LCBO Food & Drink Early Summer 2018

82  FOOD & DRI NK EARLY SUMMER 2018     A new wave of traditionally made spirits, tasting strongly of the regional terroir, traditional methods and unique styles of artisanal makers in their homeland, is inspiring drinkers to sip them solo, to appreciate their nuances. If that description suggests Scotland or Kentucky as much as it does Mexico, then consider tequila as your new-favourite sipping spirit, along- side straight pours of Scotch or bourbon.     Whether you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo or looking for a new hot-weather drink, try these tequilas alone, liberated from the typical lime-and-salt sides. TEQUILA A TASTE FOR Explore refined and artisanal tequilas that are flavourful enough to be enjoyed on their own, as sipping drinks. Some spirits are so inseparable from the context of their signature cocktails that they don’t immediately come to mind as solo sippers: think of gin without the tonic, or white rum without summer-ready Mojito fixings. Similarly, the Margarita has indisputably made its base spirit a star of the summer drinks scene—but tequila has much more to offer than a supporting role in cocktail recipes. BY CHARLENE ROOKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES TSE