Two of my favorite spirits mixed together: tequila and bourbon. This cocktail brings the carbonated orange flavors to that of a rich agave (using the Corzo silver) and a mild bourbon finish. If you’re a fan of the tequila flavors and love a nice bourbon, this fairly potent cocktail (considering it’s half orange soda) is definitely something try.

It pours clear, as a silver should, and immediately hits you with sweet agave and jasmine right out of the gates. Wow, so unique on this bouquet–very fresh and fruity with some green notes. I begin to get what may be a caramel note on the nose, but the floral qualities jump right in and take over. Extremely different from most silvers and contains almost zero burn on the nose.

The taste is nice and smooth, almost got a bit of mint in the attack just before the grassy flavors kicked in with a numbing burn near the finish that cleans quickly and leaves a light tickle of agave flavors on the palate. Usually I get a bit more potent “sea salt” in the mid-palate but Paquí Silvera has nothing like that, maintaining a slightly unique green cut grass taste. By the third sip I’m getting a bit of light black pepper, ever so slightly spicy with lime/citrus.

The smoothness is nice and well done for a bottle of USD $35 tequila (or so that’s what I’ve noticed for pricing). I’m guessing you’ll find Paquí Silvera sold for a bit more due to its well crafted taste experience that leaves you wondering why people assume silver tequila’s are “mixers” for cocktails. This may change the game.

Dulce Vida Tequila

It’s time to find out as I’ve cracked open the bottle and poured myself a glass of the Dulce Vida Blanco. The marketing material says this is “100% Organic Coastal Highland Agave,” which I presume to mean it’s following some good regulations for growth. The silver is extremely clear and clean looking and the nose is pretty strong.

It must be mentioned, this is a 100-Proof Blanco Tequila. Yeah, that’s a 50% ABV on this winner which usually causes me to give pause as it requires a lot of work to round out that potency. Oddly enough, the alcohol is the last impression that I get from the nose of Dulce Vida Blanco–I’m getting a nice ripe spicy scent with a nice sugary vanilla, white pepper and agave.

Upon taste I was met with what can only be explained as a huge potent burst of fire followed by roasted pineapple, brown sugar and the lingering aftertaste of earthy agave. The second sip was much more tame as my palate gets used to the intensity; I noticed that this is a very thick Blanco with dominant white pepper and strong burning rage.

The finish is long and inviting, you completely forget about the fire that lite up your insides a few seconds prior to the sip. Even a small sip brings an untouchable wild attack. I shake my head from the intensity and continue to want to try it again. While this is a 100-Proof spirit the triple distillation process cleans the finish nicely, leaving a crisp recollection of the attack without the sour bite that you get from a 100-Proof product.

Dulce Vida is smooth, inviting, earthy, spicy and covered in agave. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Tequila with a wild side that tells its story on the attack. It’s like being punched in the face by agave and white pepper and you loving each hit; I yearn to get punched again and again!

The suggested retail price is USD $40 for the Dulce Vida Blanco and it’s definitely worth of the price. Very few other tequila’s will bump up the intensity of your tequila-based cocktails like this Blanco. You don’t have to sip it to enjoy it, with the 100-Proof nature, you’ll find this tequila really cuts through and makes itself known in many cocktails while retaining its heritage and flavors.

The nose has a remarkably bold agave profile with bright ripe pineapples and hints of caramel mingled with mint and banana. The banana took a bit to find, but several sniffs later and it become quite distinct and obvious.  There was only the slightest of burn on the nasal passages and only when you dive your nose in deeply.

The taste is quite a flavorful experience as well which begins with a light touch of sweet agave and pineapple with a nice round smoothness. The mid-palate transitions into the spicy fire that was seen in the younger less tame Blanco. I found some nice earthy tones in the final quarter of the sip which ends cleanly without any real burn-factor and leaves a long pretty agave finish.

I found the beginnings of the butterscotch flavors from the añejo but much more muted and less involved, perhaps reflecting itself in a caramel-like flavor towards the finish. In many ways, the Reposado shows where the El Gran Jubileo spirit has grown from the Blanco and a bit of where it’s going in the Añejo. It’s a more relaxed version of the Blanco and arrives without the cream/butter flavors found in the older spirit.

The end result is a very suitable drinking experience for mass appeal. The reposado really tells the story of the agave best out of the three spirits but the spicy punch of the Blanco was an invigorating tasting experience and the complexity of the anejo was exciting as well. This reposado will touch the taste buds by drawing both the Blanco drinker and the Añejo sipper under one canvas of awesome.

Of course it should go without saying,  I am only drinking 100% de Agave tequila here; this isn’t some pretend tequila spirit. The Azuñia is aged 12+ months in aged American oak barrels so I’m hoping it brings a lot of character to the palate.

My initial impression of the bouquet of the Azuñia Añejo is definite sweet agave and over-ripened salty pineapple skins. Diving my nose deeper into the glass brings strong caramel flavors, sea salt, vanilla bean and even a bit of mineral “soil” like impressions. The nose contains some citrus-like freshness, perhaps a dash of lemon or perhaps a bit of lime, it’s hard to define exactly which citrus flavoring but it is present and appreciated.

The taste introduces a light sweetness with a spicy mid-palate transition that drives right into the agave farm on your face. You can almost taste these agave planets baking in the rich soils of Mexico when you take a sip. The finish is clean and spicy and its flavors fade off just a bit too soon. I find myself taking multiple sips to relive the complex tasting experience with a second sip getting a bit of white pepper, a buttery charred oak and dried tropical fruit.

