the Sherry Cobbler.

Tequila

(n.) One of Mexico’s most famous exports, tequila is made from the heart of the blue agave plants grown in Jalisco and a handful of other states, which is harvested…

Mezcal

(n.) A Mexican spirit distilled from the agave plant with a distinctive smoky character (technically, tequila is a type of mezcal). In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began distilling mezcal…

Beachfire Margarita

Scott Beattie named this cocktail for the similarity between mezcal's smoky aroma to the scent of driftwood bonfires on the beaches of California.

Tommy’s Margarita

This industry stalwart omits orange liqueur in favor of agave syrup.

Margarita

The true Margarita—a blend of fresh lime juice, tequila and orange liqueur with an optional sweetener—is a potent, well-built entry in the cocktail canon.

Cloud 9

When bartender Toby Maloney visited Jeremy Oertel at Mayahuel looking for a White Negroni, Oertel created this tequila-based riff with Lillet and gentian liqueur.

Yellow Jacket

For weeks, NYC cocktail bar Employees Only had toyed with the idea of mixing together tequila and elderflower liqueur, but there was a piece of the puzzle missing—yellow Chartreuse.

Gage Hotel Ranch Water

Naranja orange liqueur rounds out this Ranch Water with a juicy sweetness.