10 mezcals and tequilas that pair well classic holiday dishes

Can you pair tequila with turkey? Tess Rose on how to pair mezcal and tequila for the holidays

As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to explore pairing agave spirits with classic fall and winter dishes. The wide range of flavors in mezcal and tequila—from smokey and earthy to sweet and smooth—make a great match with the rich, comforting meals of the season. Whether it’s complementing the flavors of roasted turkey or adding a unique twist to a slice of pumpkin pie, agave spirits bring a fresh, unexpected element to holiday dining. Here are ten of my top picks to reach for when pairing for the holidays, plus some suggested dishes. 

Cascahuin Blanco Tequila 

My gold standard go-to tequila, Cascahuin is the darling of industry people for good reason. This impeccably consistent blanco is clean, fresh, and expertly made with high-quality agave. Sipping Cascahuin as an aperitif will complement even the most elaborate spread of appetizers, offering easy pairings with everything from cranberry and cheese pastry bites to bacon-wrapped dates. You could also use Cascahuin as  a base for cocktails to enjoy throughout the meal in different iterations without changing spirits, which is kind to your liver on days where we are already asking our body to work overtime. 

Arette Añejo Tequila 

When thinking about how to pair tequila with holiday dishes, another consistently good option for is Arette. Their añejo balances flavors of roasted agave with sultry wood notes. The flavors here will play particularly nice with desserts, including aged cheeses, pies with warming spices and/or nutty flavors, and sweet cream-based dishes. A trio of pies, like apple/pumpkin/pecan, served with a caballito of Arette Añejo would be an elegant and tasty way to cap off any holiday meal. 

Blue Nectar Reposado Extra Blend Tequila 

For those who can never get enough richness, this special blend of reposado and extra añejo from Blue Nectar is an ideal option. This tequila has just a touch of sweetness and an extra bold body with wooded notes that still leave plenty of room for the agave to shine. The flavor profile makes it a nice tequila to offer whisky drinkers. Blue Nectar Reposado Extra Blend can stand up to rich sauces throughout the meal, but my favorite way to enjoy it is after the big meal as a digestif or alongside a cigar or other smokable. 

Don Amado Pechuga Mezcal

Hailing from Santa Catarina Minas, the pechuga from Don Amado is a classic celebration mezcal. Background notes of fruit, nuts, and spices are offset by a light smokiness, making  this an easy all-purpose mezcal. You can serve it throughout the meal–from soup to nuts. It has sufficient complexity to work well with roasted turkey, which is notoriously difficult to pair, as well as goose, duck, and chicken. Because of its friendly profile, this pechuga is a good option for introducing friends and family to mezcal for the first time. 

Lágrimas De Dolores Cenizo Mezcal 

A quintessential Durango mezcal, the flagship cenizo from Lagrimas De Dolores is another spirit that would be an ideal introduction to mezcal. The creamy lactic notes with herbal undertones set this up to pair well with all the traditional sides found on holiday tables, especially anything with butter and cheese. Think mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing/dressing, and even green bean casserole. This is also my go to mezcal to pair with traditional fried Hanukkah dishes–from latkes to sufganiyot (jelly donuts)–because it can cut through the richness without overwhelming the flavors. 

Macurichos Madrecuishe Mezcal 

The high-proof and robust character of the ancestral mezcals from Macurichos make them a good fit for flavorful roasted meats and poultry. Any of the varieties from their joven line of spirits would work well, especially the madrecuishe, tobala, and tepeztate. These expressions have lots of character that will tease out fruity and herbal undertones, alongside flavors like cinnamon, rosemary, cranberry, and black pepper. The high ABV will nicely cut through fatty meats like goose and lamb, and also stand up to creamy sauces and pasta dishes such as lasagna. 

Ultramundo Lamparillo Mezcal

This relatively new-to-market mezcal is a fun option if you’re looking to impress fellow agave nerds. True to the magic of Durango mezcal, Ultramundo is delicious on its own and also pairs exceptionally well with a wide range of dishes and flavors. It would be hard to beat pairing a copita of this rare lamparillo mezcal alongside a cheese plate, where different cheeses could allow for the wide spectrum of flavors to emerge. The herbal notes and silky texture will also pair equally well with roasted duck or goose. 

Dos Pasiones Tepeztate Mezcal 

This clean and fresh tepeztate from Santa Maria Albarradas, Oaxaca, walks the line of intense flavors and delicate elegance. It works well alongside seafood, and any iteration of the feast of seven fishes, allowing the nuance of the seafood to shine through while complementing diverse sauces and condiments. You could double up on this to pair with any chocolate or coffee-based desserts. 

La Luna Black Label Mezcal

This easy mezcal may be the best option for offering mezcal cocktails to larger holiday crowds. Striking an impressive balance between traditional flavor and budget-friendly price, La Luna Black Label is a good choice for mezcal holiday cocktails that feature everything from tart red fruits and woodsy herbs to crisp cider and bright citrus. A clean flavor profile allows it to double as an all-purpose mezcal for pairing alongside the usual suspects of cheese and desserts as well. 

Las Perlas Raicilla  

Las Perlas is crisp and spicy with a touch of salinity, making it a good option for the heavier dishes we see across holiday tables. This raicilla  is an exceptionally good companion to flavorful meats like beef and bison, and anything with a touch of spicy heat. The freshness of the spirit also makes it a good partner for shellfish, both raw and cooked, making this a versatile sipper for diverse menus.