The finish still seems to end a bit quick, I would love the finish to extend 30-40 seconds but seems to escape a few seconds early. There is a slight bright mint, perhaps from the alcohols evaporating on your tongue without any abrasive burn to sour your face. This clean evaporation leaves a cool mint feeling in the mouth.

The Azuñia Tequla Añejo is definitely targeting a broad demographic with a strong focus on the “common man” profile. Often times people think “tequila makes me do bad things” and they have not yet grown to respect the true 100% de agave tequilas in silver, reposado and añejo. Azuñia seems to strive to find those nonbelievers and show them that tequila can be just as complex as a bourbon or scotch with less oak and more pepper.

I say broad demographic because Azuñia Añejo is very well rounded with just the right complexity without an intense single focus. This is a clean, refreshing and mature spirit and it’s exciting to sip. The only two faults I can really point out is that it is a bit light/medium bodied without a big thick viscosity I often see in an añejo and the finish is too fast. If the finish was less tasty I’d not be sad to see it go, but I’d love for it to linger longer.

Azuñia Tequila Añejo will no doubt be a huge contender for some of those “ultra-premium” big market brands. Arriving at around USD $50-55, you’re getting a worthwhile bottle of Tequila that would easily contend with a $60 Scotch. Definitely checkout this brand, they’re going places.

This is a five year aged tequila in brand new American oak barrels so I’m not expecting to smell or taste any whiskey or cognac flavors but what do I know? It’s time to put it to the test!

The nose is that of brown sugar with a very fresh muted pineapple flavor and a slight vanilla bean. You can dive your nose right into the glass and get almost no hints of strong alcohols, much different than the El Gran Jubileo Blanco. The nose just gives me a nice warm and tender flavor with no single aroma dominating the party.

The taste is an entirely different experience. The attack is warm and inviting sweet vanilla with a great smooth viscosity. As I swirl it around my mouth I’m revisited with the brown sugar sweetness followed by a very light black pepper spice and a numbing on the tip of the tongue.  Much like the aroma, no single flavor jumps out at me, requiring me to play games with this añejo to look for the unique flavors with my eyes closed. It took many sips to pick out the butter, oak, lime and the most unique of profiles… butterscotch.

The butterscotch arrives in the finish, often times after exhaling. While we’re not talking schnapps intensity of butterscotch this definitely draws from a different pool of añejo experiences. I’ve had caramel intensities, spicy white peppers and rich agave and pineapples but nothing with butterscotch before! I believe this flavor arrives from the fresh oak flavors, which usually pop out as buttery smooth combined with the sweetness of this spirit.

El Gran Jubileo Añejo is a great after-dinner sipping spirit. If given the option between this and a Grand Marnier, I’d choose the slightly sweeter style of this Añejo because it offers more than an orange flavored cognac. Now, is it worth USD $64.99? I’d be hesitant as a consumer who’s never had the spirit before because of the expanding selection of Tequila’s on the shelf, but the cost is definitely worth the unique experience if just once, especially for those that find my tasting notes desirable in a tequila.

Overall, think sweeter brown sugars, butters and muted spice and you’re focusing on some of the fine features of the El Gran Jubileo Añejo. It doesn’t have the salty agave intensity I’m used to seeing in an aged Tequila but often times I yearn for someone doing something different with Tequila. There are so many brands, how else should one brand make their mark?

Based on the “deliberately simple” description, I’m fairly impressed with El Gran Jubileo Blanco’s nose because it smells of white pepper and pineapple. Dipping my nose in deeper reveals a fairly intense alcoholic burn, this blanco is definitely showing its purity as its not aged long enough or in any wood to assist it in adopting caramel or sweeter flavors. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a silver style tequila: true agave.

Initial tasting brings me something you just don’t always get in a silver tequila: fire and spice. The mouth-feel is very smooth and the black pepper starts early on the palate and climbs its way down your tongue. Of course, wrapped in this black pepper are the warm agave notes with tickles of fiery alcohols. I love the smoothness in the liquid and the spicy attack really makes me yearn for some flavorful salsa, sour cream and salty nachos. Definitely some salty nachos.

The finish is crisp and lasts about thirty seconds–not too long. However, the spicy lingering lasts just long enough to appreciate it without being overbearing. I’m left with essences of ripe pineapple skins and black pepper but nothing overly spicy.

Overall, El Gran Jubileo is not a weak little tequila. We’re talking about a brand that is going to wake you up fast and hit you in the face with hits spicy power and big agave flavors. Is it simple and not overly complex? Probably. You’re not getting too much outside of the spice and agave but that’s really the story a blanco tequila should be telling anyway.

The best part? A suggested retail price of USD $31.99, imported by Central Texas Spirits. You can find some fairly good blanco tequila’s between USD $24 and USD $40 in the United States but this tequila shoots more for the low cost spirit with a black pepper punch.

After pouring, the Semental Añejo Tequila is definitely holding a great dark color, almost like a clear apple cider. The color is inviting and rich like its nose from afar, so it’s only appropriate to dig my own nose into the glass! Up close, there is a thick spice with a warm burning sensation throughout my nasal passages. Salty white pepper and dried tropical fruit essences. I believe there is even a bit of a chocolate hint in the nose, nice.

