The real shame about most tequilas is that people are afraid of them. They have one bad run in when they were in college with something like Gold’s tequila and then they’re never ever to recover. As we talked about in our last blog, the quality of tequila has changed and with Maudie’s Tex Mex, you can easily access the best tequila and a variety of pairings that can only enhance the taste of a tequila. And, unless you overindulge, you won’t be suffering any special sugary tequilas because of one main factor:
Mixto
The culprit that made those early mornings in college total hell and flavored your view of tequila forever is actually not really tequila. It’s “Mixto.” It’s a bastardization of tequila since it’s made with about 50 percent actual agave, and the rest is a sugar-water mixture. Mixto tequilas are made outside of Mexico because Mexico actually has laws that protect real, Jalisco tequila from being faked. In fact, all tequilas that are made in Mexico have to be made with 100 percent blue agave and then have to be inspected before leaving the country in order to get the true stamp of approval. So when they give you Mixto tequila, it’s not from Mexico and it will get you drunk faster because the sugar present in the mixture helps it get into your bloodstream quicker. Real tequila doesn’t do that.
Real Tequila
As we spoke about previously, there are a variety of real tequilas, including blanco, gold, reposado, anejo and extra anejo. Today. We’re here to discuss the king of tequila, anejo and extra anejo. Getting to know tequila in a new light is a difficult first endeavor. You have to first forget everything you previously knew about tequila, because that wasn’t the real tequila; hat was tequila’s evil twin. Once you forgive everything Jose Cuervo did to you while masquerading as real tequila, then you can move on to getting to know the real spirit from Jalisco.
Authenticity in a Bottle
Learning to appreciate any spirit first comes with learning how to read a bottle. Just like when you first got into craft beer you started learning the difference between IPAs and stouts, now you’ll need to decipher the difference between Mixto and actually good tequila. Mixto can be anything at or above 51 percent agave. Only tequila is 100 percent blue agave. Think of it this way: would you drink vodka if it were only 50 percent potato? Probably not. When you’re shopping for bottles, you’re looking for 100 percent agave and grab an aged liquid if you can. That’s going to be reposado, which actually means rested, and anejo of any kind as it ages as well as any other spirit does.
Ease into Flavor
Agave is watered down in mixto because it’s strong and distinctive. It’s like getting a different cuisine from another country for the first time. It’s strange and unfamiliar so your taste buds might spazz out at first taste. Ease yourself into it by mixing a slightly cheaper bottle into a margarita, but not a frozen one. You’re not trying to drink a spiked slushie, you’re enjoying the fruits of Mexico; get it on the rocks. Try a classic margarita at Maudie’s Tex Mex to introduce you to balanced agave flavor while still delivering the punch of high-end liquor. For those trying to acquaint themselves with the powerful flavor of agave, we always recommend a lime-heavy mixed drink, like our Gill’s Margarita which is Don Julio Blanco mixed with the classic Cointreau and freshly squeezed lime juice. This amazing margarita comes together to present the powerful blanco taste of a premium tequila with lime to ease your taste buds into being comfortable with real tequila like a reposado or anejo.
Phase Two
Getting ready to pair a neat anejo tequila starts with a little sangrita. “Sangrita” is Spanish for little blood which is probably in regard to its strong flavors and potent pairing options. We recommend a little sangrita with a plate full of hot sizzling fajitas whether you’re a veggie lover or just need a little beef, the traditional Mexican drink that consists of citrus, tomato juice and grenadine with a huge dollop of hot sauce pairs lovingly with strong, aged tequila and a plate full of fajita basics. It’s sipped separately from good tequila, but they’re enjoyed together because of the manner that they play off of each other.
Try it Solo at Maudie’s Tex Mex
Now you’re ready to enjoy real aged tequila all by itself. Don’t try it just anywhere, try it where you can pair it with the food it’s meant to be accompanied by. Try it at Maudie’s Tex Mex. We offer the best Tex Mex cuisine in all of Austin and we’re happy to provide you with amazing tequila that enhances and makes every meal you have here better. Plan a family meal here or talk your coworkers into experiencing our amazing happy hour together so you can finally get your hands on that great tequila you’ve been reading about.
Catch our next blog to learn about how to pair your anejo tequila intelligently with the various items on our menu. Bring out intricate flavor profiles and take advantage of everything a single, neat anejo tequila has to offer. We promise, you won’t be disappointed at all.