DRINK

AGAVE EXPRESSIONS

Sip your way through summer with truly terrific tequilas

Though marvelous in a margarita, high-quality tequila is best enjoyed on its own. Complex and balanced – often with layers of citrus, herbal, floral or even sweet notes depending on the classification – here are a few standouts that are well worth a sip.

PaQuí Silvera Silver, more commonly known as blanco, is tequila that has not been aged in any way. Often classified as having a harsher and more vegetal flavor profile than its aged counterparts, this particular expression is exceptionally smooth. There is a hint of green grass, but then it opens to notes of citrus, white pepper and honeysuckle on the palate. $49.99. www.paquitequila.com.

Villa One Añejo In 2018 after visiting Mexico with friends, musician Nick Jonas and designer John Varvatos were inspired to develop their own tequilas. One of three of their current offerings, this anejo is aged for more than a year in American oak barrels, resulting in a rich amber color. The aging process also infuses the tequila with exceptional notes of caramel, wood and vanilla wafer in every sip. $49.99. www.villaonetequila.com.

818 Tequila Reposado Just as Jonas was inspired by visiting Mexico, so was model Kendall Jenner, who released 818 earlier this year after working with family-owned farms in Mexico for the past several years to develop a sustainable line of tequilas. This reposado, which is a type of tequila that has been aged up to a year, showcases the roasted, vanilla and honey notes of the agave in an exceptional way. $59.99. www.drink818.com.

Tequila Komos Añejo Cristalino While an anejo is typically golden or amber, this delicate and floral variation punctuated with lime zest is clear, despite being aged for a minimum of a year in French oak wine barrels. This round, layered tequila gets its translucent appearance from being dripped through a charcoal column to remove impurities and then aerated in a Greek amphora. $119.99. www.komos.com.

El Mayor Rum Cask Extra Añejo Tequila To be considered extra anejo, a tequila must be aged more than three years, making it the darkest in color with the grandest notes of caramel of the four classifications. This elegant take is aged three years in bourbon barrels and then six months in rum barrels to impart not only that decadent caramel, but also oak, dark chocolate and nutmeg flavors. $134.99. www.elmayor.com.

Señor Rio Double Barrel Añejo This limited-edition release is first aged in American oak bourbon barrels for a year and then placed in a French Burgundy oak cask, which infuses the locally-owned tequila with a woody aroma and palate of almonds, vanilla and caramel. The finish is velvety and luscious with a lingering nuttiness. $139.99. www.senorrio.com.

Tequila Clase Azul Ultra A collector’s item, this exquisite expression is aged approximately 14 years inside a Spanish sherry barrel before being bottled in a custom decanter made from platinum, silver and 24-karat gold. The lengthy aging process adds cream, crystalized ginger, cherry, chocolate truffles, and hazelnut to its flavor profile in addition to the traditional extra anejo notes. $1,799.99. www.claseazul.com.