Semental Anejo Tequila reminds me much of a cognac or brandy, a subtle sweet darker french oak style play on tequila. The taste is warm, inviting with hints of white pepper, lime and a neat acidic finish. The texture is smooth and subtle while the finish does bring some heat on the palate the elegant scents that rise into your nose on the sip brings it all around to a full bodied flavorful experience.

The finish reminds me of a cream soda, vanilla with a mix of cocoa beans and agave. It lingers nicely on the palate and allows you to continue to appreciate its livelihood.

The Semental Añejo Tequila will cost you roughly USD $59.00 at retail and it’s actually very much worth the cost. When the product arrived I took a short sip and found it a bit light with little flavor, but then when I sat down with a proper sipping glass and let it breath for a minute the experience changed . This tequila sets a mood, brings new excitement and makes you recall why you love to taste well crafted products–no doubt.

Oh yeah, Tequila. We’re making a cocktail with añejo tequila this week. This is a very complex little cocktail with creme de cacao, chambord and some heavy cream. While this cocktail is great for tequila fans, the complexity and maturity of the añejo really makes this a fun drink for a wide audience (especially those that like more mature whiskey and scotches).

If you don’t have añejo, try it with what you’ve got and let us know.

The notes of sweet pineapple, white pepper, rich vanilla bean and spices hit the nose from almost a foot away from the glass. Definitely heavy on sweet with a small hint of saltiness. This intense sweetness really masks any alcohol burn in the nasal passages, which can be common when you really dip your nose into a glass of most spirits but not with Semental; I don’t get alcohols on the nose.

The taste is light and fluffy, not extremely thick and has an intense front-end sweetness that crawls to the middle of the tongue and into the finish leaving a slight burning sensation. The mid-palate has a bit of spicy vanilla notes but does not have the sea-salt like taste in the initial nosing. The aftertaste reminds me of a mexican dish, perhaps with a dash of lime juice and dried fruits.

I consider this a great dynamic tequila that would work well as an introductory sipping tequila while offering huge flavor impact to a cocktail that calls for a silver. First, the flavors are not muted or dull, thus allowing them to arise outside the confines of a cocktail heavy with juices and other potent alcohols. Secondly, the flavors presented in Semental allow new tequila drinkers to understand the true diversity and sweetness of a quality tequila.

Of course, tequila enthusiasts will love the sweet scents vanillas and often-found spicy white pepper. An avid drinker may find the finish disappears too quickly on the palate or tends to be a bit lighter in mouth-feel compared to a few other quality tequilas of slightly higher price point. Of course, arriving at a suggested retail price of USD $39.99 is a very good deal when you compare it to the over-marketed over-hyped brands that pride themselves on lack of flavor–tequila’s that I believe ruin the history and integrity of a good blanco.

In my opinion, Semental provides drinkers with one message in its spirit: “You don’t have to be a tasteless and scentless tequila anymore. It’s time to grow up and see what tequila is all about.”

A warm cocktail for your Friday drinking experience. Tequila and hot chocolate is an unlikely pair and I found it was pretty tasty while Jennifer wasn’t so impressed. You probably have to be a bigger fan of tequila to handle tequila and hot chocolate! Add some coffee liqueur and you’re on your way to warming peaceful town!

The top twelve products to add to your holiday gift list include:

#12: Bailey’s Mint Chocolate Irish Cream

Everyone is used to Bailey’s standard Irish Cream offerings, but they’re missing out on some of the holidays best flavors: mint chocolate! This flavor offers the same Irish Cream kick but allows you to flavor your coffee and cocktails with something a bit more minty without taking it overboard. You’ll find it’s subtle enough to be a great stand-alone spirit without overtaking your senses like a schnapps; all built with the same quality of any Bailey’s Product.

#11: WMF Boston Cocktail Shaker

Are you sick of shaking cocktails in a metal shaker that freezes solid making it impossible to remove the lid and reload a second cocktail? The three-piece cobbler shaker’s are nice but the Boston Cocktail Shaker is much cleaner and faster to build cocktails at parties or for yourself. In addition, you’ll look like a real bartender and, once you learn how to use the Boston Cocktail shaker, you’re on your way to cocktail excellence.

If you want to buy a Boston Cocktail Shaker, consider buying it today and hiding it until Christmas or the holiday of your choice because they can take awhile to ship and keep in stock; ours took three weeks to ship from amazon! I’d also consider a loft bar strainer to round out the purchase, that allows you to strain the cocktail without the partially melted ice falling into the glass.

#10: 10 Cane Rum (Light Rum)

Many people have had a standard light rum, made from molasses and that’s all fine and dandy. But the holidays are about trying to be creative with your gift giving choice, 10 Cane Rum can bring something new to the table. 10 Cane Rum has a sweeter profile, great mouth feel and stands out amongst other rums in its class. There is nothing wrong with a typical light rum, but why not give something a bit more unique for the holidays?

If you can’t find 10 Cane Rum, see if you can find Depaz Rhum Agricole, that’s another great pure cane rum but is a bit more “organic” and “green” in flavors.

#9: G’Vine Floraison Gin

Produced in the Cognac region of France, G’vine is a four-times distilled gin created from Ugni Blanc grapes. This gin brings more than juniper to your palate, with beautiful bright floral flavors and an elegance unseen by standard London Try gin varieties. You will definitely pay a bit more for the experience but the selection and experiences held within the bottle will please the receiver of your gift this holiday.

