The increased demand for agave spirits is there for everyone to see. From celebrities and musicians backing tequila brands, recipe books for Mexican cocktails, mezcal tasting sessions, and beyond. Restaurants across the nation now boast tequila and food pairing evenings and truly unique mixology creations. Indicating a changing attitude toward these Mexican spirits. Once upon a time, tequila was about burn-your-throat shooters and silly sombreros, but not anymore.
Tequila offers something for everyone, from those looking for zany fun with friends to those seeking a classier affair. Meeting each of these demands are some of the hottest and trendiest venues in the country, let’s take a look.
Mezcalería Tobalá, Austin, Texas
Once a Mexican state, it should come as no surprise that Texans know their way around Mexican spirits. Amongst everything else, this most certainly includes knowing what to mix with tequila. This spot on 6th street is a wonderful place for tequila cocktail discovery, from those who know it well. Hidden, speakeasy-style above Whisler’s bar, Mezcalería Tobalá has a quieter ambiance than the bar below. Customers come here because of the impressive range of mezcal, tequila, and sotol. It is the bar staff and their wealth of knowledge and passion that keeps the customers coming back.
Mad Dog & Beans, New York, New York
This cantina offers almost 150 different tequilas and mezcals, with no more than 3 products from any one brand. This indicates the commitment that Mad Dogs & Beans has to a varied and diverse menu for its customers. The focus of this cantina is fun, displayed by the impressive 100-oz margarita tower, which groups of friends just love. This is by no means a low-end bar, however, offering top-quality spirits such as Avion tequila, and even the $ 64-a-shot Scorpion 7 mezcal. Come here with friends, and leave with a full stomach and a smile on your face.
Ámbar Restaurante, El Paso, Texas
El Paso’s Ámbar Restaurante has been added to lists such as these for decades, and will no doubt remain for more to come. This historic property has a spirit list that is every bit as striking and impressive as the building in which the bar is housed. With over 800 bottles of agave-based spirits, there are few bars in the country that can match its range. Drinking with friends in any one of its bars is a memorable experience that will keep drawing you back. The service here is impeccable and the staff has an outstanding level of expertise that they are more than happy to share. Drinking tequila and cocktails here is an education as much as it is an experience.
Electra Cocktail Club, Las Vegas, Nevada
Right in the heart of The Palazzo at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas you will find this sleek and classy establishment. Electra’s barman Sam Ross has set the standard for what great Vegas tequila bars look like, and few are even close to matching it. This exclusive bar is only open from Friday to Sunday, opening at 5 and closing at 1 am. Despite having relatively short opening hours for a Vegas cocktail lounge, this spot is very much about quality over quantity. With 35 outstanding tequilas on its menu, plus 70 mezcals, there is much to enjoy here. This is a bar that focuses on excellence in each raw ingredient. This approach, along with outstanding mixology concepts, ensures that every cocktail created here is of the very highest level.
And so, if you are looking for carefully crafted cocktails, special tequila bottles, bespoke bars, and genuine dedication to Mexican spirits, these are the best places in the US to find them.