Editing Tequila (section)

== Serving ==
[[File:Limones con sal..JPG|thumb|Salt and lime]]
{{See also|List of cocktails with tequila}}

In Mexico, the most traditional way to drink tequila is neat, without lime and salt. It is popular in some regions to drink fine tequila with a side of [[sangrita]]—a sweet, sour, and spicy drink typically made from orange juice, [[grenadine]] (or tomato juice), and hot chilli. Equal-sized shots of tequila and sangrita are sipped alternately, without salt or lime.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/kgk/2000/0500/completo.html | title = Recipe: Mexican Sangrita & Tequila "Completo" | access-date = 2008-04-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080517033848/http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/kgk/2000/0500/completo.html | archive-date = 2008-05-17 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Another popular drink in Mexico is the ''bandera'' (flag in Spanish), named after the [[Flag of Mexico]], it consists of three shot glasses, filled with lime juice (for the green), white tequila, and sangrita (for the red).

Outside Mexico, a single [[shot glass|shot]] of tequila is often served with salt and a slice of lime or lemon. This is called ''tequila cruda'' and is sometimes referred to as "training wheels", "lick-sip-suck", or "lick-shoot-suck" (referring to the way in which the combination of ingredients is imbibed). The drinkers moisten the back of their hands below the index finger (usually by licking) and pour on the salt. Then the salt is licked off the hand, the tequila is drunk, and the fruit slice is quickly bitten. Groups of drinkers often do this simultaneously. Drinking tequila in this way is often erroneously called a [[Tequila Slammer]],<ref>Spirits and Liqueurs, Andrew Durkan, McGraw-Hill, 1998; {{ISBN|0-8442-0038-7}}, {{ISBN|9780844200385}}</ref> which is in fact a mix of tequila and carbonated drink. Though the traditional Mexican shot is tequila by itself, lime is the fruit of choice when a chaser must be used.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.itequila.org/drink.htm | title = How To Drink Tequila | access-date = 2008-04-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080410114100/http://www.itequila.org/drink.htm | archive-date = 2008-04-10 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The salt is believed to lessen the "burn" of the tequila and the sour fruit balances and enhances the flavor. In Germany and some other countries, ''tequila oro'' (gold) is often consumed with [[cinnamon]] on a slice of orange after, while ''tequila blanco'' (white) is consumed with salt and lime.

[[File:Bandera of Mexican Tequila (retouched).jpg|thumb|Bandera of Mexican tequila]]
If the bottle of tequila does not state on the label that it is manufactured from 100% blue agave (no sugars added), then, by default, that tequila is a ''mixto'' (manufactured from at least 51% blue agave). Some tequila distilleries label their tequila as "made with blue agave" or "made from blue agave". The Tequila Regulatory Council has stated only tequilas distilled with 100% agave can be designated as "100% agave".<ref>[http://www.crt.org.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=182&lang=en Tequila Regulatory Council: Classification] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309183108/http://www.crt.org.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=182&lang=en |date=2012-03-09 }} Retrieved 2011-02-15</ref>

Many of the higher-quality, 100% agave tequilas do not impart significant alcohol burn,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/how-to-buy-and-taste-tequila-in-london-a3099161.html|title=How to buy and taste tequila in London|date=2015-10-26|newspaper=Evening Standard|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-25|archive-date=2017-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116141946/http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/how-to-buy-and-taste-tequila-in-london-a3099161.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and drinking them with salt and lime is likely to remove much of the flavor. These tequilas are usually sipped from a [[Snifter|snifter glass]] rather than a shot glass, and savoured instead of quickly gulped. Doing so allows the taster to detect subtler fragrances and flavors that would otherwise be missed.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jacinto, Rodolfo |url=http://www.tequilaknight.com/drinking-tequila.html |title=Ways Of Drinking Tequila |publisher=tequilaknight.com |access-date=2011-03-19 |archive-date=2011-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205111923/http://www.tequilaknight.com/drinking-tequila.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Tequila glasses===
[[File:Margarita glass 300x441.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A [[margarita]] glass]]

When served [[Neat (bartending)|neat]] (without any additional ingredients), tequila is most often served in a narrow shot glass called a ''caballito'' (little horse in Spanish),<ref>{{cite web | title=In search of the blue agave Part 7 of 14 | author=Chadwick, Ian | year=2004 | url=http://www.ianchadwick.com/tequila/buying.html | access-date=2006-09-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018132015/http://www.ianchadwick.com/tequila/buying.html | archive-date=2006-10-18 | url-status=dead }}</ref> but can often be found in anything from a [[snifter]] to a [[Glass (drinkware)#Tumblers|tumbler]].

The Consejo Regulador del Tequila approved an "official tequila glass" in 2002 called the Ouverture Tequila glass, made by [[Riedel (glass manufacturer)|Riedel]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.riedel.com/index.php?article_id=442&clang=0 | title=Riedel Introduces "THE OFFICIAL TEQUILA GLASS" | date=2002-04-12 | publisher=Riedel | access-date=2010-12-29 | archive-date=2010-12-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204170845/http://www.riedel.com/index.php?article_id=442&clang=0 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[margarita glass]], frequently rimmed with salt or sugar, is a staple for the entire genre of tequila-based mixed drinks, including the [[margarita]].

===Cocktails===
A variety of cocktails are made with tequila, including the [[margarita]], a cocktail that helped make tequila popular in the United States. The traditional margarita uses tequila, [[Cointreau]], and lime juice,<ref name=IBA_recipe>{{cite web|title=IBA recipe|url=http://www.iba-world.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=259&tmpl=component&task=preview&Itemid=532|publisher=IBA|access-date=3 May 2013|archive-date=25 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125192822/http://www.iba-world.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=259&tmpl=component&task=preview&Itemid=532|url-status=live}}</ref> though many variations exist. A popular cocktail in Mexico is the [[Paloma (cocktail)|''Paloma'']], which is traditionally a [[highball]] of tequila and a [[grapefruit]]-flavored soda, but can also be made as a carbonated [[sour (cocktail)|sour]] akin to a [[Tom Collins]] or [[gin rickey]] with tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and plain carbonated water. Also, a number of [[Martini (cocktail)|martini]] variants involve tequila, and a large number of tequila drinks are made by adding fruit juice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honey Paloma Fizz |url=https://lolodrinkcompany.com/products/honey-paloma-fizz |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=LOLO Drink Company |language=en}}</ref> These include the [[Tequila Sunrise (cocktail)|Tequila Sunrise]] and the [[Matador (cocktail)|Matador]]. Sodas and other carbonated drinks are a common mixer, as in the [[Tequila Slammer]]. Other popular cocktails are the ''Acapulco cocktail'',<ref name=Difford's_guide>{{cite web|title=Difford's Guide|url=https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/11/acapulco|publisher=Difford's Guide|access-date=3 May 2018|archive-date=6 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306111351/https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/11/acapulco|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chimayó Cocktail]], [[Mexican martini]], [[Mojito#Variations|Mojito Blanco]], [[Vampiro (cocktail)|Vampiro]] and Ranch Water.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spurr |first=Roger |date=2024-07-18 |title=Easy Ranch Water Cocktail Recipe |url=https://thehomecocktail.club/2024/07/18/ranch-water-cocktail/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=The Home Cocktail Club |language=en-US}}</ref>