Tequila: A Guide to Types, Flights, Cocktails, and Bites

Tequila has come a long way since the days of salt, shot, lime, repeat. With tequila consumption on the rise, people are choosing tequila on more occasions, experimenting with new labels, and learning to appreciate the nuances of flavor. TEQUILA is an all-in-one reference for the top-shelf tequila connoisseur, with chapters on the history and lore of tequila, insight into how tequila is made, an exploration of the agave fields of Jalisco, and a drinkers guide to the four types of tequila: blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo.

James Beard Award—winning author and chef Joanne Weir takes tequila beyond the margarita (although she opens the book with the very best margarita recipe) to a wide range of drink and food recipes. TEQUILA features more than 35 cocktails from her own repertoire, as well as contributions from some of the top tequila bar-tenders in the country, including classics like the Sangrita and La Batanga and novel variations like the Cable Car No. 2 and the Surly Temple. Weir also presents more than 20 tequila-infused sides, mains, and desserts, from Gazpacho with Drunken Prawns to Bay Scallop Ceviche to Tequilamisu.

Join a new generation of aficionados for a celebration of the agave plants most spirited and fiery creation, along with new and innovative ways to appreciate tequila.

Acknowledgments . . . ix

Preface . . . xi

A Drinker's Guide

The History . . . 2

Discovering Tequila . . . 7

The Making of Tequila . . . 10

Types of Tequila . . . 16

Cocktails

The Margarita . . . 24

Tore Margarita . . . 26

Honey Margarita . . . 27

Peachy Rita . . . 28

Orange Pineapple Crush . . . 29

Phoenix Rising . . . 30

Surly Temple . . . 32

La Chupparosa . . . 33

Aperol Sunset . . . 35

Nouveau Carré . . . 36

Salud Mojito . . . 37

Sangrita . . . 38

Oaxaca Old-Fashioned . . . 40

Jalisco Old-Fashioned . . . 41

Tea-Quila Highball . . . 43

Suavecita . . . 44

The Silver Monk . . . 45

Mexican 75 . . . 46

Drink Without a Name #2 . . . 48

Shaken Novara . . . 49

Pancho's Punch . . . 50

La Paloma . . . 51

La Batanga . . . 53

La Canterita . . . 54

La Flora Vieja . . . 55

Rested Rosemary . . . 56

All the King's Men . . . 58

The Embarcadero . . . 59

Chaparrita Dorada . . . 61

Prado . . . 62

The Jaguar . . . 64

The Cinder . . . 65

Kama Sutra . . . 66

Cable Car No. 2 . . . 67

The Mexico City . . . 69

Buenos Días . . . 70

Hurricane Mitch . . . 72

Mulled Magic . . . 73

Food

Chorizo Hand Pies . . . 77

Red Chile Pepper Pickles . . . 79

Guacamole Soup . . . 80

Chilled Honeydew-Lime Soup . . . 81

Gazpacho with Drunken Prawns . . . 82

Pineapple Carpaccio with Prawn and Pepper Salad . . . 84

Citrus and Avocado Salad with Honey-Tequila Vinaigrette . . . 87

Smoked Trout and Tequila Quesadillas with Summer

Tomato Salsa . . . 89

Bay Scallop Ceviche . . . 91

Bamboo Salmon with Mango Avocado Salsa . . . 92

Tilapia Tacos with Citrus Salsa . . . 95

Quick Chick Mole . . . 97

Grilled Tequila Chicken with Black Bean and Corn Salsa . . . 99

Cha-Cha-Cha Chile Lasagna . . . 102

Mexican Spaghetti and Meatballs . . . 103

Slow-Braised Pork with Tomatillos and Tequila . . . 105

Market Steak Verde . . . 107

Cinnamon Panna Cotta with Apple Caramel . . . 108

Añejo Truffles . . . 109

Tequilamisu . . . 110

Mexican Chocolate Soufflés with Tequila-Chipotle

Crème Anglaise . . . 112

Coco Loco Tequila Cupcakes . . . 115

Margarita Granita . . . 117

Glossary and Basics . . . 118

Sources . . . 124

Index . . . 126