Tequila and Cinco de Mayo, a mix steeped in tradition
By Emily Hulme, ehulme@am-ny.com
April 28, 2008, 3:11 PM PDT
Cinco de Mayo marks the anniversary of the Battle of Pueblo in 1862, when the Mexican forces overthrew the French. It is not, as mistakenly believed, Mexican Independence Day -- that's September 16. It is also not a very important holiday in Mexico; on May 6, 1862, the French forces retook the ground they lost.
That being said, there's no denying that the fifth of May is an excellent day to sit back with a margarita or two. We spoke with Brian Van Flandern, an expert on Don Julio Tequila, about the holiday and its associated drink.
What is it about Cinco De Mayo that makes us reach for the tequila?
It's not a coincidence that it's three weeks after tax day. People are getting their checks back and they want to unwind and celebrate, but they're not just ordering any cocktail. It's almost a celebration of the margarita, which of course is the No. 1 ordered cocktail in the world.
Where did the holiday association come from?
In Mexico, they're very highly amused at their neighbors to the north because the true Mexican Independence Day as far as the average Mexican is concerned is September 15. [The Battle of Pueblo] was a relatively obscure battle in the history of Mexico, and the next day the French fought back and won. They were later ousted again, but that was not a particularly celebrated day in Mexico. However, having said that, in the United States, I suspect it came a little bit out of marketing.
There are people who have had bad experiences with tequila. Have you come up against any people who have refused to drink it for that reason?
Well, that's true of any spirit, but it all comes down to drinking responsibly, in moderation. Having said that, I will say this: There are two major types of tequila in the world. One is referred to as a mixto, and that is a blend of unspecified sugars, 51 percent agave and then it can have a caramel coloring and/or glycerin added into it. [The other type is 100 percent agave, with no additives]. [Mixto] is what [many] Americans grew up on and it is almost certainly what the vast majority of people who do not "enjoy" tequila have had.
Are there any mistakes people make in mixing margaritas?
Using low quality distillates, ergo using a mixto tequila. Using a low-quality orange liqueur, a low-quality triple sec. Then, you have to use fresh-squeezed lime juice. It is absolutely critical to a well-balanced cocktail.
So you wouldn't recommend picking up a bottle of margarita mix?
There are some good mixes out there if you're in a hurry and you're entertaining for lots and lots of people. However, there is absolutely no substitution for fresh.
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