New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
13 tequila bars in Connecticut for margaritas and cocktails
Tequila in September? Why not? Tequila is believed to have been developed in Mexico around 1000
B.C. from the fermented sap of the agave plant. According to liquor.com, modern-day tequila was introduced in the 1700s, and the margarita was born in 1936.
“A newspaperman named James Graham and his wife took a trip to Tijuana, where they wound up in one of the surviving bars run by an Irishman called Madden, who was known around the area for his Tequila Daisy,” the site claims. “Margarita” means “daisy” in Spanish.
Enjoying the Mexican spirit is just one way to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15.
Steve Bayusik, director of operations for Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill, which has locations in Fairfield and New Haven, said tequila is not really classified as tequila unless it comes from the state of Jalisco and is 100 percent blue agave. He added that all the managers at Geronimo are certified by the Tequila Regulatory Council.
“As far as tequila goes, I will always say it’s always best to look for that 100 percent blue agave notation on the bottle,” Bayusik said. “Most people don’t know this, but tequila goes through a very rigorous regulatory process, and every step of the tequila-making process, from the harvesting of the piñas to the bottling of the tequila and the exporting, is all done with the CRT or the regulatory agency.”
For those looking for an authentic tequila experience, Bayusik had more words of wisdom.
“The other pro tip that I would give everybody is every regulated bottle of tequila has what’s called a NOM number, which stands for Norma Official Mexicana,” Bayusik said. “Basically, that’s the appellation of origin for the production and the standards, and it’s all government regulated. The number is basically the number of the distillery. So if you find a tequila that you like, you can find what other tequila that distillery makes.”
Read on for a list of 13 tequila bars across the state.
Texico — Hamden
Texico offers 18 kinds of tequila and mezcal with cocktails like a spicy marg, mezcal a la Antigua and a Tokyo draft marg. Food includes traditional Mexican fare blended with American barbecue, like smoky poutine and brisket birria quesadilla.
4-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 3000 Whitney Ave., Hamden; 203-5351717; texikotequilabar.com
Cactus Rose — Wilton
Cactus Rose has an extensive tequila menu full of reposado sippers, blanco shooters, añejo savours and extra añejo sippers. Cocktails include the Dali, with Sauza Blue Reposado Tequila, triple sec and fresh lime juice, the classic Cadillac with Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Cointreau and fresh lime juice, and more.
3 p.m.-close Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m.-close Saturday and Sunday; 5 River Road, Wilton; 203-762-8484; cactusrosewilton.com
Tequila Escape — Ridgefield
Tequila Escape in Ridgefield has a cocktail menu with nearly 30 drinks split into three categories: margaritas, Latin classics and Speakeasy. Happy hour is 2-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and includes $2 off all house margaritas, mojitos and caipirinhas.
11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. daily; 439 Main St., Ridgefield; 203-438-2500; tequilaescape.com
Fresca Tequila Bar and Grill —
Colchester
This tequila bar and grill in Colchester sells its own make-your-owncocktail kits, which make between four and eight servings per kit. Margaritas and craft cocktails are also available for takeout at the restaurant.
4-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-9p.m. Sunday; 232 New London Road, Colchester; 860-531-9234; frescabarandgrill.com
Centrico Taqueria and Tequila Bar — Bethel
Centrico Taqueria and Tequila Bar in Bethel is a “scratch kitchen,” according to its website, which means everything is made from scratch. The restaurant serves its cocktails with house-made bar syrups, mixers, shrubs and bitters.
4-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3-9 p.m. Sunday; 55 Stony Hill Road, Bethel; 203-456-3952; centricoct.com
Barracuda Bistro and Bar — New Haven
Barracuda in New Haven features a cocktail menu with tequila drinks like the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, and house margaritas in flavors such as cucumber, peach, mango, tamarind, passion fruit, strawberry and regular.
3 p.m.-midnight Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; 1180 Chapel St., New Haven; 203-691-5696; barracudanewhaven.com
Geronimo Tequila Bar and Southwest Grill — New Haven and Fairfield
Geronimo has locations in Fairfield and New Haven, and both have massive tequila lists. The tequila menu is split into 18 categories, and all those tequilas can be ordered in cocktails, flights and shots.
Visit geronimobarandgrill.com for hours and locations.
Te Amo Tequila Bar — New Haven
Te Amo in New Haven offers three types of tequila: reposado, blancos and anejo. The restaurant also has an entire menu of tequila-based cocktails, like the Tequila Honey Bee, the Mi Abuela’s Evil Twin and the Hot Sombrero.
Noon-1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 182 Temple St., New Haven; 203-5537914; teamotequilabar.com
Tequila Revolucion — Fairfield
Tequila Revolucion in Fairfield offers cocktails in the restaurant and to go. The large margarita selection includes a margjarrito, banana, passion fruit and wildberry margaritas and more.
5-9 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1851 Post Road, Fairfield; 475-8889841; tequilarevolucionff.com
Tequila Mockingbird — New Canaan
In 2012, Tequila Mockingbird was one of 20 restaurants in the United States to receive certification for “expertise in tequila and its culture” from the Consejo Regulador Del Tequila (Regulatory Council of Tequila), according to its website. The restaurant was founded in 1993 and has been serving tequila since then.
5-8:45 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6 Forest St., New Canaan; 203-966-2222; tequilamockingbirdnc.com
Ocho Café — West Hartford
Ocho Café in West Hartford offers a selection of margaritas, including a pear margarita, a top-shelf margarita, a presidential margarita and a Black Jack margarita.
10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 330 N. Main St., West Hartford; 860-310-3063; ochocafe.com
Rio Bravo Tacos and Tequila — Fairfield
Rio Bravo in Fairfield offers a list of tequila and a number of margaritas with the choice of a salt, sugar or chili rim. The restaurant also offers margarita flights and enormous 3liter margarita towers.
11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 770 Commerce Dr., Fairfield; 475282-4316
Bodega Taco Bar — Darien and Fairfield
Bodega has locations in Darien and Fairfield. Both have a long tequila list and offer a tequila cocktails like the tomalito — with jalapeo tequila, fresh orange juice, agave and red chili flakes — and the pomarita — with Milagro Silver, pomegranate, agave and lime juice.
Visit bodegatacobar.com for hours and locations.