One Drink, Three Ways: TAKE Tequila Pineapple Liqueur

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join us as we take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, we help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

Tequila cocktails have been enjoying a renaissance lately, with Spicy Margaritas making a cameo in the remake of The Fall Guy and trendy tequila cream liqueurs becoming an after-dinner staple. To help you explore tequila beyond the usual shot with lime and salt, we’re here to shine a spotlight on the vibrant world of tequila cocktails with TAKE Tequila.

TAKE Tequila offers a fresh and modern way to enjoy this classic spirit. Embracing the vibrant colours and flavours of Mexico, TAKE Tequila has crafted a range of easy-drinking tequila liqueurs that cater to all palates.

The range includes a classic Tequila Blanco, made from 100% Blue Weber Agave, as well as fruit-infused liqueurs like Pink Grapefruit, Jalapeño, and Pineapple. These liqueurs are delightful on their own, whether sipped as a shot or served on the rocks, but lets not forget the magic they bring to cocktails, where their fruity notes add an extra oomph. Let’s dive into three delicious cocktails featuring what might be our favourite, the TAKE Tequila Pineapple Liqueur…

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Pineapple Margarita

Ingredients:
50ml/1.7oz Take Tequila Pineapple Liqueur 
25ml/0.85oz Fresh Lime Juice
25ml/0.85oz Pineapple Juice (not from concentrate)
Splash of Angostura Bitters to taste (if required)
Pineapple wedge as a garnish

This zesty, refreshing drink strikes the perfect balance between sweet and sour, thanks to the pineapple. It's well-blended and with liqueur instead of spirit, it’s not overpowering like some Margs can become, making it an ideal aperitif. Method: Add the pineapple liqueur, lime juice, and pineapple juice into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Pour into a glass with ice, add Angostura Bitters to taste, and stir. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

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Pineapple Tequila, Lime & Soda

Ingredients:
60ml/2oz TAKE Tequila Pineapple Liqueur 
5ml/0.2oz Fresh Lime Juice
90ml/3oz Franklin & Sons Guava & Lime Soda
Lime Wedge to garnish

A fruity, refreshing blend that’s perfect for summer. Light and easy to drink, with a medium sweetness and a sparkling kick, this cocktail is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at garden parties. So easy to make too! Method: Combine the ingredients and stir. Pour into a highball glass with ice and garnish with a lime wedge.

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Pineapple Tequila Sunrise

Ingredients:
120ml/4oz Pineapple Juice (not from concentrate)
50ml/1.7oz TAKE Tequila Pineapple Liqueur 
15ml/0.5oz Grenadine

A slightly sweeter, more tropical version of the classic Tequila Sunrise! With just the right amount of tartness, it’s the perfect drink to enjoy at brunch. Isn’t she a beauty? Method: Pour the pineapple juice and tequila liqueur into a highball glass and stir gently. Slowly add the grenadine, trickling it down the back of a spoon to create that beautiful sunrise effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.

By Latoya Austin

Like this? Check our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces here.

Lewis Hamilton Creates Non Alcoholic 'Tequila'

For those who are fans of the taste of Tequila and F1 Racing, we have news of an exciting collaboration! Lewis Hamilton has ventured off the racing track and into the world of Tequila by helping to create Almave, a brand new non-alcoholic ‘Tequila’.

So, who else is part of this amazing joint venture as well as the 7 time formula one world champion, Sir Lewis Hamilton? It is none other than renowned biochemist Iván Saldaña, creator of some of Mexico’s most innovative spirits. Saldaña founded Casa Lumbra in 2011, which went on to create favourites such as Ancho Reyes, Abasolo Ancestral Corn Whisky and Montelobos Mezcal, to name but a few. However, until Lewis Hamilton got involved they had not yet created any non-alcoholic variations.

