This photo was taken at 11 a.m. in the morning. I know that the idea of me having a shot and a beer at that early hour confirms many people’s suspicions about me, but this was a special occasion. In fact I had worked behind the bar at Cantina from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., come home and stayed up all night working on a story for Wine and Spirits magazine. Actually, I slept for two hours and got back up at 4 a.m. and kept working. I finished the story between 10 and 11 that morning, and then it was time to have a drink and go to bed.

I’m in love with Chinaco tequila right now. It’s not the most complex or the richest, but it just goes down smoothly with the right amount of bright, peppery flavors. I downed it with the Sirius Ale from Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma. It was a perfect compliment—rich and malty with a creamy, velvety texture—this was an addictive beer. Luckily I was too tired to have more and collapsed in bed.

Look for the Sirius Ale at the City Beer Store. It’s best to call in advance to make sure they have it in stock. As for Chinaco, you can find just about anywhere.