Awesome Tequila

Co-founded by Mexican-American PGA golfer Abraham Ancer, Flecha Azul Tequila is made from estate-grown Blue Weber Agave in one of Mexico’s first tequila distilleries, dating back to 1840. There are five expressions en toto: Tequila Blanco, Tequila Reposado, Tequila Añejo, Tequila Añejo Cristalino, and Tequila Extra Añejo.

The Jose Cuervo Express — AKA the Tequila Train — journeys every other Saturday from Guadalajara, Mexico to the “magical town” of Tequila where the spirit was born. Travel first-class in the Jose Cuervo Express Elite Wagon with panoramic views, an open bar lounge, and guided tastings. Operating at 65% capacity means you can stretch out.

Tanteo Tequila is an ultra-premium 100% agave tequila. It’s distilled, infused, and bottled by hand in Juanacatlán, Mexico at the only distillery owned by a co-op of agave farmers. Tanteo distills three unique pepper tequilas with different flavor profiles and heat levels: spicy Jalapeño, smokey Chipotle, and hot Habanero.

The slender, blue bottle of Tequila Corralejo Reposado has been an iconic favorite for ages, thanks to its double distillation and aging process in American oak barrels. But no bar is complete without the flavors of Corralejo’s Tequila Blanco (clear with citrus and herbal notes) and Tequila Anejo (golden, aged 12 months).

Patrón tequila and tattoo artist, JonBoy toast Cinco de Mayo with this Cocktail Courier kit for fixing Fresh Ink Smoked Margaritas. The kit includes Patron Silver, fresh limes, pineapple juice, agave nectar, smoked paprika and smoked sea salt, along with stainless-steel straws and toppers with JonBoy’s minimalist designs.

Cinco de Mayo is one of America’s favorite holidays, but contrary to common belief, it is not Mexican Independence Day. That treaty was signed August 24, 1821, a date commemorated by Tequila Corralejo. Their Extra Añejo 1821 honors valiant heroes with 100% blue agave, double-distilled in copper, and matured in oak for 36 months.

While we’ve yet to taste Mucha Liga’s series of tequilas, this is one time when we’re willing to try a spirit strictly on the basis of its awesome packaging. Each bottle features a polygonal sculpt of a luchador mask. Bravo is a blanco, Canibal is a reposado, and Invicto is an añejo.

The best sipping tequila we’ve ever let pass over our tastebuds – this exclusive Gran Patrón is a 3-year aged extra añejo, which gives it a rich agave flavor that’s balanced by vanilla, mushroom and oak. Well worth the price tag for special occasions.

Spice up your evening with Patrón’s latest tequila liqueur. XO Cafe Incendio is flavored with chocolate and spicy arbol chile peppers. Makes for the world’s most awesome cup of coffee or hot cocoa, but also tastes great all by itself.

Nothing like guns and booze to get your evening off to a rousing start. This tequila from Hijos de Villa in either a Reposado Glock 9mm or Blanco Silver six-shooter bottle, and are perfect for firing “shots” into the two included glasses.

Etsy artist Robert Locke handcrafts these clever liquor platters from chestnut beams salvaged from dismantled Appalachian barns and homes; includes cutting board, salt bowls, paring knife and spoon.

Let’s go ahead and raise our next margarita glass to toast the fine gusanos who gave their lives to produce the sal de gusano (aka Worm Tequila Salt) on the rim. Made only of worms, rock salt and chili.

Handcrafted with 100% pure Blue Agave, Espolón Tequila is known as much for its bold Dia de los Muertos-style graphic label by Posada as it is for the liquid inside; available in Blanco and Reposado.

Casa Dragones’ 100% Blue Agave Joven Tequila is handmade in small batches, gently balancing platinum tequila with a hint of extra anejo; comes in a handcrafted crystal decanter. (Thanks Jim!)

You may have seen Avion if you watch Entourage. Well it’s a real thing, ’cause we’ve tasted it. Perfect in a tequila sunrise, a red dawn, or straight up, we quite enjoyed its silky smooth finish.

From Jalisco, the newly released small batch Karma tequila is made with a multiple distillation process and no additives. Silver available now; reposado and anejo versions are currently aging.

1800 Tequila continues its Essential Artists series for 2009; 12 new bottles join the mix, including grand prize winner StevOramA and Shepard Fairey’s Studio Number One.

Available 11/2/09, Jose Cuervo’s 250 Aniversario Tequila is their most exclusive; it’s an 80-proof blend of anejo tequila and 100 year-old blanco tequila and will be limited to 495 bottles.

We’re wary of celeb drinks like Justin Timberlake’s 901 Silver Tequila, but Everyday Drinkers finds it competitive against other premium brands; it’s smooth with a bright, tropical nose.

Beyond DeLeón Tequila’s packaging–the metal top is hand-carved by rock-and-roll jewelry designer Bill Wall–it’s also an ultra-smooth, 7,500 ft. tequila designed to be savored neat.

Corzo literally has a bottle of tequila with your name on it with their Personalized Metal Labels; they’ll be delivered to you free of charge and will fit any Classic, Reposado or Anejo bottle.

Full-flavored, Corzo’s Silver Tequila is 100% agave with a refined taste that doesn’t overpower; the ultra-smooth finish and round body makes it both complex and easy to drink.

Tanteo Tequila takes pure blanco tequila from 100% Weber blue agave and then infuses it with jalapeno, chocolate or tropical fruit extracts; it’s currently only available in New York.