Put down that shot glass! Not because we’re encouraging you not to drink – don’t be silly – but because you are probably cheating whatever tequila is in that glass. See, glassware counts for a lot when it comes to how you taste and experience tequila. The traditional shot glass (referred to in Mexico as a “caballito”) just doesn’t do tequila justice. The caballito leaves little room for aeration of the spirit, which is necessary to release all the rich aromas.
The “official” tequila tasting glass made by Riedel is great, but how many bars do you go to that have Riedels? Not many, because they are delicate and relatively expensive. Given the inadequacy of shot glasses and rarity of Riedel tequila glasses, you need to do some experimenting to find out which glass is right for your sipping.
Tequila consultant David Ruiz shows us the proper way to select glassware for you tequila enjoyment. David is founder and organizer of the World International Tequila Conference and gives private tequila tours and consultations through TequilaTours.com.
So, watch and learn, because the right glassware choice can make a difference when it comes to whether you simply like a tequila or whether you love it.
(Coming up in Part 2: Finding the right glass to taste añejo tequilas.)
-Scarlet
Excellent post!!
In regards to the “how to’s” of tasting, I think that the popularity of blanco tequila is enhanced by incorrect tasting and the taste bud receptors shutting down as Mr. Ruiz stated.
Great work, and I look forward to more.
Salud!
Chris
Great Post. Info was great, Notice the large Brandy snifter was larger. Could you tell what size of glass it was? Thank you!
These are good points I hadn’t considered. My observation has been that evaporation (and O2 reaction for all I know) of the molecules in the drink seem to slightly change the taste if it’s exposed to air too long. And while the aroma is there to be enjoyed, if you’re like me and you want to keep the flavour of the liquid as close to its original state from when it was bottled, you may find you can get the benefits of the aroma whilst limiting the taste change by storing it in small amounts in a flask and drinking out of that — there’s enough space for the aroma to fill the volume of the container to critical saturation, limiting evaporation while allowing the scent to emerge when you open it for a sip. This might not be practical (or as civilised as a glass) if you’re drinking at a bar, but if you like a bit of your favourite tequila flavour when you’re outdoors on on the trail keep this it in mind! Pepe Lopez makes a great glass flask product, which is perfect to repurpose with your brand. Yum.