Would you take a shot of Scotch? No way, right? Well, you wouldn’t throw back reposado tequila, either. Reposado means “rested” in Spanish, and the name couldn’t be more fitting. Reposado tequilas are aged in oak barrels for up to a year, and the smoky, smooth results are perfect for sipping on a languid summer evening.
At Wine at Five in Rye, owner Cai Palmer stocks a carefully curated selection, including Dulce Vida ($53) and Casamigos ($59)—George Clooney’s brand. Palmer recommends drinking it neat, “in a brandy glass, with a large cube of ice so that it melts slowly and brings out the aromatics.” If you want to try it in a cocktail, he suggests a Manhattan, or “anywhere you would use Scotch, with deference to the fact that it is still
tequila.”
At Zachys Wine & Liquor in Scarsdale, you can find Herradura ($47.99), which is aged, in both American oak and single malt Scotch casks. Zachys’ Liquor Buyer Michael Thomas calls it “smooth, consistent, and outstanding for the price.”
Want to sample more than one? At bartaco in Port Chester, you can taste nearly a dozen varieties ranging from $7 to $16 a glass. And if you want to mix it up—literally—head to Gleason’s in Peekskill and ask for The Great Train Robbery, made with reposado tequila, St. Germain, dry vermouth, and Amaro Meletti. Just don’t order a chaser.