The G’vine Floraison with cost roughly USD $40 and is infused with the vine flower, giving it a very aromatic nose. This gin stands out as a completely unique experience not shared with other gins in the market today. You can read our review of G’Vine Floraison gin and decide for yourself.

#8: Bison Grass Vodka

Let’s be honest, most vodka brands taste the same and the culture of vodka, today, is to create a highly distilled product that brings clean and crisp flavors but very little more; a true “neutral grain” spirit. If you’re going to buy something that brings little taste profile, spending excessive money doesn’t make sense, just buy Tito’s Vodka and you’ll get all you need from a standard neutral vodka. For something more flavorful and unique that takes nuances to a new level, try Bak’s Bison Grass Vodka, now available in the United States.

Bison Grass Vodka isn’t the typical neutral grained vodka, it’s distilled to the point of clean tasting vodka without pulling all of the “impurities” from the spirit. The concept behind vodka is to remove all impurities but many of those so-called impurities add flavors and tastes that change the definition of the spirit, such as bison grass. Bak’s Bison Grass can be sipped as a neat spirit or added to a cocktail or apple juice to bring an invigorating sense of cocktailian pleasures.

#7: Absinthe Dripper/Brouilleurs

You know an absinthe drinker in the family or a friend? If so, they really cannot go on with life without this really awesome absinthe dripper from AbsintheOnTheNet. It’s small enough to be stored anywhere yet louche’s absinthe like a champion without the need for a huge absinthe fountain (which itself is a neat gift).

The Cusenier Absinthe Dripper Auto Verseur makes a great gift for the holidays because it brings a unique mechanical flare to preparing absinthe with all the functionality of a dripper. The added shock value will make your gift the most talked about product at the party and leave a smile on the face of those receiving one. They’re a bit pricey, at USD $109 but a product like this can be passed down through the generations, as long as you explain its purpose and share absinthe with the family.

I brough this dripper to a family event over the summer and everyone would sit there and watch it’s mechanical glory as if it was some alien object of desire.

#6: Veev Açaí Spirit

Açaí juice is extremely tasty but I never considered purchasing it at the store until I sat down with a VeeV Açaí cocktail which changed my perspective on fruit flavor. The scent of the spirit is delicious and slightly potent with unique flavors unseen by many US brands of spirit which all pair well in a cocktail with other fruits and flavors. Açaí is a fruit all its own and its taste cannot be compared to other standard fruits and berries, it’s a Brazilian delight.

My first experience with VeeV was in the VeeV Açaí Lemonade, a great lemonade style cocktail for the lemonade lover and offers a low-calorie look at cocktails. Many specially designed VeeV cocktails bring low calorie alternatives without losing the sweetness and flavors, that’s just something Açaí brings to the table. Read our review of VeeV and make your own decision.

#5: Buffalo Trace Bourbon

Whiskey lovers in the Kentucky area will be all like “no duh!” for this one, but it’s hard to shuffle through all the mass market brands of mediocre bourbons to find one that really shines. You can drink the same whiskey you drink everyday or you can try something a bit better and pickup the Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

Buffalo Trace Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey (~$23.99) begins with the finest Kentucky and Indiana corn, selected rye, and superior malted barley. Upon delivery the grains undergo a general visual inspection for any obvious abnormalities. Buffalo Trace Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey is 90-Proof (45% ABV) with its distillery located in Franklin County, Kentucky. I’ve found this brings a huge series of flavor nuances without over-oak or burning sensations, the perfect bourbon for a perfect whiskey sour! You can’t ask for more!

#4: Republic Tequila Reposado

The market is full of great 100% de agave tequila and you really can’t go wrong with a real tequila. However, there are so many to choose from and I believe Republic Tequila Reposado is the hidden gem in the tequila industry right now. It’s a 100% Blue Agave Organic tequila with flavor nuances that lend itself to rich pineapples, sweet brown sugar and spicy white pepper.

The Republic Tequila Reposado reminds me of a nice bourbon in its complexity and deep experience and commands a competitive price in the mid USD $40 range. You’ll find dozens of USD $40 tequila brands but only a few with the complexities to feel like a USD $60 tequila, Republic Tequila’s Reposado does more than expected. Read our review.

#3: Bluecoat American Dry Gin

We’ve taken a look at G’Vine which brings a floral experience to your gin, now we’re looking at a more traditional American dry gin. Bluecoat has organic juniper berries, organic citrus peels and other organic materials in their gin recipe. The viscosity was thick and well-bodied which shows some great class. While appreciating the smoothness on the palate, a huge explosion of orange zest exploded in my mouth in every direction which tickled all the senses from the tip of the tongue to the back of the nasal passages.

Until I had Bluecoat I never really appreciated the zesty orange that can be found in a good American dry gin. Read the review for yourself.

#2: Don Q Grand Añejo

This is the second most awesome gift for this holiday. Don Q Rum, in general, is a tasty spirit but their Grand Añejo brings a huge complexity to the dark rum style and mind blowing flavor. I brought a bottle to a family event and most people looked at me strange when I told them to “sip this rum” as they associated rum with mojito cocktails. They took a sip and said, “is this really rum? This isn’t a whiskey?”

Don Q Grand Añejo doesn’t taste like a full bodied whiskey, it tastes like a full bodied rum with the backbone and nuances you normally would receive in a classy whiskey. It’s maturity commands a fairly high price, at USD $59.99, this isn’t a low-grade rum by any stretch of the imagination. While it may break the budget of a Secret Santa gift, this is a respectable product to give to a loved one over the holidays as it is a sign of respect.

