Born of the oft-maligned era in the late ’90s and early aughts when everything became an overly sweet ’tini, the Lychee Martini is most often credited to New York City “clubstaurants” like Lot 61 and Korean restaurant Clay. But whether due to pure nostalgia or the fact that bartenders are a group that tend to love a challenge, the Lychee Martini is back and—at the risk of cliché—it’s better than ever. From stripping the drink down to its barest essentials, to taking the flavor profile in a whole new direction, here are three versions worth breaking out the Martini glasses. Lychee Martini Leani ..read more

Recently I had to go on a last-minute road trip across the country, from LA to Boston. And, as luck would have it, an hour before I hit the road, a bottle of Tequila Ocho Añejo Barrel Select Widow Jane 2024 landed on my doorstep. It’s the second collaboration between Tequila Ocho and Widow Jane Distillery, and it launched this month. (The first collab was a reposado aged for about eight weeks in bourbon barrels.) This limited-edition single-estate, single-field añejo tequila is made from overripe agaves from Rancho El Nacimiento—which is owned and operated by the family of Tequila Ocho co-foun ..read more

Tequila can be tricky. Sales of agave spirits overall are blowing the roof off the U.S. spirits market. But as tequila enjoys unprecedented popularity, consumers need to be vigilant. Flavorings, colorants, and other additives are widely added to tequila. And corner-cutting is also typical among many producers. This results in tequilas with questionable integrity, and that may be problematic from a cultural or ecological perspective. But in this uncertain territory, standout examples remain. And one of them is this week’s Drink of the Week: Paladar Tequila Blanco. Paladar is produced by the Ore ..read more

Launched in April, Mayenda enters the ultra-premium tequila category with an impressive pedigree and process. The distillery’s Maestro Tequilero, Jesus Susunaga Acosta, brings extensive experience with Cognac houses of France, vermouth makers of Italy, and historic distilleries of Scotland, along with a deep passion for tequila. Named after Mayahuel, the Aztec goddess of agave, Mayenda is produced in small batches using a signature distillation process that blends centuries-old craft with modern methods. During the production process, roasted piñas (agave hearts) are macerated in base distilla ..read more

I get sent a lot of pitches. So, an intriguing story is sometimes hard to dig out of an inbox with a low signal-to-noise ratio. But Alma del Jaguar tequila‘s story stopped me in my tracks, appealing to my animal-loving nature. Launched in May 2023 by founder McCauley Williams, the tequila brand donates a percentage of its proceeds to aid in wild jaguar conservation. Why jaguars? Williams got the idea from his uncle Rick Williams. A wildlife photographer, he moved to Mexico in the ’90s to study the big cats. He then co-founded the Northern Jaguar Project to help protect the wild jaguars in the ..read more

With the tequila category already so crowded, it can be difficult for a new brand to stand out. But El Sativo Single Estate Tequila Blanco—made from 100% blue Weber agave in Jalisco—did just that when it debuted in 2020 and was quickly named “Tequila of the Year” at the San Francisco Spirits World Competition. The 80-proof organic blanco carries a sweet agave aroma combined with grapefruit, while every sip delivers bright notes of citrus and pepper. Add to that the company’s dedication to the environment, with 4 percent of every bottle sold going to the Ocean Conservancy. This tequila is smoot ..read more

With mezcal’s meteoric rise over the last decade (figures from the regulatory commission in Mexico show the industry produced almost 8 million liters in 2020, compared to less than 1 million in 2011), the door has opened for other Mexican spirits to find a place in American bars. These days, liquor store shelves and backbars feature bottles displaying the names raicilla, bacanora, and beyond, offering a kaleidoscope of flavors from across the country. Arik Torren, owner of Mezcal Fidencio and importer of Mezcal Derrumbes, La Venenosa Raicilla, Rancho Tepúa Bacanora, and Sotol La Higuera, was o ..read more

Tequila remains one of the fastest-growing spirits categories, and this growth has spurred a new cadre of innovations and collaborations that are capturing the attention of fans of agave spirits. When it comes to tequila, I always look for bottles that I know come from reputable production houses, ideally ones known for capturing a sense of provenance in their spirits. Tequila Ocho has long been one of the most trusted brands for both of these reasons, and this winter they once again teamed up with Maison Ferrand master blender Alexandre Gabriel for a “barrel select” collaboration that deliver ..read more

The Margarita will always be a favorite among fans of tequila cocktails, but if you’re looking for another refreshing option that shows how well citrus and agave mix together, it’s time to turn your attention towards the Paloma. An effortless combination of tequila, lime and grapefruit, the classic Paloma holds its own in the world of great tequila drinks, and its simple framework has sparked countless riffs from bars around the world. Here are a few of our favorite variations. Mezcal Ancho Paloma A spicy, smoky take on a classic. Morning Star Pisco and thyme redefine the Paloma. Paloma Italia ..read more

602-4 Locust Street doesn’t look like a restaurant called Tequilas. The four-story brownstone stands just two blocks from Philadelphia’s stately Rittenhouse Square. It was built in 1853. Owner number one was William John Duane, Treasury Secretary under Andrew Jackson. Owner number two was William D. Dulles, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and relation of John Foster Dulles, Secretary of State under Eisenhower. The grand interior, with its high ceilings and chandeliers, still looks more appropriate as digs for U.S. Cabinet members than the backdrop for a Mexican restaurant. However, when you co ..read more