School of Wine & Spirits
Every bottle we review comes with a food pairing recommendation. Find the perfect dish to complement your pour.
106 pairings · Tequila
Grilled octopus with salsa verde
Tequila Ocho
Pairing
The charred, tender octopus echoes the spirit's smoke, while the bright, herbaceous salsa verde complements the tequila's green vegetal notes and citrus brightness.
Ceviche
Herradura
Pairing
Ceviche with mango and serrano chile
Ceviche
Gran Centenario
Pairing
Ceviche with mango and serrano chile
Ceviche de pescado
Fuenteseca
Pairing
Ceviche de pescado with tostadas
Ceviche
ArteNOM
Pairing
Ceviche with mango, habanero, and fresh lime
Chicken tinga tacos
Pueblo Viejo
Pairing
Chicken tinga tacos with pickled red onion
Mole negro over braised short ribs, or dark chocolate tart
Don Julio
Pairing
Mole negro over braised short ribs, or dark chocolate tart with sea salt and a dollop of crème fraîche.
Carnitas tacos
Pueblo Viejo
Pairing
Carnitas tacos with pickled red onion
Street-style fish tacos
Pueblo Viejo
Pairing
Street-style fish tacos with pickled onion and crema
Aguachile of wild shrimp
El Tequileño
Pairing
Aguachile of wild shrimp with serrano, lime, and cucumber — the tequila's mineral brightness and pepper bite mirror the dish without overwhelming it.
Grilled pork tacos al pastor
Gran Centenario
Pairing
Grilled pork tacos al pastor with charred pineapple
Aguachile verde
LALO
Pairing
Aguachile verde with sweet shrimp, cucumber, and serrano — the tequila's mineral citrus brightens the chile heat while echoing the dish's herbal lift.
Grilled shrimp tacos
Calle 23
Pairing
Grilled shrimp tacos with mango-habanero salsa
Grilled shrimp tacos
Don Pilar
Pairing
Grilled shrimp tacos with mango-habanero salsa
Grilled shrimp tacos
Arette
Pairing
Grilled shrimp tacos with mango-habanero salsa
Ceviche verde
Fuenteseca
Pairing
Ceviche verde with tomatillo and avocado
Grilled corn elotes
Tequila Ocho
Pairing
Grilled corn elotes with cotija cheese and chili lime
Slow-roasted lamb barbacoa or dark chocolate mole
Fuenteseca
Pairing
Slow-roasted lamb barbacoa or dark chocolate mole
Mole negro over slow-braised short ribs
Don Pilar
Pairing
Mole negro over slow-braised short ribs
Grilled corn esquites
Lote Maestro
Pairing
Grilled corn esquites with chile and cotija cheese
Carnitas tacos
Cascahuin
Pairing
Carnitas tacos with pickled onion and salsa verde
Aguachile verde
Siembra Valles
Pairing
Aguachile verde with fresh shrimp, cucumber, and serrano, or a simple plate of jamón ibérico with Marcona almonds.
Grilled mahi-mahi tacos
ArteNOM
Pairing
Grilled mahi-mahi tacos with mango salsa
Grilled white fish tacos
Herradura
Pairing
Grilled white fish tacos with mango salsa
Grilled chicken tacos
Tierra Noble
Pairing
Grilled chicken tacos with roasted tomatillo salsa
Mole negro
Tequila Ocho
Pairing
Mole negro with slow-braised short ribs
Ceviche
Don Fulano
Pairing
Ceviche with jicama, cucumber, and serrano chile
Grilled swordfish tacos
Calle 23
Pairing
Grilled swordfish tacos with mango-habanero salsa
Ceviche
ArteNOM
Pairing
Ceviche with fresh mango and serrano chile
Mole negro
Don Fulano
Pairing
Mole negro with slow-braised short ribs
Carnitas tacos
Tequila Ocho
Pairing
Carnitas tacos with roasted tomatillo salsa
Ceviche
Arette
Pairing
Ceviche with mango, red onion, and serrano chile
Slow-braised short ribs
Don Fulano
Pairing
Slow-braised short ribs with ancho chile mole
Ceviche de pescado
Pasote
Pairing
Ceviche de pescado with habanero and mango
Carnitas tacos
Siembra Spirits
Pairing
Carnitas tacos with pickled red onion and salsa verde
Mole negro
Fuenteseca
Pairing
Mole negro with slow-braised short ribs
Ceviche
Fuenteseca
Pairing
Ceviche with jicama, lime, and serrano pepper
Mole negro
Tapatio
Pairing
Mole negro with slow-braised short ribs
Slow-braised short ribs
El Tesoro
Pairing
Slow-braised short ribs with ancho chile sauce
Grilled shrimp tacos
Terralta
Pairing
Grilled shrimp tacos with mango-habanero salsa
Slow-braised beef barbacoa
Tapatio
Pairing
Slow-braised beef barbacoa with charred corn tortillas
Carne asada or grilled shrimp
Tequila Tapatío (Camarena family, La Alteña Distillery)
Pairing
Carne asada or grilled shrimp with chili-lime salt.
Ceviche of sea bass cured in lime, jalapeño, and red onion — the tequila's herbal and mineral notes echo the marinade while the cooked agave sweetness balances the heat.
Tequila Los Alambiques (Camarena family)
Pairing
Ceviche of sea bass cured in lime, jalapeño, and red onion — the tequila's herbal and mineral notes echo the marinade while the cooked agave sweetness balances the heat.
Grilled carne asada
Tequila Terralta (Felipe Camarena)
Pairing
Pair with: Grilled carne asada with charred lime, fresh pico de gallo, and warm corn tortillas. The tequila’s mineral backbone and peppery heat stand up to the char while its agave sweetness complements the lime.
