Red Rock's Cabo is one of several Station Casinos restaurants and bars where you can get a great "shaken" margarita. Say Hi to Rick at the bar.

NOT TOO LONG ago, a buddy of mine had a tequila tasting at his birthday party. Ok, I know some of you are making the sign of the cross with your fingers, while backing away from your computer. But fear not, there are some really fine sipping tequilas out there. I’m talking Añejos, meaning tequilas that have been aged in fine oak barrels for 1 to 3 years. Some of the bottles at the tasting were Condé Azul, Gran Centenario, Don Eduardo, Don Julio 1942, and my personal fave Chinaco. And the other night, I wandered over to Cabo, in Red Rock, to see what tequilas they poured. Happily, I found all of those mentioned above — and then some! So I hopped onto a bar stool and ordered, “Don Eduardo Añejo margarita on the rocks. No salt.”  

“What?” you say. “He wasted a ‘sipping’ tequila in a margarita?” Darn right I did! And I wouldn’t call it a waste. In fact, using an añejo tequila in a margarita can take it from merely refreshment to being one of the finest mixed drinks you’ve ever tasted. And let me tell you, the margarita that Rick (the bartender at Cabo, Red Rock) placed before me was one fine sip. I asked Rick about the “mix” he used, and he told me it was made fresh, every day, with hand-squeezed lime juice. Rick also informed me that the harder you shake a margarita (never, never stir), the better the flavor. Well, Rick must have shook mine within an inch of its life because it was near perfection. Now, a word to the wise: a well-made añejo margarita goes down real easy. Maybe a little too easy, if you know what I mean. (And I think you do.) Meaning you could find it a bit more difficult to get up from your seat (read nearly impossible). But upgrading to an añejo can change everything you thought you knew about tequila and margaritas. 

Tequila & Margarita Specials at Station Casinos

• 99¢ frozen Margaritas at Texas Station
• Tequila Sampler Special at Boulder Station
• Build-your-own Margarita at Sunset Station
• 2-for-1 shots of Patron Silver at Palace Station
• Weekend Margarita Specials at Aliante Station

If you have a favorite añejo tequila, let me know below what it is. After all, margarita season will be on us before we know it.

Cheers,
Jeff Perry
Sr. Ad Writer, Station Casinos