There’s a Day for every day, apparently, but National Tequila Day is one I can get behind. Years after college, I realized that the blue agave plant makes something much better than Jose Cuervo, which tastes more like a rubber tire than a fine alcohol. In other words, if you think you hate tequila, chances are you just haven’t tried a good one yet.
So, in the spirit (pun intended) of my favorite liquor, here are five ways you can better appreciate July 24, National Tequila Day.
1. Bernie shot
Invented at Door County’s JJ La Puerta in Sister Bay, the "Bernie" is a better way to do a shot of tequila. It must be done with with Cazadores tequila (which is an excellent inexpensive spirit). Instead of a lime, use an orange. Instead of salt, sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on the orange. You’ll never go back to licking, slamming and sucking.
2. Cube Tracker
Look, you may lose your keys today. Tequila will do that. There are a handful of bluetooth key trackers on the market, but this one is a little different. Compared to Tile, it has a user-replaceable battery and is smaller. Compared to Trackr, it’s more durable (mine broke after just a few weeks). Cube is a little chunkier than I’d like, but it just works. And for $24.95, it comes with an extra battery.
3. Zaca tablets
National Tequila Day may leave you feeling a little dehydrated. Your best way to combat that is to drink less tequila. That being said, an herbal supplement might kickstart things a little. I’ve tried a few on the market, and didn’t notice a huge difference (but I'm a pretty sensitive individual when it comes to hangovers). I haven’t found myself in a position to need the Zaca product sent to me as a press sample (yet), but here’s what it claims: It is a multipurpose, entirely natural supplement that blends herbs, antioxidants and electrolytes to accelerate recovery after a night of drinking, extensive travel or a particularly rigorous workout. Worth a shot, right?
4. Milwaukee map rocks glasses
Sipping tequila is the way to go (ignore my above advice about shots), and doing so in a Milwaukee etched rocks glass is a classy upgrade. These 11-ounce glasses have a map of Milwaukee with its latitude and longitude on the side. A pair from Uncommon Green is just $16.
5. El Jimador Reposado
I couldn’t leave out a tequila recommendation from this listicle. My personal favorite is El Jimador. Tequila snobs will spit at this choice; sure, there are far more high-end choices out there. But El Jimador Reposado is cheap, smooth and tastes like Brewers Spring Training in Phoenix. It’s one of those familiar flavors, either in a margarita or in a shot. Chances are, if Jimmy is involved, it’s gonna be a good night.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
