I’m always far more interested in a company’s Blanco (aka Silver) tequila than its Reposado or Anejo versions. The latter are simply tequilas aged in wood, and granted, the wood does mellow the tequila. But it also robs the drink of some of its freshness. The floral and peppery aromas of the Mexican blue agave get subsumed by the wood’s butterscotch smells. I prefer the liveliest agave aromas possible. That’s why all of my favorite tequilas are Blanco versions. In alphabetical order:

1800 Select Silver

Ambhar Silver

Bracero Blanco

Cruz Silver

DeLeón Diamante Blanco

El Tesoro Silver

Familia Camarena Silver

Familia Partida Blanco

Pura Vida Silver

Riazul Silver

This article appears in 2011.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Wes Marshall is the author of What's a Wine Lover To Do? (Artisan) and The Wine Roads of Texas (Maverick), as well as the Executive Producer of the PBS television series of the same name. Wes has written for The Austin Chronicle since 1999, covering wine, cocktails, food, and travel.