There are other options of non-alcoholic products aimed at Tequila fans on the market, but Lewis felt they were all missing something, they didn't quite make the podium so to speak! The exciting fact about Almave is the process used to make it captures that same level of taste and enjoyment found in the alcoholic equivalent. Almave is made from blue Weber agave, using traditional tequila production, with a multi step distillation process in traditional copper pots. The difference is fermentation is completely skipped, so it remains totally alcohol free, while still keeping all the taste and feel of traditional tequila. This does, however, mean it cannot officially be called Tequila, as true tequila is required to have alcohol content.

What does it taste like you might ask? Well, there are two different options, Amabar and Blanco, which replicate the flavours found in aged (Amabar) and Blanco/Silver (Blanco) tequila. The Amabar is dark and rich with aromas of caramel and vanilla and flavours of brown sugar, Allspice and Cacao. Blanco has more of a fruity, sweet and herbaceous note with a hint of acidity.

If you’re looking for other ways to enjoy this non-alcoholic ‘tequila’, here is a fabulous mocktail suggestion…

ÁMBAR CARAJILLO

Ingredients
2 oz Almave Ambar
1 oz Cold Brew Concentrate
0.5 oz Agave Nectar
3 dashes Orange Bitters
1 dash Aromatic Bitters
A dash of salt

Method
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker, add ice and shake vigorously. Strain the mix into a small coupe glass, making sure to shake out all that good foam for a nice head. Lightly squeeze an orange peel on top and enjoy!

Amabar
Size: 700ml
Find here: £27

Blanco
Size: 700ml
Find here: £24

One Drink, Three Ways: El Mayor Reposado

One Drink, Three Ways is the signature feature by The Three Drinkers. Join us as we take one bottle and create a trio of phenomenal serves that you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. From rums and whiskies to gins and wine styles, we help you get the most out of your glass. It’s time to get liquid on lips.

Up in the Jalisco Highlands, Destiladora Gonzales has been in production for more than 150 years, producing hand-made premium tequila under the esteemed El Mayor name.

Aged in white oak for a minimum of nine months, their reposado has developed an elegant structure, deep, balanced taste and divine smoothness. Baking spices, rich caramel and a herbal kiss layer up for a benchmark creation. It’s absolutely worth exploring it solo, but of course when it comes to tequila, the thought of a cocktail is never too far away. So, without further ado, let us introduce three simple yet stunning El Mayor reposado cocktails for you to try…

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El Mayor Paloma

Ingredients:
50ml El Mayor Tequila Reposado
25ml Pink Grapefruit Juice
15ml Lime Juice
10ml Agave Syrup
50ml Pink Grapefruit Soda

Super refreshing with a citrus and agave burst! A perfect summertime sipper. Method: Shake the tequila, pink grapefruit juice, lime and agave in a shaker with ice. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and top up with grapefruit soda. Give a gentle stir to integrate the flavours. Cheers.

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El Mayor Spicy Margarita

Ingredients:
50ml El Mayor Tequila Reposado
25ml Orange Liqueur
25ml Lime Juice
5ml Agave Syrup
2 Sprigs of Coriander
1 Slice of Red Chilli 

Incredibly moreish with a mouth-watering spice, agave nectar and chipotle tequila flavour. Method: Muddle the chilli and coriander in the base of a shaker before adding all of the other ingredients. Shake with ice and fine strain into a tumbler glass filled with ice. Sip with a kick!

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El Mayor Negroni

Ingredients:
60ml El Mayor Tequila Reposado
30ml Campari
30ml Sweet Vermouth
15ml Orange Zest Simple Syrup

For something more brooding, try this dark, bitter and intense Tequila Negroni. It’s the perfect end of night serve that is super simple to make. Method: Fill your cocktail glass with ice and stir together the Campari, El Mayor, vermouth, and syrup until chilled. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with ice, garnish with an orange wheel or slice, and you’re ready to go.

Like this? Check our other One Drink, Three Ways pieces here.

Ten Mezcals Perfect for Sipping

Let’s talk about Mezcal - the world's fastest growing spirit! One of Mexico’s most epic exports! A spirit drenched in history, ancestry and rich, deep culture! Mezcal is more than just a spirit in Oaxaca, Mexico (where about 80% of the stuff is made), it’s a way of life. Bottles of Mezcal grace every dinner table at every family gathering; it flows freely in restaurants and even sits as an offering on the intricate altars that honour lost loved ones every year during Dia De Los Muertos. 