Ceviche
ArteNOM (Grover Sanschagrin)
Pairing
Ceviche with fresh snapper, lime, and serrano pepper. The mineral and citrus notes in the tequila mirror the bright acidity of the ceviche, while the agave sweetness balances the heat.
Slow-roasted carnitas
Destiladora Tequileña (Salles Family)
Pairing
Slow-roasted carnitas with salsa verde and pickled red onion, where the tequila's cooked agave and oak sweetness mirror the caramelized pork.
White chocolate mousse
Moët Hennessy (LVMH)
Pairing
Pair with: White chocolate mousse with toasted coconut — the cristalino's hidden oak complexity emerges against the sweetness, while the agave cuts through the richness.
Mole negro
Tequila Los Abuelos (NOM 1493)
Pairing
Pair with: Mole negro with braised chicken — the sauce's chocolate, chili, and warm spice layers harmonize with the tequila's oak-aged complexity.
Ceviche of fresh snapper
Siembra Spirits
Pairing
Pair with: Ceviche of fresh snapper with lime, cilantro, and serrano chile — the citrus and minerality of the tequila mirror the brightness of the dish while the pepper echoes the chile’s heat.
Grilled white shrimp
Proximo Spirits / Beckmann Family
Pairing
Pair with: Grilled white shrimp with a mango-habanero salsa and warm corn tortillas.
Grilled street corn (elotes)
Campari Group
Pairing
Pair with: Grilled street corn (elotes) with chili-lime crema — the char on the corn echoes the roasted agave, and the spice is a natural match.
Mole negro
Chinaco (González family)
Pairing
Mole negro with roasted chicken — the chocolate, spice, and fruit complexity in both the mole and the tequila create one of the great pairings.
Mole negro
Tequila Fonseca
Pairing
Pair with: Mole negro with chicken, or aged Manchego with quince paste.
Mole negro
Casa Cuervo (Beckmann Family / Proximo Spirits)
Pairing
Mole negro with braised short ribs — the chocolate and warm spice in the tequila amplify the mole's depth while the oak tames the richness.
Slow-roasted carnitas
Brown-Forman Corporation
Pairing
Slow-roasted carnitas with pickled onion and fresh cilantro, or cajeta flan.
Mole negro
Tequila Arette de Jalisco S.A. de C.V.
Pairing
Mole negro with dark chocolate — the tequila's cocoa and spice notes weave right into the sauce.
Ceviche
Destilería Cascahuin (Grupo Cascahuin)
Pairing
Pair with: Ceviche with fresh lime and cilantro — the mineral agave and citrus notes in the tequila amplify every element of the dish.
Dark chocolate and ancho chile truffles — the spice and cocoa notes amplify the tequila's warm agave character.
Patrón Spirits International (Bacardi Limited)
Pairing
Pair with: Dark chocolate and ancho chile truffles — the spice and cocoa notes amplify the tequila's warm agave character.
Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Platinum, SIP Awards. 95 Points, Tasting Panel Magazine.
Fortaleza (Casa San Matias de Jalisco)
Pairing
Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Platinum, SIP Awards. 95 Points, Tasting Panel Magazine.
Carnitas tacos
Pasote Spirits
Pairing
Carnitas tacos with pickled red onion and fresh cilantro.
Ceviche verde
Ocho Tequila (Tequila Ocho S.A. de C.V.)
Pairing
Ceviche verde with tomatillo, serrano chile, and avocado.
Grilled fish tacos
Brown-Forman (Casa Herradura, est. 1870)
Pairing
Grilled fish tacos with charred lime and cilantro crema.
Mole negro
Clase Azul México (est. 1997)
Pairing
Pair with: Mole negro with slow-braised chicken. The tequila's 72-hour slow-cooked agave sweetness and warm spice are a perfect echo of the mole's complex sauce — both products of patience, both layered with depth.
Carnitas tacos
Casa Siete Leguas (est. 1952)
Pairing
Pair with: Carnitas tacos with salsa verde and pickled onions. The tequila’s savory earthiness and herbal quality mirror the pork and salsa, while the agave sweetness balances the acid from the pickled onions.
Mole negro
Camarena Family / Beam Suntory (El Tesoro, est. 1937)
Pairing
Pair with: Mole negro with braised chicken. The tequila’s roasted agave sweetness and mineral earthiness echo the mole’s complex layers of chili, chocolate, and spice — a pairing that feels like it was destined.
Carnitas tacos
Diageo (Don Julio, est. 1942)
Pairing
Pair with: Carnitas tacos with pickled red onion and fresh cilantro. The tequila’s agave sweetness and oak warmth cut through the pork’s richness, while the pickled onion echoes the citrus notes in the spirit.
Grilled corn elote
Tequila Tapatio S.A. de C.V. (Camarena family, 5th generation)
Pairing
Pair with: Grilled corn elote with cotija cheese and chili lime — the sweet agave and savory cheese create a classic Mexican pairing.
Carnitas tacos
Destilería La Fortaleza (Guillermo Erickson Sauza)
Pairing
Pair with: Carnitas tacos with fresh pineapple salsa — the roasted pork and sweet fruit echo the caramel and agave in the tequila.
Chicken mole negro — the chocolate and spice in both create a beautiful bridge.
El Pandillo (Felipe Camarena)
Pairing
Pair with: Chicken mole negro — the chocolate and spice in both create a beautiful bridge.
Carnitas tacos
ArteNOM
Pairing
Carnitas tacos with charred salsa verde
Grilled fish tacos
Fuenteseca
Pairing
Grilled fish tacos with mango salsa and pickled red onion
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