Best Bars (And Cocktails) To Celebrate National Tequila Day!
The wise American philosopher, Homer J. Simpson, famously paid tribute to alcohol, calling it "the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems." No drink embodies that sentiment more than tequila, the most dangerous of potables — the one that often is the precursor to bad decisions, Bruce Banner-to-Hulk-like changes in personality and, more often than not, one hell of a good time.
Today, we tequila lovers get to say a loud and slightly slurred "Thank You" to the drink that has given (hangovers, huge bar bills, children) and taken (clothes, inhibitions, good judgment) so much. It's National Tequila Day. This year, it falls on a Friday (which it should every year, for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who's ever had tequila). And Americans everywhere will be lifting their shotglasses in honor of Mexico's finest export.
Speaking of shotglasses, before you tequila aficionados start flooding our Facebook page: yes we know that tequila is not just pounded in shotglasses at bachelorette parties and that in recent years it has gotten much respect for being the refined spirit it is. But today is no day for tequila snobbery: National Tequila Day belongs to everyone who wants to celebrate a drink that — from the highbrow to the lowbrow — is for everybody.
Regardless of whether you're a sipper of fine, expensive tequila or an inhaler of the cheap, make-your-eyes-pop-out stuff, there are plenty of places where you can get into the spirit of this spirt's special day. And some of those places have shared with Yahoo Travel their special recipes for you to whip up your own tequila day celebrations. Just remember: please enjoy this list responsibly. Or irresponsibly — it isNational Tequila Day, after all.
1. New York City: W New York — Downtown
On National Tequila Day, NYC's symbol changes from a Big Apple to a Big Lime... with a salt shaker next to it. Multiple establishments are celebrating the day. W New York — Downtown is marking the occasion in its Living Room Bar & Terrace with a specialty cocktail curated by its own in-house cocktail connoisseur and mixologist, Eben Klemm, called Water & Wall (pictured above). If you can't make it to New York City, no worries: W New York — Downtown shared the secret recipe with Yahoo Travel:
In a shaker:
- 1 ½ ounces silver tequila
- ¼ ounce Mezcal
- ½ ounce triple sec
- ½ ounce lime
- ½ ounce Serrano syrup
- 3 raspberries
Add ice and shake 20x. Double Strain and serve up. Garnish with skewer of 1 Serrano chile cut lengthwise and two raspberries.
TO MAKE SERRANO SYRUP:
Bring to a boil 1 liter of water, 8 finely chopped fresh Serrano peppers. Simmer for 5 minutes. Dissolve in liter of white sugar Remove from heat and strain.
2. Punta Mita, Mexico: Four Seasons Punta Mita
If you'e lucky enough to be spending National Tequila Day in tequila's country of origin, Four Seasons Punta Mita is the place to go to mark the unofficial holiday in style. Guests can enjoy the Ultimate Tequila Tour, where you can travel by private helicopter to Tequila, Mexico for a private tour ofthe tequila distillery: Jose Cuervo. The experience includes a private tour, tastings of tequila straight from the barrel, and gourmet meals prepared by a Four Seasons chef. At the end, you bottle your own tequila, which gets a personalized serial number and a customized seal. It's the perfect gift to help you begin a yearlong pre-game for next year's National Tequila Day.
3. San Francisco, CA: Tommy's Mexican Restaurant
This is a special "National Tequila Day" for this San Francisco icon that calls itself "the world's best tequila bar" (a designation not disputed by magazines like Esquire that consistently give Tommy's top scores). This is Tommy's 50th year in business and it's a must-see for tequila lovers. Tommy's prides itself on serving only tequilas made from 100% fermented sugars from the blue agave plant (Mexican law requires only 51% fermented blue agave sugars for a spirit to get the tequila designation). Whether you choose to go for one of the hundreds of tequilas offered on the menu, or the famous Tommy's margarita, the tequila gods would smile brightly upon you if celebrate their special day here. Which is good, because you do not want to upset the tequila gods!
4. Sante Fe, NM: Rosewood Inn Of The Anasazi
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi established itself as a tequila lovers destination with its new dedicated tequila table at its Anasazi Restaurant, Bar and Lounge, where patrons (shouldn't that be 'Patróns'?) can sample its premium tequilas and food pairings. They're also offering five flavorful tequila infusions: Pineapple & Vanilla, Blood Orange & Jalapeno, Strawberry & Lime, Citrus & Lemongrass and Hatch Chile. Can't make it to New Mexico? They shared three of their tequila infusion recipes with Yahoo Travel:
- Blood Orange & Jalapeno Tequila Infusion
Ingredients:
- 1800 Black (100 Proof) tequila
- Blood Oranges
- Jalapeno
Instructions:
Cut the blood oranges into slices.
