Q&A with La Hacienda’s Tequila Goddess

Imagine going to work every day to teach people about the wonders of tequila. Meet Katie Schnurr, the Tequila Goddess at La Hacienda at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, who does just that.
What is your day-to-day as the Tequila Goddess? 
My day-to-day as the Tequila Goddess is pretty terrific! I greet guests at their tables and introduce myself as the Tequila Goddess at La Hacienda and share that we have 240 tequilas in house. If the guests show interest in wanting to try tequila or be reintroduced to the spirit, I have a couple fun different ways to  sip on the tequilas. We offer a variety of flights of tequila, so it’s fun to let the guest sample the tequilas from the same company or same aging group such as a reposado or anejo flight. Most importantly, I teach them how to sip and savor tequila the proper way, so they can get the most enjoyment out of the spirit.
What are your current favorites? 
Currently, Casamigos line of tequila has really caught my attention (not because George Clooney is associated with it either!).  It is a really great quality tequila with a really reasonable price point.  If I am looking to splurge a little, my go to is the Riazul Anejo. It smells like the holiday season in a bottle and is aged in cognac barrels, so it is very unique in comparisons to other anejos.
Should tequila preferences change per season? If so, how?
I wouldn’t really say it changes with the seasons. It’s kind of like when you sip on a specific scotch, it’s going to be your go-to drink year-round.
Advice for a tequila beginner? 
SIP IT! Don’t shoot it! You wouldn’t take a cup of hot coffee and chug it because you will burn yourself right? Same concept! Take sips of the tequila to really get to taste the flavor and complexity of the spirit.
Food-tequila pairing advice?
Honestly, tequila is such a great diverse drink!  You can make margaritas at a barbecue, order a nice filet and a glass of anejo to sip on with it or even order a cognac-like tequila after your meal as your dessert.  I personally love to have a reposado to sip on with the mahi mahi tacos we have at La Hacienda. Yum!
Why should tequila be someone’s spirit of choice?
Tequila is such a great wonderful spirit that has had a bad wrap for so long! The spirit has come leaps and bounds from those awful tequila college days that are full of sugars and caramels. As long as you are drinking quality, 100 percent blue agave tequila, I guarantee you will not get a hangover. It has really become the new intellectual sipping spirit and is an interesting conversation piece to talk about while enjoying drinking it. Plus, the bottles are works of art!