Friends do not let friends drink Cuervo Gold (Especial)!!!!

Remember back a few years to when Hurricane Wilma (the strongest storm ever recorded) hit central Mexico? Well, that storm did significant damage to alot of the blue agave fields of that region. This was after a previous storm (I believe a pacific hurricane - but forget the name) had produced significant damage to the Jose Cuervo fields. Since it takes 4-5 years for a blue agave plant to mature, the tequila companies had to think fast. I'm sure Jose Cuervo did not want to lose their strangle hold on the US tequila market (mostly from Cuervo Gold sales) by having to cut back due to the loss of their fields, so they changed the formula. And Especial was born (simular to New Coke). Look on the lable - Does it say 100% blue agave????
Couple this loss of blue agave plants to the current ethenol craze that is having blue agave farmers burning their catus fields to plant corn and we approach a crisis where less 100% blue agave tequilas make it to the US market. Vote with your wallet if you care about what tequila you drink.
Some comments and links are below. Sorry for being wordy. This is a passionate subject for me.:nuts:
Only only two Jose Cuervo that are 100% blue agave
José Cuervo Tradicional • Jose Cuervo Herradura
Some internet opinions:
I guess Cuervo Especial isn't bad if you have never had anything better. Do yourself a favor and spring for a $40 bottle just one time. If you have never had anything better you don't know what true tequila tastes like. Cuervo Especial is so far from real tequila. By definition tequila has to be 51% from agave. Cuervo especial is made from 51% agave and 49% sugars. In a real tequila you can taste everything. You can taste the agave fruit, the smokey flavors, the spices, etc. Cuervo Especial tastes like Chemicals. If you are REALLY strapped for cash you can do margaritas with this, but personally i might rather not drink at all. go for cuervo 1800 for margaritas MINIMUM if you have to buy cuervo. Sauza hornitos is a good inexpensive tequila made 100% de agave. The best way to get good tequila if you are broke is to call every liquor store in town every week to look for sales. I found chinaco blanco (regularly $35-40) for $18 a bottle. Point in short, CUERVO ESPECIAL ONLY AS A LAST RESORT!
http://www.epinions.com/fddk-Spirits-By_Name-All-Jose_Cuervo_Gold/display_~reviews
Listen very carefully ... José Cuervo Gold is shite. Forget that it even exists, and try to go out of your way when you order a drink in a bar to let them know that you don't want Cuervo Gold. Unfortunately it's the default when most Americans think of tequila. Do you know the reason why people make faces when they take tequila shots? 'Cause they're probably drinking this stuff, and it tastes terrible.
One thing you want to look for when choosing a tequila is the phrase "100% agave" or "100% blue agave" on the label. This means that it's entirely produced from the distilled juice of the agave plant, and not with any other kind of cheap alcohol blended in. My favorite all-purpose tequila is Sauza Hornitos, available for under $20 in most places. Good flavor, slight aging giving it a nice golden tint, and is good enough to sip alone as well as mix in a cocktail. One step above that for me is one that's the most popular tequila in Mexico, but one I've only learned about recently -- Cazadores Reposado. This one I'd tend to sip on its own, in a little snifter, but I wouldn't be afraid to put it in a cocktail when I really wanted the drink to shine. It's a little pricier, at $28.99/750ml. I'm also fond of Herradura (especially the blanco).
For fine sippin' tequila ... there are hundreds to choose from, at prices ranging from expensive to astronomical. These are ones you'd never mix, just like you'd never mix a fine single-malt Scotch (and these tequilas are just as complex in their flavor). My favorites so far are Patron, Chinaco and Porfidio. I'd only get one of these if you're a tequila aficionado; if you're just going to make Margaritas, stick with Sauza and you'll do fine.
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/beverages/bar.html