For only a few years now, Mezcal has been drip-fed to the western world. As the collection of expressions, agave styles and regions has fallen into the hands of bartenders, so has expanded the diverse array of cocktails sprouting up in the world’s most high end joints every other day. However, what do the master distillers behind Mezcal brands think about these mixological delights? Well, it is not an uncommon answer to receive something along the lines of: “I like the cocktail. I’d rather just drink the Mezcal.” 

Great Mezcal should be ‘sipped with kisses’, just like one might enjoy a fine single malt - no lime and salt in sight! Mezcal is traditionally served at room temperature, and when enjoyed the right way, might open your mind to the huge variety of spirit styles that can be created from the over forty agave species that are distilled into Mezcal! Most - but not all - Mezcal have a smoky, vegetal and herbaceous quality, but the final product comes down to the style, agave species, region and choices made by the distiller, or Maestro Mezcalero. 

There’s a Mezcal for every occasion. We’ve collected ten Mezcals perfect for sipping. Sit back, relax, and delight in the wonders of the ancestral agave spirits of Mexico.

Quiquiriqui Espadin

Handcrafted and made to order, Quiquiriqui (try saying that three times fast) is a shining, affordable example of what family run, artisanal Mezcal has to offer. Espadin is the most common agave variety to be found in Mezcal, and offers vegetal, woody and peppery notes to the final product. The fibres of the plant are cooked in huge stone pits and then crushed with a Tohana - a huge stone wheel - which is then fermented and distilled. What we’re trying to say is, Mezcal takes an incredible amount of work, attention to detail and effort, and Quiquiriqui provides a fantastic place to start on your Mezcal neat sipping journey.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £36

Lost Explorer Espadin

The Lost Explorer harnesses the power of travelling through alcohol. When you sip the gently smoky liquid from Oaxaca, you are transported, at least in part, to the place and time that it was made. With Mezcal, the flavour emerges from the soil, the terroir and biodiversity of the region, not to mention the eight years it takes for Espadin agave to reach the required maturity to make Lost Explorer Mezcal. Lost Explorer helps promote biodiversity by planting three new wild agave for each plant they harvest.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £62.65

Koch Tepeztate

Tepeztate Agave takes a whole 15 years to reach maturity. That’s 15 whole years before Koch can even begin to cook, ferment and distil the heart of the plant to make their deliciously herbaceous and floral Mezcal. Hailing from the region of San Baltazar Guelavila in Oaxaca, Koch El Mezcal considers their liquid offering to be an art form, and when one considers the historic value of Mezcal, it’s hard to disagree with them. Enjoy sipping this agave spirit knowing that those that create them are dedicated to the survival of the niche agave plants they use, and the biodiversity of the soil in which it grows. Densely smoky, oaky and brimming with herbaceousness. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.8%
Find here: £52.91

Picaflor Espadin

A celebration of the Hummingbirds role in the pollination of Agave Espadin, Picaflor exclusively uses this agave varietal. Distilled in copper pot stills and completely unaged, this Mezcal offers everything and more that one may want from a Oaxacan Espadin. Expect mild smoke, tropical fruits and citrus. Picaflor operate with a “hand to hand” philosophy, meaning the bottle travels from producer, to distributor, to consumer with as little alteration as possible. What you find in and on this bottle is as you’ll find it in the San Luis Del Rio region of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 42.9%
Find here: £40.81

Don Amado Mezcal Rustico

Distilled in Oaxacas highlands, Don Amado is crafted by the Arellanes family, who have been producing Mezcal for well over 300 years. This Mezcal is steeped in tradition and boasts a generational craftsmanship that makes this both complex and approachable. This particularly ashy, nutty Mezcal is fantastic served neat. The Agave Espadin is slowly roasted in firewood embers and distilled in traditional clay pot stills. They’re notoriously difficult to maintain, and make some of the finest spirits one will ever come across.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find here: £64.49