#1: Riazul Añejo Tequila

Unfortunately, Riazul may be hard to get across the United States, but you may find it at Spec’s Online (if you can figure out how to navigate their order process). Riazul Añejo will run you around USD $54 but easily tastes like that of a USD $200+ bottle of tequila in flavor profile, mouth feel and overall excellence.

Sometimes I feel like a Riazul spoke’s person by praising their product so much but you have to give respect to a hard working crew that’s really trying to change the tequila industry by offering a great price on an exceptional product. Riazul Añejo resembles a 15 year old wine in smoothness and completeness and can easily compete with the best aged whiskey on the market today in complexity. White chocolates, subtle fruits, ripe pineapple and beautiful finish. If you find this for your holiday shopping list pickup a second bottle for yourself… pickup a third bottle for me since I recommended it! Read our full review.

Hopefully we’ve given you some direction to go on your holiday gift shopping list for spirits, liquors and cocktail gifts. For mom or dad, or any siblings over 21 years of age, these gifts will show people that you’re in “the know” and following exceptional trends in the industry. Happy holidays!

Republic Tequila Reposado

The scents of this reposado begins fairly sweet like a brown sugar with a nice light yellowish golden coloring. Nosing the glass once again brings a warm sweet oak mixed with freshly cut pineapples and a sprinkle of spicy white pepper. The tail end of the nose has hints of lime peel.

Moving on to a tasting, I’m getting a very nicely rounded mouth-feel that remains smooth and medium body throughout the the experience. Over the smoothness I’m getting ripe pineapple skin, notes of vanilla and light caramel. While Republic Tequila Reposado has many great flavors, it starts its life on your tongue in a sweeter attack; the brown sugar working its way into the flavor which transitions into a spicy white pepper and ends with a buttery oak that teases of a middle aged bourbon.

Each sip grows in complexity and flavor. The finish lasts a few long minutes and brings a nice spicy heat that yearns for a second sip. In comparison to the little sister Plata, this style has a very gratifying finish that carries on and remains flavorful throughout. Overall, the reposado is a much more full flavored sipping tequila where the Plata hints at such flavors but cannot hold up against its older sibling.

Republic Tequila Reposado is a rich experience from start to finish with absolutely no disappointment in any of its flavors. Expect to find this tequila for around USD $42 to USD $46 dollars at retail and it’s a true steal. Finding a bottle of this reposado on the shelf for that cost will feel like a crime when you realize what you’ve got for your money.  It continues to grow new flavors as you sip. This tequila gives you a crisp new experience over and over. Before finishing my tasting notes I found my vessel empty all while thinking to myself, “just one more glass?”

The Hot Apple Toddy is much like the original toddy but with some apple cider. This is a good holiday drink with seasonal flavor and style, it’s warm so it will be good for those chilly days after shoveling a pile of snow. Or, for those that don’t get snow, just enjoy the fact that you don’t and we do.

Decoration or not, this bottle contains a crystal clear unaged Tequila often times called Silver, White or Plata and I plan to waste no more time admiring the bottle design. After all, it’s what’s in the bottle that counts not the design itself, right?

First, I nose the glass to see what I’m working with in this plata. Republic Tequila definitely brings a sweet smelling aroma with hints of citrus and pineapple. The citrus reminds me, most closely, of a lime which is balanced well against the sweeter pineapple flavoring. The tail end of the scent reminds me of a fine caramel candy and leaves a slight burn to the nose when I take a deep breath over the glass.

The taste of Republic Tequila Plata reflects that of its aroma with a spicy yet sweet pineapple attack followed by a bold lime/citrus mid-palate and ending with a pretty caramel flavoring. The liquid is thick, smooth and feels more mature than the plata leads us to believe with its clear coloring. Republic Tequila says their plata is left to rest for three to five days before bottling but it sure feels like more than a few days.

The finish is crisp and clean, leaving a slight sweet aftertaste and no actual burn on the tongue, just a bit of “fire” in the nasal passages. The 40% ABV is well hidden with the flavors on the attack and mid-palate and the finish wipes away clean and clear. If there is any fault to this tequila it’s going to be in the length of a finish. I’m sipping this neat in a glass so I should get full potent burn and unadulterated flavors and those flavors tend to fade away in under twenty seconds leaving me with very little else. I would have loved for the finish to match the exciting start.

Overall, I think the first two quarters of this beverage are spot on stellar but the ending is a bit fast. Imagine watching the most explosive action movie in full surround sound but having a fairly low-key ending; perhaps there is too much sweet action in the tequila and it slightly off balances the finish. In a cocktail, you’ll probably find it brings great sweetness to those drinks with pineapple or citrus and juices while also bringing a thick body that’s hard to beat.

The cost of the Republic Tequila Organic Plata is around USD $46 to USD $50 and I highly suggest you seek this out and tell me what you think of the flavor profile. This tequila brings a wild ride of sweet essence and, even if the finish is a bit fast, you’ll enjoy re-taking that wild ride over and over again with each sip.

If you’re an everyday drinker, there is knowledge ahead to entertain and enhance your mind. It’s still a must listen interview! Once you hear this interview you’ll never use sour mix again.

