El Gallo Altanero

"Recently, a wave of artisanal and ancestral tequila brands have been rediscovering the spirit’s roots: roasting pits, crushing agave with stone tahonas, and even embracing radical flavors created by open-air fermentation. The best products glow radiantly on the illuminated back bar of this Americana-Lafayette watering hole. Flautas, blue corn quesadillas de chicharrón prensado (pressed pork rinds), and creamy elotes accompany tequila blancos from Cascahuín 48, an overproof bottling from Fortaleza, and other high-proof tequilas. The cocktail menu changes monthly, but it usually features outstanding palomas and takes on American classics, such as a tequila Old Fashioned spiked with tepache. [$$]" - Bill Esparza