Mina Mezcal Blanco

Mina really sets itself apart from other Mezcal by way of its production method. A truly sustainable product, Mina is cooked in a brick kiln that doesn’t require any firewood to fuel, and yet still boasts pronounced smoke and vegetal, earthy aromas. A true triumph of both modern and traditional techniques makes this Mezcal a unique sipping experience, but also provides a real ethical choice. Despite being bottled at 46%, this Mezcal is smooth, lightly citrusy with a chocolate finish. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £45.49

Casamigos Mezcal

You’ll find most Mezcal comes from a long line of family-run distilleries, producing the finest of liquids using traditional techniques passed down through the bloodline. Casamigos is a 5th generation Mezcal, and the agave cooks for a whole 6 days in a pit of volcanic rock making for a particularly smoky, peppery flavour profile. Celebrity inclusion is a source of controversy in the world of agave spirits, but George Clooney’s faith in this distillery has proven not only profitable, but propelled a fantastic family led Mezcal into the global market. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £62.45

Del Maguey Vida De Meurtas

Produced in the small single village in the beautiful town of San Luis Del Rio, this limited bottling celebrates the ancestral traditions of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and is dense with rich berry notes, spice and red chilli. In their own words - “A perfect choice for those who wish to explore a mezcal that unites tradition with moments of reflection and festivities” - we couldn’t agree more! Celebrate the life of the dead today with this delicious sipper. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £48.31

Sin Gusano Espadilla and Papalome

With different agave varieties comes endlessly unique expressions of Mezcal, this blend is mostly Espadilla Agave, but also uses 10% Papaolome in the roasting and fermentation. It has that complex quality one tends to get from traditionally clay pot distilled Mezcal, and, fascinatingly, the distilled spirit is condensed down in a hollowed out tree trunk before being bottled for your sipping enjoyment! Expect a delightfully mellow, minerally spirit with chocolate and citrus peels. 

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45.8%
Find here: £50.59

Dangerous Don Joven

This award winning Artisanal Mezcal has one goal in mind - bringing people together! Mezcal is a communal experience in Oaxaca, something to be enjoyed with those you love, and Dangerous Don provides the perfect vessel for an evening with those who mean the most to you. In a male dominated industry, Dangerous Don is proudly female run and owned, and has a commitment to supporting the family led traditions of Mezcal. Richly aromatic, smoky and vegetal.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £49

You’ve learnt a lot about sipping Mezcal, now, what to mix it with? Why not check out these Six Stunning Margarita Variations.

By Miley Kendrick

7 Amazing Paloma Variations

Some time after 1940, the Paloma was born. Quite how, on the other hand, is a mystery. Squirt (the first grapefruit soda) was launched in 1938 so some say they were involved. The owner of the oldest bar in Jalisco also laid claim to it. On top of all that, Paloma is an old Mexican folk song – so we’ll probably never get to the truth. All that matters is it’s here with us now.

An effervescent, tart, and refreshing mix of tequila, grapefruit, soda, and lime, it’s a contemporary classic and one of the most popular drinks in Mexico. In its simplest form, the foundations of spirit, soda and citrus are too good not to riff on, so we’ve done just that. First though, this is how to nail the original Paloma.

The Best Paloma Variation for Purists

Classic Paloma

There are a few different ways to make the original, but we think using both grapefruit juice and soda gives the right balance of intensity and lightness to the mix. The colour is so gorgeous and inviting, and that first sip is one of the most refreshing in all of mixology. Sweet, sour, tart and so summery.

Ingredients
60ml blanco tequila
25ml grapefruit juice
15ml lime juice
7.5ml agave syrup
50ml pink grapefruit soda
wheel of grapefruit or lime wedge for garnish

Method
Shake the tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and agave syrup with ice until well chilled. Strain into a tall glass and top up with grapefruit soda. Garnish with a wheel of grapefruit or lime. You’ve just made a classic.

