When the weather cools down, wine and spirits drinkers tend to reach for warmer, spicier beverages. Think: hot toddies, bourbon neat, and bold Cabernet Sauvignon.

But there’s a new trend emerging that you may not have seen coming. And we’re here for it.

You may think of tequila as a party spirit for summer. Margaritas, anyone?

But tequila is so much more than a base spirit for hot weather.

“Tequila is a fantastic spirit because it comes in all different forms,” says Wally’s Lead Mixologist Brandon (“Brando”) Fay.

It can be distilled once, twice, even three or four times to produce an incredibly smooth spirit. It can be aged in a range of barrels that give it warm, spicy characteristics you’d expect in whiskey.

And it can be a very versatile spirit to use in your favorite cocktails, as you’ll discover in Fay’s handiwork below.

Read on for some of the best reasons to drink tequila this winter, along with our favorite pours and cocktails from Fay.

Tequila Has the Perfect Tasting Notes For Winter

Tequilas from Jalisco, as well as other agave spirits from Mexico, have a surprising range and diversity. Many of their flavors are reminiscent of the warm and spicy flavors we associate with winter foods and drinks.

“Tequila has an amazing range of flavor profiles, from vanilla and oakiness like a Chardonnay, to spiced notes of cardamom,” says Fay. That’s why he loves using this versatile spirit in his cocktails at Wally’s.

Get to know the age of your tequila: Tequila can be sold unaged, as a blanco tequila, or aged. If it’s aged, the name on the label will tell you how long it has spent aging in the barrel. 

• A blanco tequila is unaged and bottled right after distillation.
• A reposado tequila has aged for 2-12 months.
• An anejo tequila has aged for 1-3 years.
• An extra anejo tequila has aged for 3 or more years.

Understand how the barrel affects tequila's flavor: Most tequilas that are aged are rested in oak barrels made from French oak or American oak.The type and age of the oak barrels can lend different flavors to the tequila.

Does that remind you of wine tasting? In fact, the more you learn about tequila’s tasting notes, the more you’ll discover how similar it can be to experiencing wine. 

• If the producer has aged the tequila in used American oak, that will bring a more charred vanilla flavor to the tequila, similar to domestic whiskies.
• Reposado tequilas with warmer vanilla notes are a great replacement for whiskey in cocktails such as an Old Fashioned or Hot Toddy.
• If the producer uses new French or American oak, it gives the tequila buttery, lactic notes, similar to rich white wines like Chardonnay.
• Anejo and Extra Anejo tequilas that have been aged in oak longer can also take on more notes from the barrel. These may include cherry, stone fruits, and wine flavors if the barrel was used in wine production. These types of Anejo and Extra Anejo tequila a great option for stirred drinks like a Boulevardier, or sipped neat.
• Unaged or young blanco tequilas can have vegetal or earthy notes, like fresh bell pepper or gravel. These fresh tequilas can be perfect in citrus drinks, such as a spicy margarita.

How to Pair Your Tequila With Winter Foods 

Just like wine, tequilas can offer a range of wonderful aromas and tasting notes to enjoy. And similarly, you can pair different types of tequila with different foods to highlight the desired flavors. Here’s what Fay recommends:

Fresh flavors: Blanco tequilas with fresh, herbal flavors are a great match for fish dishes, especially if they have grilled vegetables or herbal seasonings. The bright citrus notes in blanco tequilas are also great with citrus dishes, such as orange chicken. Try a Wally’s favorites Casa Azul Blanco Tequila or Casa Dragones Blanco Tequila.

Intense flavors: When a high-quality reposado or anejo tequila is double- or triple-distilled, it can produce a spirit with intense smoothness and flavor. These characteristics make the tequila enjoyable with rich, hearty dishes like mole or pulled pork. One delicious option is double-distilled Cabal Anejo Tequila.

Warm spicy flavors: The aging process of anejo or extra anejo tequilas can bring the same characteristics and warmth of a whiskey or brown spirit. These flavors can be a great pair for rich, savory dishes like grilled steak or herbed chicken. Try Tequila Ocho Anejo for a taste of these sweet, spicy notes.

Smokey flavors: The smokey notes in agave spirits like Mezcal can be a great way to highlight smokey foods or ingredients, such as brisket or bacon. Rancho De La Luna Mezcal is a fantastic choice here. In addition, a sweeter extra anejo or cristalino, like Maestro Dobel Cristalino Extra Anejo Tequila, can bring a delicious balance to these kinds of smokey foods.

Chocolate flavors: Anejo tequila is perfect for desserts and sweets, especially those containing chocolate. The luscious flavors in the tequila naturally amplify the sweet notes in the food. Try Santo Anejo Tequila for a great dessert sipper.

How Should I Drink Tequila This Winter?

Whether you’re making cocktails at home or enjoying them at Wally’s, there are many great ways to have tequila this winter.

Spiced Old Fashioned: Substitute the usual whiskey with a reposado or anejo tequila to give your Old Fashioned a fantastic boost of sweetness, spice and flavor. We love Casa Azul Anejo for this.

Sour Cocktails: Any cocktail with a citrus or sour component that’s balanced with sugar is considered a “sour” cocktail. Well-known examples would be the Whiskey Sour or Daiquiri. Replacing whiskey or rum with a fresh tequila, such as Lalo Blanco Tequila, will instantly uplift and enhance your drink.

Hot Toddy: This classic winter drink is normally a blend of whiskey, honey, lemon juice, and hot water. But if you use reposado or anejo tequila, you’ll aerate the notes of the agave and get to enjoy even more incredible flavors. Komos Reposado Rosa Tequila is a great option for this.

Neat: When you drink good tequila neat, you’ll start to notice that the nose can be different from the taste, just like wine. The more complex the variety of flavors, the more well-produced and high-quality the spirit.

Come into Wally’s to enjoy perfect winter tequila cocktails at the bar or your table: 

Fig’et About It: This smooth tequila fig sour is a delicious blend of barrel-aged Santo Anejo Tequila balanced with house made fig jam.

Mile High Club: This drink is based off the aviation cocktail, but substitutes gin with smokey Rancho de la Luna Mezcal for a rich, herbal flavor.

Skyfall: Using quadruple-distilled Patron El Cielo and dry vermouth, this smooth and delicate cocktail is the next level for negroni lovers.

The Eiza: Wally’s spicy margarita is made with Casa Azul Blanco Tequila and Damiana Liqueur to give you an elevated and fiery take on the classic.

Make a reservation at a Wally’s near you to come in and enjoy our full cocktail list! Or shop our full tequila selection online to enjoy a great winter beverage at home.