Hip to Sip

Tequila ’Tini

This serve riffs on a trendy cocktail, the Mexican Martini. Shake 1½ oz of your choice of unaged tequila with ice and ½ oz olive brine (or more, to taste) until the shaker is too cold to hold. Pour into a salt-rimmed Martini glass and garnish with green olives. For a spicier take, replace brine and olives with brine and peppers from a jar of pickled jalapeños.

Milagro Silver Tequila

With a very smooth texture and intensely vegetal and peppery notes, this well-priced tequila is a brine’s best friend.

Tierra Noble Blanco Tequila

Herbaceous hints of mint and fennel in this tequila make a savoury combination with olive or pepper brine.

Sangrita on the Side

Many Mexicans start a meal by ordering a completo service: a short pour of tequila or mezcal and a small glass of sangrita (find our recipe here), a blend of juices and spices. Though they may come in shot-style glasses, they’re meant for sipping. Jalisco-style sangrita, from tequila’s main production area, has fruity and citrus notes. Oaxaca-style sangrita, from mezcal’s main home base, gets a dash of rich pomegranate and plenty of chili spice.

Siempre Tequila Chismé Blanco

Made from 100 per cent Blue Weber agave, this additive-free, clean-tasting blanco tequila comes at an unbeatable price, with soft citrus and pepper hints.

Casa Noble Reposado Tequila

Floral and herbal aromas distinguish this tequila, aged in French oak for a full year for round vanilla and toasty flavours.

Mezcal Agua Santa, Destilado con Pechuga

A special style of mezcal infused with local produce, this pechuga has complex flavours of candied fruit and herbs.

Summery Fruit Serve

Citrusy and floral notes in many tequilas complement fresh fruit beautifully. Muddle some strawberries, raspberries or even cucumber in the bottom of a cocktail tumbler before adding a 1½ oz serving of tequila and plenty of ice. Or slice and squeeze a juicy wedge of grapefruit or orange into an icy serving of tequila. Garnish with an aromatic sprig of mint, thyme or basil. Pouring over crushed ice is a trending, patio-perfect way to serve tequila.

Patrón Silver Tequila

Pink grapefruit or red berries are perfect crushes for this pristine tequila full of bright citrus, fresh melon and cucumber notes.

Firepit Sipper

For sipping around a campfire, or your backyard fire feature, accent a 1½ oz pour of smoky mezcal with some simple accoutrements. Freeze big cubes or spheres of ice, and add a glass rimmer made of smoked salt (perhaps mixed with Tajín seasoning or smoked paprika) and a garnish of charred lemon wheel and herb sprig. Fire up the grill to put some char on rosemary sprigs and lemon slices or wedges.

San Cosme Mezcal (Coming Soon!)

Gently smoky, this earthy mezcal tastes of caramelized agave with a spicy, white-pepper finish.