The Best Paloma Variation for Whisky Lovers

Scotch Paloma

Paloma is the epitome of summer and Scotch is more of a fireside sipper, but swapping tequila out for Scotch can bring that same delicious, caramel richness if you usually opt for reposado or añejo tequila. The crisp grapefruit brings out the fruits of a good scotch and compliments the creamy sweetness really nicely.

Ingredients
40ml Scotch whisky
40ml grapefruit juice
25ml spicy honey (regular is fine)
Soda
Grapefruit slice, for garnish

Method
Add all ingredients but club soda to an ice-filled glass and stir. Once chilled, top with soda water and garnish with a grapefruit slice. With the honey, you may find it easier to add some hot water and make a honey syrup before allowing it to cool slightly and adding into the mix. Enjoy!

The Best Paloma Variation for Mezcal Lovers

Vida Paloma

This riff on the original comes from Fat Baby Tacos in Chicago, and is great if you love the original but just want a subtle switch up. Mezcal instead of tequila brings an earthier, smokier flavour and the spiced rim brings some heat – keep the rest pretty much the same!

Ingredients
60ml mezcal
25ml grapefruit juice
15ml lime juice
7.5ml agave syrup
50ml pink grapefruit soda
Chilli flakes for rim
Wheel of grapefruit or lime wedge for garnish

Method
Use a touch of lime juice to wet the rim and roll it in chilli flakes. Then, use the mezcal as you would the tequila, shaking everything but soda with ice before straining over fresh ice and topping up with soda. You could garnish with grapefruit, like, jalapeno or coriander!

The Best Paloma Variation for Herb Lovers

Rosemary Paloma

Rosemary and grapefruit are a classic cocktail pairing. But just a faint whiff of rosemary as a garnish isn’t enough, you want rosemary syrup too. It’s so easy to make – you simply make a simple syrup (1:1 water and sugar) and include fresh rosemary whilst it’s simmering, before straining out. Fragrant, citrus with that herby undertone that plays into vegetal tequila deliciously. Heaven.

 Ingredients
55ml blanco tequila
20ml grapefruit juice
15ml lime juice
10ml rosemary syrup
50ml pink grapefruit soda
wheel of grapefruit or lime wedge for garnish

Method
Shake everything except the soda with ice to make sure it’s thoroughly mixed. Strain into a Collins glass that’s filled with ice and pour over your grapefruit soda to finish. Delicately poise the rosemary sprig and voila.

The Best Paloma Variation for Rosé Lovers

Lone Ranger

Tequila and sparkling wine – hear us out. The Lone Ranger is the invention of Jeffrey Morgenthaler in the US, designed to be an accessible, light, and refreshing brunch drink. Slightly less boozy with pink hues to put a smile on your face, it’s essentially a remoulded French 75 formula with fresh lemon threading tequila and red berries majestically.

Ingredients
40ml tequila
25ml lemon juice
15ml syrup
Top up with Rosé
Lemon for garnish

Method
Shake everything really well with ice (except the fizzy Rosé of course). You can either then add the Rosé and strain into a glass with fresh ice or top up with Rosé at the end – it’s up to you. Delish.

The Best Paloma Variation for Rum Lovers

Rum Paloma

Rum is crying out for this. A tropical favourite, a white rum can be swapped in for a blanco tequila, and darker caramel rum can substitute for aged tequila – easy. We think a white Jamaican rum like Wray & Nephew’s Overproof is perfect, bringing plenty of natural sweetness so you can probably ditch the syrup!

 Ingredients
45ml rum
25ml lime juice
Top up with grapefruit soda
A dash of syrup (optional)

Method
Shake your fresh lime with your measure of rum and plenty of ice. Strain and pour grapefruit soda to the top. Super light and super tasty.

The Best Paloma Variation for Vodka Lovers

Palomita

Paloma means ‘dove’ so Palomita means… ‘little dove’ – isn’t Spanish simple? Cocktail masters April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman swapped the tequila out and added the rum here, leaving a more neutral, cleaner cocktail that lets the citrus shine. They go the extra mile with vanilla-flecked salt too, which works brilliantly to soften the alcohol and grapefruit.

