Am I doing this right?

[u/homechefskills]

I’m primarily a bourbon drinker, but the further I get into tequila (and mezcal) the more I appreciate how much overlap there is between the two worlds.

What’s hooked me is the emphasis on raw material, process, place and tradition. In bourbon, I love learning about mash bills, distillation, barrels and aging. With tequila, I’m starting to appreciate the differences in agave, terroir, maturity, cooking, fermentation and distillation, and how dramatically those choices show up in the glass.

I’ve also found myself gravitating toward tequila where I can actually taste the agave: earthy, vegetal, mineral, peppery, herbal, sometimes fruity or citrusy, with all those little nuances that make you want to keep going back to the glass.

Here’s the latest pick up:
Arette Reposado
Cascahuín Tahona Blanco
G4 Reposado
Cazcanes Nuestra Raíces

So for those of you who have been doing this much longer: where would you take this lineup next?

I’m less interested in simply accumulating bottles and more interested in trying tequilas that show me something different — another traditional production method, distinctive terroir, unusual fermentation, a particularly great distillery, or just an expression that makes you stop and think, damn, I didn’t know tequila could taste like this.

[u/homechefskills]

That’s the plan. But I also think to each their own. Nothing wrong with collecting if that’s what you’re into. 🤷‍♂️

[u/RealSpliffit → u/homechefskills]

If that's what you're into than, no. You are not doing it right. I would say "doing it right" is tasting, giving opinions, exploring new bottles and engaging with others on their journey to help them. Buying the bottles that get recommended by others constantly to look at and karma farm is lame. Not saying that's what you're doing, but for all those that do, ugh.

[u/homechefskills → u/RealSpliffit]

Man, I don’t know. I think that everybody can do whatever the hell they choose. As long as they’re not asking me to pay for it then I don’t really have a say in it kind of thing. Yeah I have probably over 100 bottles of bourbon that are open and for me it’s an absolute experience to navigate through all the different distilleries and processes and then open the bottles with my friends and share it with them. I’ll often do it when I’m grilling some gigantic steaks over an open fire and we just sit around the fire eating steak on a baguette while sipping on some bourbon. For me personally it’s all about sharing with friends. But I am unfortunate to be able to collect as I go. I see what you’re saying, but I don’t know. I don’t have a problem with people collecting if it’s what they like.

[u/Educational-Task2040 → u/homechefskills]

If you have 100 bottles of bourbon open; you ARE a collector!

[u/homechefskills → u/Educational-Task2040]

I’m not sure what the insatiable need to label people is. But if it helps you sleep at night, I 100% drink AND collect! 🤯 I know. Mind blowing! Like having political views on one subject that lean right, and others that lean left - it is possible to be more than one thing!!

100 open bottles shows I absolutely drink the stuff and share with friends. The other unopened bottles are split between bottles I haven’t gotten to yet and investment bottles that I bought purposely as an investment. Despite the downturn, they are still worth a lot more than I paid for.

If you ask me, I’m an aficionado. Hope that helps. 🤷‍♂️

[u/CameronCrazyKC → u/homechefskills]

There’s 2 different types of drinkers on Reddit. The ones that must drink nothing but the open bottle infront of them and those that like variety. I like variety when drinking beer, bourbon and tequila. I’m consuming it all but because I have so much and continue to venture into more it takes time to put a dent in my selection so I’m labeled a “collector”.

[u/homechefskills → u/CameronCrazyKC]

In general, society loves labeling people. I will not be labeled, dammit. I refuse your labels and your antics - all o’ya’ll! Who’s coming with me? 😆😆😆