Tequila shots can be found anywhere from a beach party to a bachelorette party and thousands of occasions in between. For a true aficionado though, sipping tequila is a passion that allows the notes of the drink to be experienced in a leisurely fashion. This is why good tequila should be sipped.
Sipping tequila requires a bit more than just a run of the mill shot glass. Granted, you can drink from anything that holds liquid, but according to an article by Tequila Influencer Tim Schmidt, using premium tequila glassware will help you create an experience. A glass that fits nicely in the hand, allows you to swirl the tequila, gives your nose the opportunity to take in the flavors before the drink even passes over your lips, and lastly, a smooth rim that allows you to slowly sip away at your drink.
Much like bourbon, there are a lot of different brands of tequila, each with varying levels of flavor. Some are great in shot form while others are more for sipping. Traditional sipping tequilas tend to be añejo or extra añejo tequila. Aged for no less than three years, these are smooth sipping with hints of vanilla, agave, and a floral scent. Extra añejo tequila is the most expensive tequila and as such deserves to be served in a glass that gives the drinker a chance to experience why good tequila should be sipped.
If you have some nice whiskey glasses in your bar arsenal, they will work just fine for tequila. If you don’t or would like to have specific glasses for your tequila, there are a lot of options out there. Not all glasses are created equal, if you want a nice looking, quality glass expect to pay $35 plus for a set of two glasses. Yes, you will spend a bit of money but you will have something that will last and look good while you enjoy your tequila.
While you may not be sipping tequila every evening, the times you do enjoy it should be comfortable and allow you to enjoy all that your tequila has to offer. Having a nice glass just for that occasion, makes the whole experience stand out even more. Whether you are taking time for yourself or hosting a party, a good glass will make the occasion seem special. Something that is easy to carry and sits comfortably in the hand makes those awkward party conversations less awkward when you aren’t having hand craps from an ill-fitting glass.
At the end of the day, quality tequila needs to be sipped out of a quality glass. Take some time to look through your current bar glasses and if you don’t have one that fits the bill, get out there and find a glass or set of glasses that will make your tequila proud. It isn’t only about getting it from the bottle to your mouth. Allowing the fragrance of the tequila to hit your nose before your taste buds enhances the whole experience, this takes a glass with a wide mouth. A heavy base helps keep the glass from tipping when you get tipsy. Thick walls on the glass help keep it in one piece when the toasting gets a bit aggressive. There are a lot to choose from, the most important thing is your happiness when hold the glass.
The best ones are those that are indestructible, because when you drink tequila there are plenty of accidents and I prefer that if one of those little glasses falls, they don’t break.