Place the blood orange slices and jalapenos in a large glass jar with a tight lid and pour the tequila in.
Close the jar and let the blood oranges and jalapeno infuse with the tequila for about 7 hours and remove the jalapenos.
Continue to let the blood oranges soak in the tequila for at least 7 days to calm the heat of the jalapeno.
Once the tequila has the desired balanced blood orange and jalapeno taste, strain and remove the blood orange.
Pour the tequila into an empty glass for sipping/shots.
Serve with a side of sangrita, a non-alcoholic accompaniment made mostly of tomato juice.
- Strawberry & Lime Tequila Infusion
Ingredients:
- 1800 Black (100 Proof) tequila
- Strawberries
- Limes
Instructions:
Cut the strawberries and limes into slices.
Place the strawberries and limes in a large glass jar with a tight lid and pour the tequila in.
Close the jar and let the strawberries and limes infuse with the tequila for about 7 days.
After 7 days, add more fresh strawberries and limes.
Once the tequila has the desired strawberry and lime taste, strain and remove the fruit.
Pour the tequila into an empty glass for sipping/shots.
Serve with a side of sangrita, a non-alcoholic accompaniment made mostly of tomato juice.
El Chamuco (Available at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort)
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Casa Dragones tequila
- 0.5 oz tequila infused with anise and dried chile
- 1 oz lime juice
- 0.75 oz natural syrup
- 0.75 oz tamarind mudled
- ice
- grasshopper salt
Tequila Infused with Dried Ancho Chile
Ingredients:
- 12 oz Casa Dragones tequila
- 2 pieces dried ancho chile without seeds
- 1 pc anise
Instructions:
Tequila Infusion:
Place ancho chile and anise in a glass jar with a tight lid and pour the tequila in.
Close the jar and let the chile infuse with the tequila for about 2 days. You can check the taste on the first day and see if it needs more time.
Once the tequila has the desired ancho chile scent, strain and remove the chile.
El Chamuco:
Add all ingredients into a tin glass and stir for 5 seconds.
Take a slice of lime and run it around the rim of the glass, flip the glass with the wet lime juice and then add the grasshopper salt around the rim.
Fill the margarita glass with ice and strain the drink.
5. Los Angeles, CA: El Carmen
If a sleek New York City lounge is not your ideal place to celebrate National Tequila Day, check out El Carmen. The beloved LA dive is known for its unique concoctions (like its Cilantro Ginger Margarita), tequila-themed dishes (like its tequila shrimp) and its huge tequila selection. Bring your reading glasses; the tequila menu is ten pages long.
6. Los Cabos, Mexico: Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort
The newly-renovated Hilton Los Cabos is showing off its new tequila-themed venue. Its Azul lobby bar has been re-imagined as a subzero tequila and mezcal bar. And as we all know, tequila, like revenge, is best served cold.
Hmm... "Tequila, Like Revenge, Is Best Served Cold." Now that would make a great country song title... even better than this one:
7. Jalisco, Mexico: Tequila Avión's "World's Most Expensive Tasting Flight"
Last week, Yahoo Travel told you about Tequila Avión's "World's Most Expensive Tasting Flight," where for $500,000, you and nine of your friends can take a private Gulfstream jet to and from Jalisco, Mexico for a private tasting, a tour of the Tequila Avion distillery and dinner at the home of Avion's Master Distiller. Plus, you get three days at the luxurious Las Alamandas. It's sad to say that, no matter where you're enjoying National Tequila Day, it may not be as cool as this.
8. Austin, TX: TnT Tacos and Tequila
You know Texas has got to be represented on our list of places to be on National Tequila Day and TnT Tacos and Tequilas serves that role admirably. This bar features cold tequilas on tap — including an Avión Silver infused with raspberry and a Cazadores Silver infused with chocolate, coconuts and pecans. TnT also has a dedicated tequila cocktail menu, plus a wide selection of the other "T" represented in the name: tacos. But today is all about the tequila — save the tacos for National Taco Day (which, by the way, is October 4).
Related:
- Ole! 8 Resorts Putting a New Twist on Tequila
- World's Most Expensive Tasting Flight' in Mexico Will Cost You $500K
- What's the Password? The New Drinking Trend in Orlando: Speakeasies