Tequila Sunrises

TEQUILAS TO SAVOR: Carefully Crafted Spirits Meant to Be Sipped Straight

By Kevin Revolinski

GREAT TEQUILA IS FINE IN A MARGARITA, but the finest ones are of such quality and flavor that they deserve to be sipped and savored as one would scotch or cognac.

As with whiskey, if you want to get the full flavor, drink these at room temperature, but, by all means, have them chilled if you prefer. Either way, you won’t need to slice limes or rim glasses with salt.

Asombroso El Platino Blanco Triple Distilled

Awarded double gold and designated Top Tequila in the World Spirits Competition in San Francisco, this is another blanco. The aroma delivers herbal, peppery, and anise notes, but on the tongue, it has a vanilla sweetness and rounded mouthfeel with a smooth, mellow finish that lingers nicely. $54.95 AT ASOMBROSOTEQUILA.COM

Grand Mayan Reposado

Sold in a handsome blue bottle, Grand Mayan’s Reposado ages in American and French oak casks for six to eight months. Expect oak, black pepper, and vanilla on the nose, which come through again on the palate as well, especially the oak. Add to that a firm presence of cooked agave and a hint of caramel and chocolate, with a lingering heat in the finish. $79.99 AT TEQUILAMATCHMAKER.COM

Tres Agaves Organic Reposado

This certified organic tequila spends nine months in Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon barrels. Floral and oak aromas come through on the nose, while flavors of cooked agave, oak, vanilla, and caramel dominate but leave room for hints of cinnamon, black pepper, and maybe a touch of smoke. A mildly sweet finish. FROM $25.99 AT TRESAGAVES.COM

Inspiro Luna Blanco

Company founder Mara Smith collaborated with legendary master distiller Ana María Romero Mena to bring this highly approachable brand to market, and their first expression rests in oak barrels for “a lunar quarter” (7.4 days). Expect an aroma of vanilla and cooked agave, with tasting notes of mild vanilla, cooked agave, citrus, mint, and berries. $52.99 AT INSPIROTEQUILA.COM

Tromba Añejo

Master distiller and company founder Marco Cedano named his tequila for the cloudburst storms over the agave fields in the Jaliscan highlands of Mexico. The añejo is aged in American white oak whiskey barrels for more than 20 months. Expect green apple, oak, and vanilla notes on first whiff, and the same, plus caramelized agave, on the palate—a very pleasant and approachable tequila. $55.99 AT LIQUORAMA.COM