A Better Way to Drink Tequila

The problem with tequila is that most people are drinking it wrong. They knock it back in a shot glass, and then wonder why they feel so terrible the next day. (Go here to find out The Truth about Tequila and Your Hangover.) But tequila is one of those alcohols which should sipped rather than slammed. Not just to avoid that post-shot grimace, but because sipping tequila might actually be good for you.

“A single tequila drink consumed slowly over an hour can have great benefits if consumed several times a week,” says Eric B. Rimm, a Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. “It benefits your good cholesterol as well as reducing your body’s insulin resistance and also the propensity for your blood to clot, which ultimately is what causes a heart attack and most strokes.”


Here are five ways to enjoy a slow taste of tequila that don't involve licking salt off your hand.

1. Blend It with Grapefruit
Margaritas are fantastic, but in Mexico the paloma reigns supreme. Go with a tequila labeled “100% agave,” and then use the following recipe—courtesy of Jay Silverman, bar manager at Agave in New York City.

Ginger Paloma
2 oz Blanco tequila
1 oz aperol
2 oz grapefruit juice
1 tbsp agave nectar
1 tbsp lime juice
2 oz ginger beer

Combine everything except the ginger beer in an ice-filled shaker and stir. Strain into a collins glass and top with the ginger beer. Add a pinch of salt and a slice of grapefruit. The salt rim is optional, but to make a killer rim, mix 1 tablespoon each of sugar, lime zest, and ground cayenne with 2 tablespoons of salt.

2. Drink It with Sushi
Instead of sake, opt for blanco (white, unaged) tequila, served neat.

“It pairs beautifully with fatty fish like tuna and salmon,” says Ken Arnone, a certified master chef and the owner of KA-CMC, a culinary consulting company.

3. Make a Boozy Syrup
Mix 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup triple sec, and 1/2 cup each of water and tequila. Bring to a boil, stir for a minute, and let cool.

Drizzle it over berries for an awesome dessert, says Aaron Sanchez, co-owner of Johnny Sanchez in New Orleans.

4. Swap It In for Whiskey
The barrel flavors in anejo—tequila aged for one to three years—make it “wonderful neat or with ice,” says Mike Morales, CEO of Tequila Aficionado Media.

Better yet, use it to replace rye or bourbon in your next Manhattan or old-fashioned. (They're one of the Drink Recipes Every Man Should Know.)



5. Brew a Fiery Infusion
Combine a fifth of blanco with the pith and seeds of three or four medium jalapenos; wait 10 to 20 minutes.

Taste for heat, strain the liquor back into the bottle, and use it to spice cocktails, says Philip Ward of Mayahuel in Manhattan.

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Article source: http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/5-new-uses-for-tequila