 Ingredients
60ml vodka
20ml lime juice
Grapefruit soda to top up
Vanilla-flecked salt rim

Method
For the vanilla-flecked salt rim, you can either buy it or make your own. To do the latter, mix a bean pod with salt or just infuse the pod with salt for a few days. Other than that, it’s the classic Paloma shake with ice and a pour of grapefruit soda to finish.

All you need now is a tequila right!? Take a look at these budget beauties.

The Best Budget Tequila For Your Cocktails

If you’ve been cursed by a shot of nasty tequila like many of us have, you might think you need to really splash out to get something nice – but you really don’t. Sure, some high-end sipping tequilas can dent the wallet, but when it comes to cocktails, you need a robust tequila with great balance and smoothness… and there’s plenty of those under £30.

These seven stunning tequilas each provide something a little bit different to you cocktail experience, and we’ve paired them with an exquisite cocktail that they shine in. Let’s go agave diving!

El Tequileño Reposado

This Jalisco Reposado gives intense cooked agave notes, coated in a slightly bitter oak from three months of American oak casks. This maturation also delivers some lovely tobacco sweetness and subtle salted caramel. There are so many flavours going on without the use of additives that it’s impressive, especially at this price.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £22.95

The Mexican Mule

Ingredients
60ml/2oz El Tequileño Reposado
15ml/0.5oz fresh lime juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Top up with Ginger Beer

Method
Build over ice, preferably in a highball glass. Pour ginger beer to the top and finish with a lime wedge.

El Sueño Tequila Silver

This tequila is slightly different. We normally like to look for 100% agave, but this ‘mixto’ uses 70% agave with 30% locally-grown piloncillo, which is natural cane sugar. This isn’t a modern band trying to cut corners though, it’s backed up by five generations of tequila producers – and the purists that might swerve it are missing out. There’s plenty of vegetal agave, grapefruit tang and a nice underlying sweetness amazing for cocktails like this one.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £24.74

The Sueño Sunrise

Ingredients
50ml/1.75oz El Sueño Tequila Silver
200ml/6.75oz orange juice
15ml/0.5oz grenadine

Method
Shake the tequila and OJ with ice and pour. Gently add grenadine, pouring down the side so that it settles at the bottom. A maraschino cherry skewered is the perfect garnish.

Olmeca Reposado Tequila

This is an accessible Reposado leading with oaky agave. Candied orange brings a sweet citrus flavour and vanilla lingers too. It’s been highly praised at The Spirits Business awards and delivers an easy-to-love caramel flavour that’s dangerously moreish. Beautiful bottle too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 35%
Find here: £24.39 (usually more!)

The Mango Margarita

Ingredients
45ml/1.5oz Reposado tequila
15ml/0.5oz triple sec
120ml/0.5 cup mango juice
Half a lime of juice
Salt for the rim

Method
Chill the Margarita glasses to frost them. Mix together everything in a shaker with ice. Then, using the condensation on the glass or lime juice, roll the rim in salt. Pour over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wedge. Salud!

Mundo Blanco Tequila

If you want to bring some serious complexity to your cocktails, then Mundo Blanco is perfect. Many drinkers use it as a sipping tequila because there are many earthy depths and fresh heights to familiarise yourself with. The agave nectar is a Highland/Lowland combo, so you get a really nicely rounded herbaceous and crisp profile. Top notch packaging too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 35%
Find here: £27.75

The Paloma

Ingredients
50ml/1.75oz Mundo Blanco Tequila
25ml/0.8oz grapefruit juice
12.5ml/0.5oz lime juice
7.5ml/0.2oz agave syrup
50ml/1.75oz pink grapefruit soda
Wheel of grapefruit for garnish

Method
Shake everything except the soda with ice and strain into a tall glass. Pour your grapefruit soda in and finish with a gorgeous wheel of grapefruit.

