Enjoying Tequila gives comprehensive, practical information while offering a working guide to the pleasures, flavor intricacies, and overall enjoyment of this evergreen and popular spirit.

Even the world’s most fun drink has a serious side. Look beyond that naughty reputation and become an agave-based beverage connoisseur with this book that delivers over 40 delicious, cheeky and surprisingly sophisticated cocktail recipes. Even the world’s most fun drink has a serious side. Look beyond that naughty reputation and become an agave-based beverage connoisseur with this book that delivers over 40 delicious, cheeky, and surprisingly sophisticated cocktail recipes. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a Mexican meal full of spicy flavors and the ideal fuel for dancing the night away. Made from the fermented juice of the agave plant, this spirit, along with its trendy cousin mezcal, has a complex yet light flavor, which is perfect in cocktails. Premium quality versions are becoming readily available, especially for the discerning cocktail drinker—the simple rule is the higher the percentage of agave, the better. Learn about the proud heritage of agave-based spirits from expert Jesse Estes. Start with a margaritas, choose from a Pink Pomegranate to a Greener Pastures, and then try something longer such as a Hibiscus Highball or Mezcal Mule. If you prefer something a little more moody, try a Fallen Angel or brace yourself for a Tequila Smash. Finally, unleash your wild side with an Under the Volcano!

“This fascinating, well-written book explores how tequila has come to symbolize what it means to be Mexican . . . A must read.” —Choice ¡Tequila! Distilling the Spirit of Mexico traces how and why tequila became Mexico’s national drink and symbol. Starting in Mexico’s colonial era and tracing the drink’s rise through the present day, Marie Sarita Gaytán reveals the formative roles played by some unlikely characters—such as the revolutionary Pancho Villa, who was himself a teetotaler. She also shows how tequila’s cultural status was shaped by US-Mexican relations, the tourism industry, shifting gender roles, technology, regulation, film, music, and literature. Like all stories about national symbols, the rise of tequila forms a complicated, unexpected, and poignant tale. By unraveling its inner workings, Gaytán encourages us to think critically about national symbols more generally—especially the ways they both reveal and conceal—to tell a story about a place, a culture, and a people. In many ways, the story of tequila is the story of Mexico.

The New Tequila 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 drinker’s 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 plant’s most spirited and fiery creation, along with new and innovative ways to appreciate tequila.

An indispensable and accessible guide to Mexico’s treasured agave spirits. Packed with information, tips, resources, and 300 tasting notes and accompanying producer profiles, The Essential Tequila & Mezcal Companion is a crash course on the fastest growing spirits category in the United States. Lampert provides insights on the history and production of the spirits, plus guidance for how to stock your bar, organize a tasting with food pairings, and create infused syrups that will complement craft cocktails. Lampert includes more than 30 cocktail recipes that highlight the complexities and bold flavors of agave spirits. Plus, the book contains transportive photography throughout and a thorough reference section for readers who are thirsty for more.

‘Before mezcal I knew tequila. We danced together and had a good time. Then I found mezcal and we not only danced but we talked and talked. As a lover of whisky, mezcal was an easy step for me. And Tom is the person to tell you all about it.’ Thomasina Miers, author and chef-owner of Wahaca restaurant chain ‘Thomas, aside from having one of the early great beards of NYC, played some of the finest music ever to crawl into my drunken ears. He retains the same intimidating and generous approach to mezcal: know everything worth knowing about a subject, avoid the garbage, love it, and share.’ James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem ‘Before mezcal I knew tequila. We danced together and had a good time. Then I found mezcal and we not only danced but we talked and talked. As a lover of whisky, mezcal was an easy step for me. And Tom is the person to tell you all about it.’ Thomasina Miers, author and chef-owner of Wahaca restaurant chain ‘Thomas, aside from having one of the early great beards of NYC, played some of the finest music ever to crawl into my drunken ears. He retains the same intimidating and generous approach to mezcal: know everything worth knowing about a subject, avoid the garbage, love it, and share.’ James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem The definitive guide to Mexico's best kept secret; Mezcal. Unlike its infamous offspring tequila, until recently you would have had to take a trip to Mexico to try this intriguing spirit. But with ‘Mezcalerias’ popping up everywhere from New York City to London, Tokyo and beyond, and mezcal increasingly seen on the menus of the most discerning and hippest bars, the agave plant-based alcohol is the cool new drink taking the world by storm. Embark on a regional tour of Mexico and discover local mezcal gems in this illustrated guide to the best 'mezcalerias' (mezcal bars) in the world, then work your way through more than 30 cocktail recipes from the world’s best mezcal bartenders. From backyard heroes to big names, this is a comprehensive guide fwith over 100 varieties of mezcal, complete with a tasting wheel to help explain the subtleties of this intriguing drink and make you a connoisseur in no time.

Covers spirits, supplies, ambiance, garnishes, glassware, etiquette, and drinking ethics, and provides recipes for the most popular cocktails