Nothing is more unique and refreshing than an açaí mojito, the Eco Mojito is as crisp and tasty as a standard mojito with a unique berry flavor. This drink rings in our first show Spirit of the Month which we’ve dedicated to VeeV Açaí Spirit as it’s unique flavors and quality goodness are hard to beat.

Checkout VeeV Life for more on this great spirit.

The name says it all, Sex on a Mexican Beach. The name is more of a play on the original “Sex on the Beach” recipe becaues of the included juice flavors, however, this cocktail brings in the Tequila spirit to change the beach location to Mexico.

Overall, I find this recipe to be more of a fruitier margarita play more than that of a sex on the beach. If you like margarita’s or hoped for a sweeter play on the margarita, this may be your drink of choice.

The La Bomba cocktail brings back our tequila spirit, this time with Caramba Reposado. The orange flavorings are refreshing, great body and textures without a hugely overwhelming tequila taste. Of course, the elegant look to this cocktail (complete with grenadine) resembles a frozen popcicle which draws humans to the cocktail like flies to a flame.

Checkout our review of Caramba Reposado too.

First, the color has to be mentioned in Caramba Extra Añejo because it’s so dark and copper toned much like a freshly polished copper pipping. The color seems to have taken on the properties of a bourbon whiskey. Compared to a standard Añejo, this is much more deep and dark in coloring which shows the barrel aging has been working wonders on the presentation.

Moving on to the nose; my initial impression is that of a caramel agave. The Caramba Extra Añejo exhibits a very familiar bouquet, a bourbon-style vanilla profile. I went in for a long deep sniff and received a potent alcoholic punch showing me this spirit has a good amount of power to it that needs to be respected. Unlike a Scotch Whisky, the nose doesn’t present smokey properties and follows more of a American Kentucky straight bourbon with a sweetness that made me salivate a bit after a few more sniffs.

Tasting the Caramba Extra Añejo is a fun experience to say the least. The thick viscosity was impressive. Upon this thickness rode a nice black pepper spice which ran across my cheeks and down the flat of my tongue with a predominance towards the front sweeter tip. This followed with a buttery agave mid-palate transition and a very sensually silk finish that leaves a long creamy oak behind for minutes after the sip.

The mouth feel matches that of a whiskey five times older but requiring much less time to mature to such a level of taste. Ironically, the mouth feel and nose reminded me of a straight bourbon but the taste didn’t give me any other bourbon attributes. The Caramba Extra Añejo does not burn as it goes down, remaining smooth with a clean finish throughout the tasting experience.

After my initial tastings I added a bit of room temperature spring water to the extra añejo to see what else I could work out of the glass. I received a much stronger oak and vanilla flavoring than prior, the finish was slightly lighter and the agave was a bit more pronounced. Oddly enough, I never received any real chocolate notes, which I almost expected going into the tasting.

The Caramba Extra Añejo makes a great complex sipping Tequila. In many ways, I’ve found this extra añejo to go far beyond a standard tequila, almost becoming its own spirit. It seems this tequila has adopted properties from a whiskey, perhaps through using whiskey barrels to age the tequila yet it doesn’t lose its own identity in the process.

You can expect to pay roughly USD $99.99 for a bottle of Caramba Extra Añejo and receive a well crafted sipping experience. If you’re looking to bring a well aged tequila into your home and try an extra añejo with a reasonable price, Caramba is a good choice. Other extra añejo alternatives may run you USD $300+ for such an aged tequila.

The bouquet is a potent agave with a sweet nectar-like flavor near the tail end of my initial sniff. Taking a deeper sniff continues the strong agave but uncovers a hidden white pepper scent with a pineapple skin wrapping. If you take just one breath and smell, you’ll probably miss some of the more subtle hints that make the best of the bouquet.

The taste of the Caramba Reposado was well received on my palate. Bright spiciness right on the front attack with a mid-palate sweetness of agave nectar and a light caramel finish that’s subtle and clean. The finish is a bit short, lasting about 20-seconds but was good while it lasted. I would have loved it to linger for about 30-seconds more if possible.

The liquid has a good viscosity with good smooth and inviting flavors mixed with the peppery spice not too unfamiliar to me in a good reposado tequila. When put on ice, I’m experiencing another style of spirit all together.  On the ice you’ll reduce the sweetness and bring up the agave, and spice. The chill also seems to bring out an oak, it makes me think of an Irish Whiskey at first sniff, which was not expected at all. It is as if the ice and its dissolved water seems to bring out a bit more of the maturity of the liquid.

Overall, a solid tasting experience that goes above your standard tequila. I also had the opportunity to consume a few margarita’s with some friends using the Caramba reposado. A few folks thought it was a bit “strong” on flavor but within a few minutes they were asking for a second glass. What some people experience as strong is their palate warming up to the idea of the alcohols and that attack fades upon the third sip.

However, the low level of flavor profile upon the pour isn’t where the bouquet ends. Getting closer to the glass and bringing my nose up to appreciate its flavors allows the spirit to show off its true nature. I immediately caught a unique sweet coconut profile wrapped in a dry chocolate mingling with sea salt. The scents are light and subtle which makes me take a bit more time to appreciate the nose; I love taking the time to search out mysterious scents in a spirit like this so I had fun working up the flavors in my mind.

While the subtle smells give rise to great flavors and complexities, it was time to take a first and second sip. My initial impression is warm and smooth with great texture and thickness while still maintaining a potent punch. The mid-palate transition was very spicy, a black pepper with subtle sweetness. The finish was long and flavorful giving rise to fresh organic tasting agave with a return of the spicy black pepper finish.

