I hesistate before I type this, but when it comes down to it, I really have to say that if I had to pick a hard liquor to be my favorite, it'd be tequila. Now, that comes with a lot of conditions. I have to be in just the right sort of mood for tequila, for one thing. A lot of times I'd rather go with something simpler. Further, a bad tequila is definitely a bad tequila. Anyone that says they all taste the same needs a good clubbing about the head and shoulders. But when the cards hit the table, especially if I'm going to be drinking it straight up, I've rarely enjoyed imbibing more than when it's tequila pouring down my throat.

Let's face it, tequila's a fun drink. Even bad tequila has character, and it never goes away without leaving an impression. The high you feel from getting drunk on tequila is unique, as well. A tequila drunk is different from any other drunk you know. But most of all, it's a matter of social association. Tequila just carries that 'party' attitude with it. For any other hard liquor, I can take it home and cuddle it, covet it, hide in my den and nurture it in secret, but tequila screams to be shared. Even if you start out drinking alone, I garauntee you'll track down someone later to share it with.

Now, though I may still claim they're fun, many tequilas are fun to drink really really quickly and then chase the taste with. Montezuma's, as an example, is not actually fun to drink. It's fun to get drunk off of, it's fun to party with, it's even a unique and astounding experience to savor, sort of like drinking sour milk, but when it comes down to it, you just can't enjoy the flavor much unless you're really optomistic or already piss drunk. So while you can have a fun fling with a lower quality tequila, it's worth hunting around for a tequila or two you can have a long term relationship with. Hussong's is one of these.

Hussong's is presently distilled by El Viejito Distillery. The Hussong label produces both a reposado (100% Agave, aged in oak between two months and a year) and an anejo (same thing, except that it ages at least a year, sometimes longer). I, myself, tend to prefer anejo tequilas but either of these is equally good, although I will say that the oak doesn't really mellow them out too much. Instead, you get the sharp, untempered bite of tequila with the added bitterness of wood. It may not sound good, but try it. You'll like it.

While you can shoot Hussong's, I generally recommend drinking it. The flavor really is something to be enjoyed (although there are times when tequila simply must be shot, such as when surrounded by tipsy, uninhibited members of the opposite sex, but even then, you won't need a chaser or a lime.). It's nice chilled, but in my opinion it's even nicer at room temperature, especially on nice late spring/early summer evenings outdoors.

On a final note, another thing that makes Hussong's so fun to drink is the pretty and classic dark clay jug it comes in. I really get a kick out of just standing on my porch swigging straight from the bottle and watching people walk by. That's living!

Key facts about Hussong's :

Alcohol Content : 40% or 80 proof. But I'll warn you. Technically tequila has no more alcohol than other hard liquors, but that's only technically. In harsh reality, tequila does things to people I've never seen another alcohol do. Drink with caution, because you WILL get carried away.

Age : Even reposado (rested) gets a little aging. While tequilas are generally not aged long, since the real flavor is the Agave, it's important to remember that Hussong's isn't a blanco. You're going to notice the difference between it and pure tequilas, and even between the anejo and the reposado. I tout them both equally for quality, but you'll have to try them both to determine your particular preference.

Price (.750) : Not too pricey for a good tequila. The reposado I've seen priced anywhere from $25 to $40 dollars, and the average seems to run around $30-35. For the anejo, add $5-10.

Notes : Behold the power of tequila. Use Hussong's to seperate the men from the boys, so to speak. You'll know who your 'straight up' drinkers really are when you pull this stuff out.