Lockdown has sent tequila sales soaring. But forget the salt and lemon and try these simple yet luscious recipes chosen by bartenders and other aficionados
From garden barbecue beers to Friday night Zoom drinks, we Britons haven’t let the lockdown stop us from boozing. As pubs and bars remain closed, sales of alcohol have soared – but one tipple has proved surprisingly popular: tequila. According to Waitrose, sales of tequila increased by more than 175% between 24 March and the end of April. In the US, too, the market researcher Nielsen found that tequila sales were up 55% during those two months.
So why have we all been reaching for the salt and lemon? Actually, we probably haven’t. The (not particularly traditional) tequila cruda ritual has gradually fallen out of favour, with the spirit gaining popularity as a cocktail ingredient instead. In the US, the sales spike may be attributed to Cinco de Mayo celebrations – commemorating the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France – which took place at the beginning of this month. But the increase in demand could also be down to the fact that production of tequila, which can be made only in Mexico, has been allowed to continue during the coronavirus crisis. The spirit is deemed an agricultural product, while breweries, for example, have been forced to close.
Continue reading...from Lifestyle | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2XqkVQu