Make It With Tequila: Swap Vodka, Rum Or Gin In Classic Drinks With A Twist
Tequila is used as the base spirit to prepare several fruit-forward, tropical mixes, including a thoroughly well-made fruity tequila sunrise or a citrusy margarita. And when you find yourself behind the bar with only this spirit at your disposal for blending drinks, it can be put to use as an interesting swap, with spirits like vodka, rum, or gin. The agave spirit brings earthiness, citrusy brightness, and a rustic effect into several such cocktails.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how this swap can impact the body, taste, and style of blends when it is used in lieu of other white spirits:
Can tequila replace vodka in cocktails?
Yes, in fact, many times tequila can add more depth to drinks that otherwise appear neutral on account of the vodka. An interesting illustration of this is the Moscow mule swap, the tequila mule. This cocktail acquires a spicier, more complex flavour when the peppery, bright base of 30 ml tequila is added to the blend, interacting with the sharp zing of about 60 ml ginger beer.
What about rum? Is tequila a good substitute in rum-based drinks?
Many times, tequila can be used in place of rum while blending drinks like a tequila mojito or tequila daiquiri. In both these cocktails, the tart and bright notes of the drink remain intact, yet they acquire a slightly more herbaceous and dry quality with the addition of 30 ml of tequila. Instead of the rum’s sweetness, the drinks get a bit of a lean and fresh quality that is quite intriguing.
Does tequila work well in tropical cocktail swaps?
This is one place where tequila might cause a hiccup. In cocktails like the piña colada, tequila clashes with the creamy depth of coconut cream and the sweet, sour edge of pineapple to produce more of a contradictory vegetal quality that might not become a flavourful contrast.
For such tiki mixes, rum’s tropical depth is the way to go. It is the molasses-rich effect of the rum that will match the dense flavours of the other mixers to craft really creamy and richly flavoured blends, which is difficult to achieve with the citrusy taste of tequila.
Also Read: Only Vodka In The Home Bar? Here’s How To Use It Instead Of Gin, Rum Or Tequila
Can tequila stand in for gin too?
Put simply, tequila can stand in for gin, but it significantly alters the profile of these cocktails. For instance, shifting to tequila in place of gin while crafting a negroni leads to a markedly drier and earthier flavour profile in the drink.
Another cocktail that can be recreated with a tequila swap is a tequila Collins instead of a Tom Collins. Expect a tangy highball complete with the vibrant interaction of tequila and lime juice, finished off with a rustic touch.
When do these swaps flop?
Martini cocktail purists would balk at the idea of swapping gin for any other blend. Here is where a home bartender might run the risk of making a blend that falls flat. The botanical effect, which is the standout feature of a martini cocktail, is found missing in this swap.
Another type of cocktail where the tequila swap leads to a flop is drinks that are built with the addition of sugar and tropical, fruity mixers. So is the case with delicate floral drinks, where the peppery, rustic notes of a tequila blanco might overpower the gentler flavours of floral liqueurs.
Essentially, cocktails with gentle flavours or creamy elements are those that are best concocted without a tequila swap.
What is the change that occurs to the taste and style of a cocktail with a tequila swap?
Tequila brings an agave earthiness and a light spice into cocktails, which forms the key difference in these swaps. It lends drinks a drier finish, more robust than vodka yet lighter than rum. As such the cocktails created using tequila instead of other white spirits tend to be fresh and carry an undercurrent of rustic, earthy nuance.
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