Cazcabel Reposado

When it comes to tequila, Cazcabel definitely know their onions… or rather, their agave. They’re the best-selling brand in the UK and for good reason. Their Reposado has won big awards, aged in oak for 9 months to develop glorious earthy flavours coated in sweet cinnamon. Dried fruits dance with noticeably vegetal agave for bold flavour. Very fun to use in cocktails like the one below.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £27.90

Caballo

Ingredients
60ml/2oz Cazcabel Reposado
30ml/1oz pink grapefruit juice
10ml/0.3oz agave syrup
Wheel of grapefruit for garnish

Method
Simple – shake everything with ice and strain into chilled glass. Refreshing and delicious.

Rooster Rojo Reposado Tequila

The Mexican Rooster is here to wake you up. The blue agave are steam-cooked for 10 hours, before special yeast is added to the juices for 72 hours of fermentation before distillation. It’s rested in oak, before the water used is filtered through Mexican silver. It has lovely sweet flavour - think caramel and all spice.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £27.94

Tommy's Margarita

Ingredients
60ml/2oz Rooster Rojo Reposado Tequila
30ml/1oz fresh lime
15ml/0.5oz agave nectar

Method
Shake it with ice. Strain it into a chilled couple glass. Garnish with lime wedge. Simple and delicious.

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver

We couldn’t leave out the worlds oldest, and arguably biggest tequila brand. Slick, smooth and sweet, the nose delivers strong agave, which carries over on the palate with green pepper and lime. The balance is spot on which makes it a go-to for cocktail lovers.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £29.99 (usually more!)

The Matador

Ingredients
30ml/1oz Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver
60ml/2oz pineapple juice
22ml/0.75oz lime juice

Method
Like most tequila drinks, this is a simple wet shake before a good strain. Tropical delight.

If you want to explore the absolute best this misunderstood spirit has to offer, then how about The Best Sipping Tequilas?

The Best Tequila to Gift This Christmas

Tequila is probably the most understood spirit in the world, and if you want to convert someone to the agave side, then these delicious bottles will just do that.

Forget shots, forget throat burn, and forget salted rims, these are stand-out tequilas in each style that will win doubters around and appeal to agave connoisseurs all the same. Vamos!

Best Blanco Tequila to Gift for Christmas

Gran Centenario Plata Tequila

This beautiful Blanco does the simple things well, using 10-year-old agave cooked in stone ovens, before distillation and oak ageing. It’s such a smooth ride, with cooked agave up front, and very subtle hints of pepper and earth. The bottle makes an instant impression too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £38.45

Calle 23 Blanco Tequila

This is a deliciously pure expression of premium Blanco, unashamedly thrusting the seductively smooth cooked agave into the spotlight. Tropical citrus, pepper and herbaceous notes do add depth, but the lack of age means it’s all about that agave, delivering a clean and characterful liquid.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £42.95 (usually more!)

Fortaleza Blanco Tequila

The family-run Fortaleza’s Blanco is a well-respected benchmark in tequila, and a go-to of many agave aficionados. 100% stone crushed agave backed up by buttery olive and cracked pepper, combined with one of the most charming bottles going, make this a stellar gift for someone who knows their tequila.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £59.95

Best Reposado Tequila to Gift for Christmas

Cazcabel Reposado Tequila

Cazcabel have a stunning portfolio, and their Reposado is some of the best there is below £30. The spicey warmth of the pepper and the silky caramel really come through from 9 months of oak ageing, pairing with the earthy crispness of the agave flavour wonderfully.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £28.49

Tiempo Tequila Reposado Cristalino

Using Blue Weber agave from Los Altos and Tequila Valley, this is a double distilled Reposado that matures in oak for 8 months. During that time, butterscotch and caramel infuse with juicy agave and unlike many Reposados, it’s filtered after ageing for velvety mouthfeel – the complexity survives though.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £49.45

Casamigos Reposado Tequila

With Clooney originally behind it, this was a trailblazing ‘celebrity drink’ that came through with quality, unlike some. The anonymous master distiller is working wonders, delivering a fresh and vibrant Tequila that’s not far off an añejo profile. Vanilla and sweet tropical fruits come through invitingly, as does a touch of oak-y spice and the gentlest waft of smoke. It's so smooth and complex than many drink it neat.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £62.94

