You’ve seen advertisements for restaurant tastings and wine dinners while you’re out and about. A table tent in the center of your booth might highlight an upcoming whiskey tasting; a newsletter from your favorite restaurant group details tickets for an eight-course wine pairing with a prestigious winemaker; or an Instagram post advertises a craft beer class with lots of snacks.

But if you’ve never been to one, what should you expect? We recently checked out a local tequila tasting—here's what we learned.

At Michael’s Wine Cellar last week, 70 eager people crowded the entryway waiting to take their seats while sipping on smoky margaritas made with Maestro Dobel Humito, a smooth, smoked tequila. They were there for a $125 four-course meal paired with the entire Maestro Dobel line. 

Tequila expert Alexis Patterson, who works for Republic National Distributing Company, led the education portion of the evening, taking the mic at the beginning of each course to explain the dinner's seven additional tequila pairings and Maestro Dobel's 250-year, 11-generation history. Maestro Dobel is a single-estate, ultra-premium line within the Josè Cuervo brand. It's owned by the Beckmann family, who are direct descendants of the actual Don Josè de Antonio Cuervo. Cuervo was granted land in Jalisco, Mexico, by King Ferdinand VI of Spain in 1758 and is credited with having birthed the commercial tequila industry. His family still owns and operates the oldest active distillery in Latin America.

Tequila is made exclusively from the blue agave plant, a type of succulent, and must be made within a 40-mile radius of the town of Tequila in Jalisco. If your tequila is labeled as 100 percent blue agave, it's a marketing tactic—anything made with less than 100 percent blue agave must be labeled as "mixto." (Mezcal, a cousin of tequila, is also made from agave—but not only blue agave—and can be made throughout Mexico without restriction on its name.)

Tequilas are categorized into three groups, according to how long they've been aged. Blanco tequila is clear and unaged; reposado tequila has a slight gold tone and is aged for at least two months (but less than one year); and añejo tequila is rich, golden-hued, and aged for more than one year.

At Michael's, the tequila samples are small, but the crowd quickly loosens up, the room’s volume ticking up a notch. Maestro Dobel's blanco and reposado tequilas are paired with the first course: prosciutto-wrapped sea bass. The second course,  red mole-rubbed duck breast with plantain ginger flan, is paired with Diamonte Cristalino, a dangerously drinkable tequila that's smooth—no sharp alcohol astringency here. Diamonte Cristalino is a blend of añejo tequilas and reposado tequilas, plus the company’s “Pavito” tequila, which is infused with Mexican fruits, spices and, to everyone's surprise, turkey breast (which contributes savory aromatics).

The next course is an adobo-grilled wagyu skirt steak with yuca, chorizo and poblano hash. The pairing: Maestro Dobel’s añejo and its “50 Cristalino” extra añejo, which ages for a minimum of three years. (Extra añejo is a new-ish category, meaning the tequila has been aged more than three years, but some industry pros insist it's just marketing jargon.) The meal ends with a trio of churro ice cream puffs filled with dulce de leche, crème brûlée and Mexican chocolate with crunchy toffee. Serving fried churros to a room full of tequila-filled patrons is an inspired stroke of genius. They're paired with the extra añejo Atelier Trajineras Edition, a $239 tequila that comes in a colorful hand-painted bottle, drawing "ooh!"s and "ahh!"s from the diners. 

Tips for Choosing a Great Tequila

With approximately 200 tequila distilleries in Mexico producing for an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 brands, choosing a tequila can be overwhelming. Here are our tips.

Look for Mexican-owned brands.

We think Casamigos has a solid product—but does George Clooney really need your $40?

If you like vodka, grab a tequila blanco.

Blanco is tequila's least complicated variety, and great for mixing cocktails.

If you prefer a blended whiskey or whiskey cocktail, start with a tequila reposado.

 It's lightly aged and super smooth, but still uncomplicated.

If tough-to-find whiskeys are your game, go headfirst into tequila añejo territory.

 These spirits are aged in oak for years, deepening its flavor profile and creating a unique sipping experience while you search for notes of vanilla and tobacco.

Tastings to Try

If you’re inspired to try an upcoming tasting, Sarasota showcases dozens each month at area restaurants. Michael's Wine Cellar hosts a monthly “Social Club” that includes 7 wines and three small plates for $56, a great way for an introduction to tastings. Here are some other tastings coming to town in September.

Monday, Sept. 8

Beer and Food Pairing at 99 Bottles

$80 per person, accompanied by four paired dishes from Chef Jeremy Davis of Tamiami Trail Catering.

Monday, Sept. 8

Sommelier Wine Pairing at BellaVino 

$50 per person, with five paired dishes, led by sommelier Shelley Osmond.

Tuesday, Sept. 9

Meet the Maker: Garrison Brothers Bourbon Tasting at Dive Wine & Spirits

$25 per person, paired with light bites. The event will be led by Dan Garrison, and guests receive a $10 store credit toward a Garrison Brothers bottle purchased at the event

Tuesday, Sept. 16

The Pairing Table with Jackson Family Wines at Grove

$45 per person, with unique cheeses paired with five wine selections. Led by David Curran of Jackson Family Wines.

Friday, Sept. 26

Burgundy Wine Pairing at Mademoiselle Paris AMI

$89 per person, with four paired dishes, led by Mademoiselle Paris AMI's owner Jean Dandonneau.