Tess Rose shares tips on how choose the best tequilas for a DIY tasting, and how to set up a tequila tasting, replete with sangritas, appropriate snacks, and tequila cocktails. Also pro tips on how to taste tequila.
Even though tequila is a descendant of mezcal, most of us found our way to agave spirits through tequila. It can be very interesting, rewarding, and surprising to go back to tequila after refining your palate with mezcal. There’s never been a better time to design a DIY tequila tasting; there are so many quality craft tequilas readily available in international markets, often for very reasonable prices.
How to make the most of a tequila tasting
An ideal DIY tequila tasting in 2026 would bring together a sampling of great tequilas, some thoughtful mixers, and of course, a well-stocked snack plate. Because of the way most people are drinking tequila, alongside food and often in cocktails, it makes sense to turn this into a fun party. At the end of the day, the absolute best pairing for any agave spirits is great company (and don’t forget the music!). In order to cover all the bases, I suggest breaking this comprehensive tasting into three sections: Sipping, Mixing, Pairing.
Sipping: skip the lime and salt
Set up an area with tasting glasses and the straight spirits. Skip the lime and salt, but do include a sangrita–a traditional savory, spicy, fruity mixture that enhances the natural flavors of tequila when sipped alongside it. There are endless recipes to choose from, including tomato-based, tomatillo-based, and fruit-based versions. This sangrita recipe is a good place to start if you’re new to it. A fun idea is to request your guests to make their own version to contribute, adding a sangrita tasting element to the overall experience. This sipping area is focused on tasting the spirits neat, with a mouth watering sangrita as a palate refresher.
The first sips: how to taste tequila without overwhelming your palate
Tip: When tasting a spirit, keep your mouth open a tiny bit and start by smelling the spirit thoroughly. After a good initial sniff or two, take a small sip and let it roll around in your mouth for a few extra seconds before swallowing. I like to do this process 2-3 times to get an initial impression.
Mixing: An easy margarita recipe for your mixing base
After assessing the spirits on their own, it’s time to see how they do in a mixed drink. Create a homemade margarita mix or two that can be added to the base spirit. This ensures consistency and allows each spirit to be tasted in the same cocktail. It will be fun to see which spirit you like best in a drink, because it might be different from the one you prefer to sip on neat. A good standard margarita base recipe is 1 part fresh lime juice, ¾ part simple syrup, and ¼ part cold water. Have plenty of small glasses, ice, salt for rimming, extra lime juice and simple syrup available.
Pairing: Tips on pairing neat tequila and tequila cocktails
Food is a must–not only to see how the pairings work, but also to soak up the many sips encouraged by this kind of tasting. Chips, salsa, and guacamole should be plentiful. At least one more substantial element is a good idea, something like enfrijoladas or flautas de papas con chorizo. A couple of crunchy and salty snacks like spicy peanuts, chicharron, and nuts/seeds are well suited for the cocktail portion of your tasting. Something sweet like a creamy pastel de tres leches with mixed fruit, or a flan, make a nice pairing option for the neat spirits, especially the aged ones.
The line up: My current picks for the best tequilas for a DIY tasting
There are so many options to choose from, but current brands on my radar for this kind of tasting include Cazcanes, Lalo, Ocho, Los Valores, and G4. I admit that I might be tempted to controversially choose only blanco tequilas, as I consider them the purest form. But I think it would be best to include at least one reposado and one añejo. The other option would be to repeat the tasting three times, once with only blancos, again with reposados, and a third time with añejo and extra añejo expressions. Assuming we all have things to do other than throw tequila tasting parties (thanks capitalism), incorporating at least one representative from each category is an efficient option. On that note, it would also be interesting to incorporate a mixto tequila for those who are brave enough. While it may not be what we typically reach for, mixtos do represent a huge portion of what is available and what is consumed. Throwing in a mixto from a family-owned brand, such as El Tequileño, would make this tasting more well-rounded and representative of the current day market. Depending on the size of your group, two bottles of each spirit may be needed to cover both neat sips and cocktails.
As always, there are endless variations and ways to make this your own. Use this format as a theme for a celebratory gathering, or as an excuse to have one. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, keep the music going, and tag us in your posts if you try this out!
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