Overall, the experience of Don Pilar Añejo was enjoyable as it brought a nice complexity without overdoing the flavors. The liquid was well balanced, mature in viscosity and age with great color and the addition of coconut in the scent was something I’d not experienced in an Añejo tequila prior to the review.

I found places to purchase Don Pilar Añejo online for USD $40.00 which is a very competitive price for a quality añejo with a fun flavor profile.

Please Note: We recently found out our bottle sample of Partida Añejo was bad. After receiving a new bottle, the “sour” taste reported in this video went away and it was smooth as it should have been. Sorry for the mis-communication, bad samples do happen from time to time.

We’re topping of this week with a little tasting before the 4th of July. Just incase you’re going to be out and about drinking Añejo tequila, here is a few brands you can consider tasting. We’re looking at Tres Generaciones, Riazul, Dos Lunas, Cielo and Partida Tequila.

Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to try an Añejo tequila sometime soon!

Check us out at Everydaydrinkers.tv to see the episode and leave some comments!

Riazul is one such company and Inaki Orozco and his team are showing us how a modestly priced tequila can compete against those with $100+ price tags. To learn more about Riazul checkout MixDrinkipedia.com, Riazul’s website and join their Facebook Fan Page. By the end of this episode you’ll know all there is to know about the heavenly Agave, what classificaties a tequila and some great tasting properties of Añejo and Silver Riazul Tequila.

Hopefully you enjoy this special interview episode and stay tuned for our next podcast later this week covering Pilsner beers.

Holy crap, if I can win the Ultimate Man Cave I can really trick out my recording studio so Common Man Cocktails would be ready to pimp the best party on the block. Or, I could use it to just feel wicked cool. But, in order to win I’ve got to build some karma so I’m doing something to ruin my odds of winning… telling everyone about it!

Been looking for a good excuse to reclaim the living room from the toys and sewing machine? Finally got sick of scrounging through your neighbor’s trash to find a couch?

1800® Select Silver Tequila is about to make your day. Visit www.1800tequila.com/mancave and enter for a chance to win $10,000 towards putting together the ultimate ManCave! You can deck out your spot with the sickest new home entertainment system, a game console of your choice, plenty of seating arrangements to keep you comfy and a supply of 1800® Silver Select Tequila within an arm’s reach – the Man Cave is sure to secure poker night at YOUR house, indefinitely. So, stand up to the powers that be and enter daily to for a chance to be the envy of all your buddies.

1800® Select Silver is a new kind of Tequila:  100 Proof, double distilled and blended with a touch of aged tequila. It’s got enough gravitas to impress any true Tequila fan. Try 1800® Select Silver and Change The Game!

First, the presentation, the liquid is perfectly clear, like a highly filtered spring water. This Silver tequila is bottled directly after distillation without any “resting.” It offers you a clear glimpse into its production through the look and feel of this Riazul tequila.

The nose is quite awesome, pouring it alone is enough to get a sense of its aroma from a distance. Up close, Riazul Silver has a lot to offer in bouquet including a mildly sweet agave meets pineapple blend with a very nice herbal organic nectar style profile. As I move my nose away from the glass I get a bit of a vanilla and caramel wafer image in my head, interesting.

The initial attack is that of brown sugar with an agave brine mid-palate transition and a cool crisp albeit slightly sour hotness towards the finish. The front of the tongue and forward edges tend to light up with a tingling numbness as you finish the sip. The finish is long and powerful, offering a neat over-ripe pineapple skin which lingers for minutes at a time. I’m left with a little vanilla and hints of chocolate long after the finish.

The mouth-feel is a bit chalky and not as thick as I had expected, based on some of the other blanco/silver tequila’s I’ve had in the past few weeks. Some brands will rest their tequila for a few weeks after distillation to round out some of the flavors which may thicken the viscosity of the spirit; I don’t know.

The end result is a worthwhile Tequila with class, complex flavors and a crisp clear color. What more can you ask for?

This is a huge episode, packed full of great blanco tequila brands. It’s a bit long, coming in at the low twenty minute mark, but with nine tequila’s to taste, I believe with covered a great deal of hot brands. Please note, as well, that every one of these brands serves a purpose at its specific price point and should be considered as such.

While it would be entertaining to bring in a few brands that would receive poor scores, I find it more valuable to attempt to give you a verbal “taste profile” and let you decide what’s best based on your own palate. We’re really focusing on three key price points: mid-twenty dollar range, fourty dollar range and those breaking the fifty mark.

In addition, a great tequila that didn’t make the show, Señor Frogs, arrived yesterday after our recording was already “in the can.” For a full text review, checkout everydaydrinkers.com. Their reposado will make our next tasting though!

Check us out at Everydaydrinkers.tv to see the episode and leave some comments!

Secondly, the price point on this 100% de Agave Plata is USD $25.99 and any tequila in the mid-twenty dollar price point is a must try. I’m not expecting it to blow my mind in complexity at this price point, but I am expecting it to give me a smooth tequila experience with some subtle flavors to bring something unique to the table.

The pour is perfectly clear as I’d expect, leaving the title of Plata a worthy labeling. The nose is quite unique for a Plata bringing a smokey sea salt with a ripe fruity aroma, something a bit more green than tropical. It’s bouquet can best be described as “earthy” with slight salty pineapple and fresh crispness. For a Plata, it brings a well defined scent that can be detected with a foot clearance between my nose and the glass.

