Need Advice!

[Border Town Pub]

I am no expert by any means. I own a small bar in a small town. Most of my clientelle think they know tequila but then drink Jose or Patron Silver. I do have a small hispanic crowd too, mostly, construction and farm workers.

I would like to stock about 10 different good but affordable tequilas. Maybe have a club where if they try them all then they get on shot of their choice free. This is why I am turning to the experts for advice. I would like to keep the choices @ around $45 or less. Here is what I currenty stock:

Tres Generaciones - Anejo
Patron - Silver/Anejo/Resposado
Jose Cuervo - Gold
1800 - Resposado
Cabo Wabo - Resposado
Corzo - Resposado

Based on my crowd, what would you suggest?

[MrAgave]

We can recommend brands all day long, but the question is: Can you get those brands from your local distributor?

Where are you located, and do you have a list of products that are available to you?

[Border Town Pub]

We are 50 miles southeast of Chicago Here is the list from one of our two distributors we have to buy from by law.

Arandas
Asombroso
Cabo Wobo
Cactus Jack
Cazadores
Conquistador
Corzo
Distillers Pride
El Conquistador
El Loro G
El Tesoro
Frida Kahlo
Giro
La Certaza
Los Arango
Margaritaville
Patron
Sauza
Tobasco
Talapa Mezcal
Tequila Tezon
Tierras
Tres Rios
Two Fingers

Any winners in this group? I have to search the other distributors website for their list. This is Southern Wine & Spirits list, the other company is Wirtz Beverage, formally Judge & Dolph

[Border Town Pub]

Here is the other distributors list:

1800
Antiquo
Azul
Casa Noble
Corralejo
Chaya
Cinco Blanco
Corazon
Cuervo
Don Eduardo
Don Julio
El Jimador
Gran Centanario
Herradura
Maestro Dobel
Milaqro
Peeblo Viejo
Pepe Lopez
Prestige
Roseangel
San Matias
Santoro
Siete Lequas
Sotol Hacienda
Tequila Ocho

Some many tequilas. They all can't be good, can they?

[MrAgave]

I'm not sure if you are saying you want to add 10 bottles total, or 10 brands... as there are typically a blanco, reposado, and anejo from each brand.

Here are some good brands that you really can't go wrong with, and should fall around your price range.

El Tesoro
Tierras
Casa Noble
Siete Leguas
Antiguo (less expensive, comparable to El Jimador and Herradura)
Tezon
Don Eduardo
San Matias (if it is the Gran Reserva, extra anejo, 100%)
Herradura Anejo
Don Julio

Check out the member ratings if you have trouble deciding:
http://www.tequila.net/top_rated_bottles.html

[wichie13]

I second Mr A's recommandations but would add from your lists

Sotol Hacienda, Corralejo, Cazadores, as maybe some cheaper well known brands that are still decent.

Maybe add Asom Broso Blanco for shock appeal and its not overly expensive. Not very complex stuff but easy to drink, good for customers new to quality tequila.

Originally Posted by MrAgave

I'm not sure if you are saying you want to add 10 bottles total, or 10 brands... as there are typically a blanco, reposado, and anejo from each brand.

Here are some good brands that you really can't go wrong with, and should fall around your price range.

El Tesoro
Tierras
Casa Noble
Siete Leguas
Antiguo (less expensive, comparable to El Jimador and Herradura)
Tezon
Don Eduardo
San Matias (if it is the Gran Reserva, extra anejo, 100%)
Herradura Anejo
Don Julio

Check out the member ratings if you have trouble deciding:
Tequila Brands, Ratings and Reviews - TEQUILA.net

[totallytequila]

Originally Posted by Border Town Pub

I do have a small hispanic crowd too, mostly, construction and farm workers. Based on my crowd, what would you suggest?

And I second Wichie's choices......both Corralejo and Cazadores would be very well known and popular choices for your Latin customers. Also from a business standpoint you could turn a nice profit without over pricing those two particular brands. IMHO, the Herradura label would also be a familiar choice and provide quality a notch above the two. Your distributors provide you with many nice choices. Stick with the "100% de agave" labels to display on your shelves and you will gain a reputation for serving quality tequila. Save the cheap stuff for those who don't care either way or for house margaritas. Better yet, maybe you can educate and convert them into mixing and sipping on the real juice! Good luck with your business!

[drudnick]

Given some of the comments i have read on here, I am surprised no one suggested Tequila Ocho. I know my wife really enjoyed it when she tried it.

Unless its alittle higher in price and not as well known a brand yet??

[Border Town Pub]

MrAgave mentioned there are typically a blanco, reposado, and anejo from each brand. How do I decide which one to get for each brand. I was under the impression that blanco or silver is aged the least amount of time, yet my people will only drink Patron Silver and shy away from the resposado and anejo. Yet when I was shipped the wrong bottle and got 1800 silver, they would not touch it. I would rather have more names then having each type in one brand. Is there any rule to this?

I would like to narrow it down to 5 choices from the posts at this stage including at least one or two of the recommendations that were posted for my hispanic clientelle.

Don Julio seemed to be highly rated on information I have read on this site. Names people can relate to might help. People Relate to Patron and Cobo. This does not make it good, but the name helps to sell it.

They will pay $10 for a shot of Remy XO when they can get Remy VSOP for $5. I personally do not notice much difference in taste, but they are buying a name.

They will pay $6 for a shot of Patron but bauk at paying that price on tequilas thay have not heard of even though they are probably better.

[chefrob]

Your other distributor list seems to have better selections. I totally agree with the Tequila Ocho recommendation. Their whole line is superb, but I love their blanco. I don't know your distributor's price structure so Ocho and a few others may or may not be within your budget. Anejos are generally much more pricy than blancos.

Some must haves in terms of flavor and quality are:
Casa Noble
Siete Lequas
El Tesoro
Ocho

Some decent all-around choices include:
Chaya
Asombroso
Corazon
Don Eduardo
Corzo
Tezon
Tierras

And since you own a bar, you might want some juice that people may be familiar with, such as:
1800
Don Julio
Milaqro
Cazadores
Patron
Sauza