Brightest Young Things

*note: I didn't do a Cinco de Mayo post because I wanted this on Friday. ¡Olé!

For this fun Friday we're looking at the joys, the sorrows, and the violent upchucks around tequila. Everyone has a tequila story: you, your mother, the Pope, everyone. They might not all be as good as Michael's, but they typically run the same gamut of "I drank tequila, I don't know what happened but I think it was a bad idea, I got sick for a full day". It's really like a choose-your-own-adventure novel except everyone has the same ending:

Emotionally distraught-> drinking in large quantities sounds like a good idea -> you are so not getting back together with this person so stop trying -> puke.

You're barely legal -> cheap shots at the bar provided by strangers -> dancing on said bar -> puke.

Due to the proliferation of moments such as these, tequila has gotten a bad rap. It doesn't have to be this way! There is more to tequila than shots, margaritas, and Tila. Tequila can be refined and classy. It even has its own special glass, designed by Reidel. Open up your eyes past the Tequila Sunrise. They key to good tequila cocktails is, simply, good tequila (you saw that one coming, didn't you?). Tequila comes in many forms, from the ubiquitous yellow Cuervo (known as joven, as it is unaged) to blanco (unaged or can be aged for up to two months), Reposado (aged less than a year), Añejo (aged in oak a minimum of one year, but less than three) and Extra Añejo (oak barrel aged for a minimum of three years). The flavor of tequila comes from the oak, much like a whisky: it can get smooth, caramel notes, and be almost like nougat. Pick up a bottle that doesn't have a red plastic cowboy hat on it and try some tequila cocktails!

Tequila Old-Fashioned

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 splash of soda

Build first three ingredients in glass. Add splash of soda and stir. Add orange slice, pineapple spear, cherry, lemon twist, whatever fruit garnish you like. Serve in a highball.

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Tequila Fizz

• 2 oz Tequila
• 1 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 egg

Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain, then fill with soda.

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Tequila Collins

• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 1/2 oz Tequila

Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice, strain. Then fill with ice and soda and top off with cherry, lemon wedge and orange slice.
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Best Margarita Ever That You Can Make At Home

This one isn't hard; in fact, the only cocktail that would be easier is one that's pure liquor, on the rocks or straight. I say this is the best ever because too many people (yours truly while in college, for example) rely upon store bought mixes in bottles, powders, etc. that are simply too sweet to be any good. The best margarita isn't one that you can get for $2 at Chevy's, it's the one you make in your own home with simple, fresh ingredients. When I first made this it blew my mind because up until that point my perception of margaritas was thus: a frozen, sticky-sweet drink that gave me horrible hangovers and sugar rushes. I've since come to appreciate the simple, easy margarita (and appreciate the lack of horrific hangovers from a night out at Mexican restaurant).

Shake in iced cocktail shaker & strain

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz triple sec (or Grand Marnier if you have that on hand)

Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain (shake hard!). Serve in a margarita glass, cocktail glass, or a highball: whatever you have on hand, really.