Tequila is a special kind of drink. It’s fun when you’re drinking it but no one enjoys waking up with a headache that feels like they’ve been hit with a truck.
There’s more to tequila than just a way to forget your problems and wake up with more. Tequilas are one of the most versatile drinks to pair with foods for a unique flavour.
There are five main types of tequila, each with unique qualities and pairing options. Let’s look at popular tequila brands and their food pairings.
1. Gold Tequila
Pairs Well With: Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Gold Tequila is what most people think of when they think of tequila, especially the kind that leads to many rough mornings. Gold tequila only has to be 51% agave and gets mixed with other colours and flavours.
With that said, the right style of gold tequila makes for an excellent quick fix. Gold tequila has a potent taste, meaning you need to pair it with something just as strong.
Gold tequila contains sugars that go well with spicy food including Mexican dishes. You can’t go wrong with an evening of good friends, gold tequila, and spicy tacos.
2. Silver Tequila
Pairs Well With: Scallop Crudo
Many consider silver tequila, perhaps ironically, to be the gold standard of tequila. Silver tequila is made from 100% agave and is unaged. It doesn’t get much purer than this.
The agave flavour is present with silver tequila and the natural sweetness comes through in bounds. This is the tequila to use when mixing up a margarita.
Silver tequila has a light and fresh taste that makes it ideal for lighter foods such as fish and vegetables.
Rather than overpowering food, silver tequila adds an accent that pushes it to new heights. We recommend you pair silver tequila with crudos or ceviches.
3. Tequila Reposado
Pairs Well With: Pork Tenderloin
Tequila Reposado is nothing like the other tequilas you think you know. This spirit is aged in American and French oak barrels for up to eleven months before being served.
This gives the tequila a nice flavour balance between the natural agave and the oak it’s aged in.
The final product is something akin to whiskey, which makes this tequila a must for pork and other spicy foods. Pair it with woody and smoky foods; things you’d have at a barbecue.
4. Tequila Anejo
Pairs Well With: Spice Rubbed Steak
If you’re used to drinking gold tequila then you’ll be blown away by what Tequila Anejo offers. The tequila is aged for over a year which transforms it into a smooth drink with a rich amber colour.
The deep and rich flavours of this tequila mean it goes well with desserts and red meats. It has burnt sugar flavours that go well with flavorful dishes such as spice-rubbed steak.
5. Tequila Extra Anejo
Tequila Extra Anejo is an acquired taste, to say the least. It’s not for everyone. The drink is aged in barrels for over three years.
This gives the tequila an incredibly complex and smooth flavour and texture that you won’t find anywhere else. If Don Draper drank tequila, it would be this type of tequila.
While Extra Anejo pairs well with most of the same foods as regular Tequila Anejo, we recommend you try this one by itself. It’s something that has to be experienced as is.
Final Thoughts
Tequila is a fantastic spirit to pair with food. Sadly, tequila is only now getting the attention it deserves from culinary experts.
Mix and match different tequilas and enjoy them with your favourite foods to see what incredible flavour combinations you come across.
As with any food and drink pairing, pay close attention to the flavours of the tequila and the food. The wrong combination could really ruin what should have been a great meal.
With that said, tequila is a lot more complex than people give it credit for. You’ll find tequila adds depth to just about any culinary pursuit you can think of.
Don’t be afraid to bust out a bottle the next time you’re cooking or ordering a takeaway.