Tequila looms as the boom spirit for 2021. The growth of cool brands and famous faces investing or collaborating, strong Mexican regulation, and advances in agave plant production and distillation is fuelling the popularity.

Gone are the days of just pounding down a couple of tequila shots before you hit the club. Tequila can now be enjoyed in many fashions at any time, day or night. Whether you’re a shot-maker, sipper, or high wire mixologist, knowing what makes a good tequila and how to drink it best now comes in handy for a variety of situations.

The following beginner’s guide on how to drink tequila will help the inexperienced learn more about straight tequila, sipping and drinking tequila, and the awesome agave spirit cocktails.

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Tequila Types

How you plan on drinking tequila will help determine the type of spirit you wish to purchase. There are three main types of tequila; Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo.

You’ll also find Joven (in between Blanco and reposado), cristallino (color removed), mixto tequila (the stuff you use for frozen drinks), and extra Añejo tequila (matured longer) available as well. Blanco or silver tequila is unaged tequila that tastes more of the agave plant and citrus than longer maturing tequila versions. It’s the go to for cheap drinks

Reposado (rested) and Añejo  (aged tequila) offerings are darker in color, aged in barrels, and gain a heavy but smoother flavor from the distillation process. They are recommended for neat sipping for experienced mixologists looking to craft a specific taste.

There’s also Mezcal, a liquor akin to tequila but oven cooked with any type of agave, including the wild stuff, so there’s a bigger range of taste variations and flavors.

How to drink Tequila

With Lemon and Salt