Tequila

It turns out that whisky is a gateway drug ... If you're a whisky drinker, give some thought to trying a (good) tequila straight. Make sure it's 100% agave. That doesn't guarantee good tequila, but if it doesn't say "100% blue agave" you can be sure it won't be good.

Catherine and I developed a taste for tequila at a friend's party, where we tried Gran Centenario Añejo (brought back from Mexico in the friend's luggage). We have been encouraged in our tequila drinking by our friend Doug, who is a tequila fanatic.

Casa Noble Reposado

Smooth and relatively mild flavoured, very nice.

Gran Centenario Añejo

Superb. Intensely peppery. One of Doug's books tells us this is the most "whisky-like" tequila, which would explain my interest in it. Excellent stuff, hard to find in the U.S. (The first bottle I bought came in a box from California at $50 + $20 shipping but more recently I found it at Green's in Atlanta.) Amazingly, Gran Centenario is owned by the kings of tequila crap, Cuervo. Don't let this stop you if you can find a bottle of this!

Gran Centenario Reposado

Not as good as Gran Centenario's Añejo, although still a very nice. Basically the same as the Añejo but the lack of aging shows: it's rougher around the edges and has more of the alcohol kick. Buy the Añejo.

Herradura Silver

My favourite readily available and not-too-expensive tequila. Complex, reasonably strong flavour. Good.

Herradura Anejo

20071105: This review won't help anyone but me ... This is a smooth, nice tequila. I didn't find much memorable in it, so perhaps not worth the price?

Sauza Hornitos Reposado

I think this stuff gets a bad reputation simply because it's cheap. It's very good, and I enjoy it every time I drink it. Excellent value for the money you spend.