Jose Cuervo Devil Reserve

Devil Reserve is a tequila from Jose Cuervo, and the listing doesn't say which aging class it belongs to. Check the bottle for Blanco, Reposado, Añejo or Extra Añejo, because that word tells you most about how to drink it. The same goes for ABV and tasting notes, which aren't given here, so what follows describes how each style typically behaves and not a measured profile of this bottle. Tequila is made from blue Weber agave, and the plant's character is vegetal and slightly peppery, with citrus peel and a cooked-agave sweetness. A Blanco, bottled unaged or rested only briefly, keeps those notes sharp and bright. A Reposado spends two months to a year in oak, which usually adds light vanilla and caramel and softens the pepper. An Añejo, aged one to three years, leans toward toasted oak, baking spice and dried fruit. An Extra Añejo, aged over three years, is generally rounder and closer to a brown spirit in structure. The name "Reserve" suggests a step up from an entry-level pour, but it doesn't tell you the age. The label does. If the bottle is a Blanco or Reposado, it suits cocktails. A Margarita with fresh lime and a light orange liqueur lets the agave come through, and a salted rim is worth adding if you like contrast. A Paloma, with grapefruit soda over ice and a squeeze of lime, works well with either style, since the grapefruit bitterness suits tequila's peppery edge. Ranch Water is tequila, lime and sparkling mineral water in a tall glass over plenty of ice. It's dry and refreshing, and a Blanco is the best fit. If it's an Añejo or Extra Añejo, treat it more like a sipping spirit. Pour it neat, at room temperature, into a caballito or a small tulip-shaped glass, so the oak and spice aromas stay concentrated. A single large ice cube in a rocks glass is a good alternative if you want it slightly cooler and a little diluted. Lime and salt tend to cover the barrel character, so skip them for aged bottles. Whatever the style, a few lime wedges or orange slices on the side work as a palate cleanser between sips.