Tequila can be magic in a cocktail. The earthy, herbaceous qualities of a blanco add subtle bite to refreshing poolside drink; the barrel influence on an aged reposado or añejo makes for perfect riffs on traditional bourbon builds. This chameleon-like versatility makes tequila an intriguing base for drinks beyond the Margarita, and there are plenty of bangers to consider. There are also some tequila cocktails that, in the eyes of bartenders, have a little less bang. They have no problem making them for guests when they’re ordered, of course. They just don’t sign off on their popularity, espec ..read more

We’ve always been taught not to judge a book by its cover, but that life lesson holds little weight when it comes to tequila shopping. More so than any other spirits category, tequila has embraced the concept of spectacle. This wasn’t always the case, but over the past 30 years, bottle designs have grown increasingly experimental, wacky, and wild. Producers started going avant-garde to make their bottles stand out on a shelf, and that’s still a driving force, especially given the dizzying number of expressions and brands on the market these days. But these days, these extravagant designs are ..read more

There never seems to be a shortage of new spirits to try. Whether it’s a new expression from an old, trusted brand or a label you’ve never heard of, you’re likely going to encounter something that recently rolled out every time you visit your local bottle shop. These shiny new objects make spirits shopping fun, but they can also cause conflict between your adventurous curiosity and your budget-minded sensibility. With each new bottle that emerges, the question must be asked: “Why should I buy it?” Bartenders face the same question when a brand rep drops in and introduces them to a new express ..read more

Tequila’s moment as America’s “it” spirit is far from over. It may even be getting stronger as other categories struggle. A recent report published by beverage data analytics firm ISWR indicated that agave spirits — a space primarily driven by tequila — was the only alcohol category to experience growth in the U.S. in 2023. This sustained popularity coincides with a market increasingly flooded with new tequilas. These labels can pique interest and may even evolve into new favorites, and they make the category fun to explore. But as exciting as a fresh, shiny expression of tequila can be, ther ..read more

At the end of a long day — or even a short day, let’s be honest — nothing sounds better than a well-made cocktail. But sometimes, our social batteries are simply too drained to handle a night out, and the thought of stirring up a concoction at home sounds equally daunting. Enter: the canned cocktail. Perfect for evenings when you feel unequipped to make a drink fresh from scratch, these RTDs bring the bar right to you and often require little to no effort to enjoy. But with the category exploding in recent years, there’s now a sea of options to choose from, which makes it challenging to separ ..read more

In the basement of Brooklyn’s Long Island Bar, there are several boxes of booze. There is a case of Hepple Gin, the British spirit that was once part of the bar’s house Martini; there are four cases of Beefeater Gin, two of the 47 percent ABV version and two of 44 percent ABV; there are two cases of Elijah Craig 12-year-old bourbon; and two bottles of Evan Williams Single Barrel bourbon. All the bottles in question belong to Toby Cecchini, the co-owner of Long Island Bar. And none of them are ever going to be used in the bar’s cocktails. That’s because, in one way or another, they are the las ..read more

When the summer rolls around, it inevitably brings some scorching sunshine with it. On those dog days, a tall glass of something refreshing can be necessary — especially at happy hour. Enter: the Highball. Typically consisting of a spirit, soda, and ice, Highballs don’t require much effort, which is ideal when there’s already sweat rolling down your neck. That said, this straightforward format also presents an opportunity for some seasonal experimentation. The spirit-and-soda base provides a blank canvas for mixologists and at-home bartenders to easily create more complex libations. When it c ..read more

Sponsored by Mayenda Tequila. If you were to stand in front of the ovens that slowly roast agave piñas, your nose would be flooded with the sweet scent of caramel. But don’t take our word for it, just ask Jesús Susunaga Acosta, master tequilero at Mayenda Tequila. Those elusive, decadent aromas are usually lost during the agave distillation process, a fact that left Acosta determined to recapture them. With a background in biochemistry and decades of experience in the spirits industry, he was just the man for the job.  The usual tequila distillation process involves eight steps; May ..read more

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