It’s certainly fair to say that tequila is having its moment. If you ever needed a good excuse to sip on a spicy margarita or a smooth reposado, National Tequila Day would be it. Besides the obvious allure of a tangy, cold margarita on a hot day, July 24th is also a celebration of the culture, heritage and history behind this versatile libation.
Want some fun facts to impress your friends? Tell them all about how tequila as we know it goes back centuries to the town of Tequila, Mexico, where, in the early 1500s, the casks ran dry, so the thirsty Spaniards began to produce it using techniques similar to those they used to distill brandy. However, the origins of tequila can be dated as far back as 250-300 A.D. when the Aztecs fermented the juice of the agave to create a ceremonial wine called pulque.
While tequila is technically a type of mezcal, not all mezcal is tequila. The main difference is that while mezcal can be made from different types of agave plants, tequila only uses blue agave. It can also only legally be classified as tequila if it's made in areas surrounding the state of Jalisco, Mexico, similar to how champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France.
And if that weren’t enough, tequila has grown so much in popularity that it now represents nearly one-third of spirit sales in the US. That’s probably why celebrities such as Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and Mark Wahlberg have jumped into the mix by launching their own tequila brands.
Now that you’re well-versed in this tantalizing spirit, here are some local watering holes where you can put your knowledge to good use.
Grapevine sports bar and restaurant BoomerJack’s at 201 W. State Hwy. 114 will be offering $5 Jack Rita’s all day. Thirsting for something more exotic? They also have a limited-edition Jack’s Peach-A-Rita until Aug. 25, which is shaken with peach purée and peach schnapps, served with a Tajin and kosher salt rim and garnished with a peach Tajin gummy ring and lime. The small is $9 and the tall is $11.
Chuy’s never disappoints, and this year, they’re featuring all-day drink specials for dine-in customers at 1221 E. State Hwy. 114 in Southlake. On July 24, you can make any of their famous regular House Rocks 'Ritas or House Frozen 'Ritas a Grande for just $2 more. They’re also offering $1 floaters and $5 Top-Shelf tequila shots.
For any true tequila lover, Mi Dia From Scratch is the place to be. At its Grapevine location at 1295 S. Main St., guests are greeted by their signature Tequila Tower centerpiece, which features over 120 tequilas for you to choose from. They even have a selection of tequilas on tap, and you can try one of their famous tequila tasting flights starting at $13. For the month of July, whet your palate with their tequila of the month, Milagro Tequila, by itself or in the limited-time Summer Peach Margarita. During Happy Hour, weekdays from 3–6 PM, take $2 off the Margarita of the Month and any cocktail using the Tequila of the Month.
Every day is a good day for tequila day at Southlake darling Moxies, located at 1472 Main St., where you can test out tequila-infused versions of classic cocktails. Fan favorites include the Smoked Mezcal Old Fashioned, featuring Código 1530 Artesenal Aezcal, El Tesoro Reposado Tequila, Whistlepig smoked maple syrup and orange bitters and the Tequila Espresso Martini, crafted with Flecha Azul Reposado Tequila, Kahlúa, Caffè Borghetti, espresso and cane sugar. For those wanting a tequila-forward treat, don’t miss the Passion Fruit Ranch Water, made from Corazón Blanco Tequila, Monin passion fruit, lime juice and San Pellegrino.
For a happy hour to impress, head to Truluck's at 1420 Plaza Plaza in Southlake, which will offer customers 50% off select tequilas on July 24th from 4-6 p.m. They also have two happy hour specialty tequila-based cocktails that you won’t want to miss: the Spicy Blackberry Margarita, a tangy blend of tequila, orange liqueur, blackberry purée, habañero syrup and lime for $8.75, and the Tru Story, a tropical blend of blanco tequila, Licor 43, pineapple, guava and lime for $8.50.