Best Añejo Tequila to Gift for Christmas

El Jimador Tequila Añejo

Onto the añejo now, and El Jimador’s is aged for a year in oak to infuse with those rich, vanilla woody notes, whilst retaining the signature agave flavour. It’s quite light, citrusy, and floral for an añejo, but the spice and caramel does come through towards the finish. It straddles the styles nicely, and is best-selling for a reason.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £30£30.9595

VIVIR Tequila Añejo

VIVIR’s Añejo is absolutely saturated with five-star reviews, and we get why. 12-year-old Blue Weber are blended with local volcanic spring water, before 18 months of ex-bourbon cask ageing, and the result is stand-out richness brimming with fudgy butterscotch and buttery vanilla. Thyme and peppermint fill out the profile, but there’s also stoney minerality, peppery heat and of course, that roasted agave. There is so much going on, but everything is softly integrated and so smooth. This is a bottle that will turn even the most doubtful drinker on to tequila.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £58.99

ArteNOM Selección de 1146 Tequila Añejo

This tequila stands out on the shelf, as does the first sip. It’s produced by Tequileña Distillery in Jalisco, and aged partially in Cabernet Franc barrels, before ex rye whiskey casks finish the job. The serious complexity is poised precisely, revealing layers of plentiful vanilla, dark chocolate, fudge, allspice, and fresh zest. Earthy coffee and nuts are there too. It’s very oaky, reminiscent of a whisky in some ways, and would therefore be a great tequila to try for a whisky lover.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £79.95

Best Extra Blended Tequila to Gift for Christmas

Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila

11 generations of tequila mastery power this tequila, which might be the world’s first crystal clear multi-aged tequila. The colouring of the extra añejo, añejo and reposado is filtered out, but what’s left is the creamy mouthfeel and complexity all that ageing brings. The layers just keep showing themselves, with honey, maple and nuts decorating the great agave flavour. A special blend indeed.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £53.76 (usually more!)

If you’re in need of more memorable bottles for Christmas gifts, then we’ve got tonnes of guides up on the website right now. Looking for unique bottles that stand out? Or perhaps gin to gift? Or rum? Find them and more!

Maestro Dobel 50 1970 Extra Añejo: The Art of Tequila

Introducing the Maestro Dobel 50 1970 Extra Añejo, a fine example of how to age gracefully. The epitome of tequila sophistication and craftsmanship, this limited-edition bottle is a true marvel, carefully sourced and selected from the personal collection of the brand's founder, Juan Domingo "Dobel" Beckmann. With a mere 50 bottles available in the UK, we’re talking about a rare gem that will make any agave connoisseur's heart skip a beat.

Aged in French Oak casks, meticulously chosen from Dobel's private cellar, it underwent the comprehensive three-year ageing process that all Extra Añejo liquids go through, but of course the journey doesn’t end there. Off to Italy it goes, where it finds its perfect match in Amarone wine casks, infusing the tequila with sumptuous notes of rich chocolate, coffee, nuts, and dried fruits. The result is a dark and velvety spirit that promises an unforgettable tasting experience, all that mouthwatering infusion as well as tropical undertones and sweet vanilla and cinnamon running through.

The Maestro Dobel 50 limited edition series is a true testament to the brand's commitment to excellence and innovation. Starting in 2017, these collectable editions pay tribute to inspiring events from fifty years ago, adding a touch of historical charm to every sip. Poetry has never been more delicious.

With its iconic apothecary-style bottle, inspired by vintage laboratory sample bottles, Maestro Dobel 50 1970 Extra Añejo stands out as a work of art, outside and in.

If you’re lucky enough to be in a position to pursue a bottle, then be quick because as mentioned, there are only 50! It retails for over £2000 so check out places like Hedonism Wines, House of Spirits and Master of Malt for availability. Alternatively, if you just want a taste of the nectar then it is available at some bars such as The Connaught, Mandarin Oriental, Annabel’s and Lyaness… but for how long, it’s difficult to say.