Desperados > Reviews (6)

Yes it's true - a beer containing tequila, and it's 5.9%! EEK!

I first discovered Desperados in the South of France while we were on holiday this year. We had exhausted the Languedoc region of its wine (well this isn't entirely true - we actually couldn't find a red that we liked!) so we thought we'd have a night drinking some beer. So off we went to our local Hyper-U in Clemont l'Herault. On shelf, declaring a Bogof offer (don't ask me, I can't remember what it is in French) were rows and rows of bottles and cans of Desperados. My husband and I are BIG tequila fans, so we thought 'let's try that'!

~Packaging~
I must admit, the cans didn't seem right to me - they looked small and squat, so we always opted for the bottles. They are sold in 33cl sizes and are actually very ergonomically impressive to hold. There are ridges each side to put your hand around.
The labelling is attractive; I have a habit of peeling labels off bottles, so a label that is actually not printed on paper, but actually printed directly onto the bottle is preferable to me. It's green and red, and definitely has a Mexican theme to it. I've seen on the web that there appear to be some 'designer' bottles that have either come out, or are coming out (the website was in German so I didn't understand).
It is a flip top so you either need extremely strong teeth (not advised) or a bottle opener to enjoy this beer.

~The taste~
Now, as I've said before, I do like a nice tequila shot - but the thought of beer with tequila in, well, it was daunting. The first sip is surprisingly sweet. There is a hint of tequila there, but only a hint - I'm not sure what flavours are masking it, but they work well (note, I've just found out it's lime cordial that masks the harsh taste). The beer is very much a Sol or a Corona-style beer, so this makes for a very light, refreshing drinking experience!
We only drank it straight from the fridge (well, it WAS 40 degrees when we were on holiday) so I wouldn't be able to tell you whether it was better warm or cold. I can only assume that it's better cold, most beers like this are. In fact it's a really refreshing beer that is perfect for Summers on the park or having a bbq (sorry to talk about Summer when so many are steeped in the cold white stuff!)

~Price and availability~
It's currently only got limited availability in the UK - it is actually a French company that make Desperados, and I think they're finally starting to branch out over here. I've managed to buy the beer in a bar called On Anon in Piccadilly, London and I think it cost about £3.75 a bottle - don't worry, this is typical London prices and it will be a lot cheaper in most pubs and supermarkets.
You can buy in bulk from some online beer and wine retailers, I've seen some good offers. Unfortunately it's not yet being stocked by Sainsburys or Tescos and I haven't seen it in any Threshers or Oddbins. I am SURE that I've seen it in Waitrose though ... but don't hold me to that.
It's being sold in a few other bars that specialise in 'beers from around the world' but I FULLY expect it to be hitting our shelves by summer. Really, it would be ridiculous for it not to be. This will go down a treat in the UK and our BBQ frenzies.
If not, you can always do a day trip to France and get some from there!

Brewery: Fischer Search for other Fischer beers.
Beer style: Cerveza style beer flavoured with tequila and lime
Percent alcohol: 5.9%
Country of origin: France
Bottle capacity: 33cl
Price per bottle: £1.49 (when bought in bulk)
Web Site: desperados.net