{"id":15256,"date":"2026-07-31T14:05:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/?p=15256"},"modified":"2026-07-31T14:05:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:05:23","slug":"how-to-drink-tequila","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themixer.com\/en-uk\/learn\/how-to-drink-tequila\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Drink Tequila: Sipping, Serving and the Best Mixers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tequila has long had a funny way of dividing opinion. Mention in the 2000s that tequila was your favourite spirit and, sooner or later, someone would tell you \u2013 with all the confidence of someone stating an unquestionable fact \u2013 that it wasn’t in the same league as the other spirits behind the bar.<\/p>\n

That might have been how some people saw tequila back then, but it has long since earned its place among the world’s most respected spirits. Bartenders, distillers, and tequila enthusiasts have spent years proving just how diverse, complex, and rewarding the spirit can be, whether it’s sipped neat or shaken into a cocktail.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article is a small tribute to them \u2013 and a guide to drinking tequila the way it deserves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start with the basics:<\/b> how tequila is made<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>the story of blue agave<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Blue<\/p>\n

What is the best way to drink tequila?<\/h2>\n

There isn’t a single right answer. It all comes down to the style you’ve chosen, the occasion and your own taste. But generally, if you’re wondering how to drink good tequila, there are three main approaches. You can enjoy it neat to appreciate its character, serve it as a shot for social occasions, or mix it into simple drinks and classic cocktails. And despite what popular culture might suggest, salt and lime are entirely optional.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best advice on how to drink tequila for beginners? Forget the rules. Start with a quality tequila, like the <\/span>Espol\u00f2n range<\/span><\/a>, try it in a few different serves and discover which style you enjoy most.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Bar<\/p>\n

How to drink tequila straight or neat<\/h2>\n

The terms “straight” and “neat” are often used interchangeably, but there’s a slight difference. In bartending, <\/span>neat<\/b> means a spirit served at room temperature, with no ice, water or mixers. <\/span>Straight<\/b> is commonly used to mean the same thing, although it can sometimes refer to a spirit that’s been chilled and strained. For most tequila drinkers, though, drinking tequila straight simply means enjoying it neat.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re wondering how to <\/span>drink tequila for sipping<\/b>, pour a small measure into a tasting glass, rocks glass or stemmed spirit glass and sip it slowly. Taking your time lets the tequila’s aromas and flavours open up, making it easier to appreciate the character of the agave.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Espol\u00f2n<\/p>\n

Different styles of tequila<\/span><\/a> can all be enjoyed neat, but each offers a slightly different experience:<\/span><\/p>\n