This year Cinco de Mayo (one of our favorite holidays) happens to fall on our favorite day of the week — Taco Tuesday. It’s like the planets are all aligned for some sort of epic Cinco de Mayo Stay-at-Home Quarantine Party! And we’re ready, with an assortment of tequila recommendations and some can’t miss food pairings that will make your social distancing party one that you will remember for a long, long time!

Tequila — nectar of the Gods!

Skip those awful worm-in-bottom-of-the-bottle stories (that’s actually mezcal, not tequila). Real tequila is distilled from blue Weber agave and is exclusive to the Jalisco region of Mexico. The agava plant takes years to reach maturity—about a dozen to be exact—and is protected by thick leaves and razor-like thorns. To make tequila, the enormous heart of the agave plant is peeled, roasted and crushed to make a sweet juice that is fermented, distilled (often twice) and aged in bourbon casks.

There are actually three major categories of tequila: Blanco, Resposado and Añejo, with each having distinct differences in their production and flavor profiles.

Blanco - The purest flavor of tequila, this white tequila has been aged less than three months.

Reposado - Meaning “restful”, this type of tequila is aged or “rested” in white oak casks from 2 months to a year, giving it a mellow oak flavor combined with the flavor of the blue agave.

Añejo - A sipping tequila, Añejo is aged, in smaller batches, in white oak casks for over a year taking on the flavors of the wood, while mellowing the harshness of the alcohol.

How to drink your favorite tequila:
Blanco tequila is perfect for shots and is our recommendation for making the classic Margarita. Reposado and Añejo tequilas can be sipped like whiskies, enjoyed as shots, or used to create a truly decadent cocktail. 

Cinco de Mayo Food and Drink Essentials!

With your new-found tequila expertise it’s time to select the perfect tequila-pairing foods to really put your celebration into high gear. Obviously a Mexican spirit works best with Mexican foods and flavors, and there are so many options to choose from other than your basic taco. 

A few of our favorites:

Tacos - Blanco tequila works with fish tacos, Reposado for meatier tacos with beef or pork. 

Ceviche - perfect with Blanco tequila (which also happens to work with sushi if Mexican food is not your thing).

Grilled seafood - another great food partner with Blanco tequila.

Avocado - wonderful with Reposado tequila.

Grille Pork or Pork-filled Empanadas - serve with Reposado tequila.

Steak and Burgers - you can choose either Reposado or Añejo. Either way, you can’t go wrong. 

Chocolate - Añejo tequila, like other aged spirits, was practically made to pair with chocolate, both dark and milk varieties.


No Cinco de Mayo Party celebration is complete without Margaritas. Our recipe is wonderfully fresh, simply classic, and so refreshing. Choose the best quality Blanco Tequila you can afford to buy. A few of our favorites are:

1800 Tequila Silver   •   Avion Silver Premium Tequila   •   El Jimador Tequila Blanco

Classic Margarita (serves 2)

Ingredients

• Lime wedge, plus extra lime wedges for garnish
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt, for glass rims
• 4 ounces Blanco Tequila
• 2 ounces Cointreau
• 1 1/2 ounces fresh lime juice
• Salt for rimming the glass

Directions

   1. Run lime wedge around the outer rims of glasses and dip rims in salt. Set aside.
   2. Combine combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, about 15 seconds.
   3. Fill glasses with fresh ice and strain margarita into glasses. Garnish with lime, serve and enjoy!


Happy Cinco de Mayo — Cheers!