The taste is like an earthy explosion of thunder in your mouth. Impressive mouth feel, thicker in viscosity than many of the high priced competitors, including Patrón (which is a bit watery). For an unaged tequila, I’m at a loss to how they managed to get such a smooth texture to the tequila for a $25 dollar price point. The attack is a subtle pineapple, an organic agave mid-palate and a spicy finish with a small explosion of alcoholic fire. As the finish begins to play out, I get a smokey taste not seen in many of the Blanco/Plata tequila’s I’ve reviewed. The finish lasts forever, lingering there with a tongue tickling vanilla and more of that earthy mineral play.

Perhaps most tequilas refine the organic flavorings out of the product; I’m unsure. Señor Frogs seems to want to give you a taste of the Mexican Terroir that birthed the agave. This stand out feature makes Señor Frogs worth tasting immediately, with the price point being perfect for those looking to experience something new in 100% de Agave tequila.

I’m honestly at a loss for what I’m experiencing in such a low-cost tequila as it holds many complexities, more than I had initially expected. The bottle was fun and silly, I expected the tequila to quality for its position but it seems to take it to the next level. I believe this tequila could sell for USD $40 and still be considered a top-quality product, smoking the cost of higher priced products in the quality arena.

This is a big boys tequila, a new tequila drinker may want to mix this into a cocktail or start with something a bit more subtle. The flavors, potency and organic agave flavorings might excite a young tequila drinker’s palate to a magnatitute not yet handleable. Everyone’s palate is different but I’m going to stand by my claim: this is one of the most complex tequila’s for $25 that you’re going to find on the market, it’s new to the US and needs more attention. I’m impressed, very impressed.

With that I pour Tres Generaciones Plata into my glass and hold it to the light: crystal clear. This might as well be water from the gods with its clarity. However, I’m not so sure the gods can create a water with such a beautiful aroma. In all seriousness, this is the scent of beauty and nature — only something greater than us could have developed the plant that birthed the aroma of this tequila.

The nose reminds me of the salt waters of a beautiful coastline, perhaps Hawaii or a tropical island of sorts. It comes alive with firm pineapples, sea salts, agave and notes of slightly sour candies? Subtle in candy with a strong yellow fruit-like structure floating in a deep blue brine. Sure, it’s only a vision when closing my eyes and letting my nose hover over the glass but half the expectations of a beautiful spirit is where it can take you mentally.

Our first sip continues the subtle fruit from the bouquet but follows it through with a smooth light and refreshing taste with great viscosity and thickness for such an un-aged tequila. There is a slight alcoholic tickle on the tip of the tongue and near the front edges as the liquid slides away to a finish that reminds me of the scent I grew to love only seconds ago.  The finish is fairly long, dry and fruity leaving you yearning for another sip.

A Plata isn’t typically something one will sip neat, but I can only imagine how smooth this Tres Generaciones Plata would be on the tongue if chilled. The subtle alcohols would dissipate and leave only the pineapple fruits, sea salts, cracked white pepper and what can only be explained as the nectar of agave. I’m a huge fan of Agave Nectar to sweeten my Margaritas and companies have begun to use Agave Nectar as an alternative to fake sugars and high fructose corn syrup. Imagine a 100% natural sweetness in your drink and you’re on the road to the finish of Tres Generaciones Plata. The beauty of agave is in its subtle sweet taste, only hinting at it, much unlike a honey which attacks your palate like an army of sweet candies.

Is it the smoothest white tequila I’ve had? No, both Cielo and Partida have a slightly thicker viscosity with a rounder more complex finish but you may find yourself paying USD $10.00 or more for that experience. Cielo offers a bit more on the sweet side of the finish while Partida is a shorter finish with more citrus than I’m getting from Tres Generaciones. However, I do not believe they can beat this brand in its beautiful nose, a telling sign to a great experience.

The Tequila market, in the United States, is an ever growing explosion of brands and you’ll be selecting from a huge shelf of contenders. The low-to-mid $40 tequilas are everywhere and you’ll have to choose wisely. I’m not sure there is a finer $45 bottle of tequila on the US market today, Tres Generaciones could easily contend with the $55+ brands and come out on top as each person palate is slightly different.

If you like a milder sweetness with a bit less vanilla but want a tequila that will send you exploring on a far off island, Tres Generaciones Plata will get you there. I challenge you to find me a better bottle of tequila at this price point, I’ll put my reputation on the line.

Of course, I’m not sure I have a reputation so there is very little to gain from the wager.

Press release is followed by some tasty recipes.

SEÑOR FROG’S BRINGS NEW 100% BLUE AGAVE TEQUILAS TO AMERICA

Purchase, N.Y., June 1, 2009 – Señor Frog’s, the best-known party destination in Mexico and the Caribbean, and Batrachian Spirits announced today that Señor Frog’s Tequilas made from 100 % blue agave are now available in the United States. Consumers can now enjoy the same carefree party attitude at home or in their local bar with these new tequilas and capture the experience of a “South of the Border” vacation.

“Millions of Americans party at our bars and restaurants every year and discover the fun that defines the Señor Frog’s experience,” states Pedro Quintanilla, managing partner of Batrachian Spirits. “Since we know everyone cannot make it to Señor Frog’s, we decided to bring the party to everyone with these new super premium great tasting Señor Frog’s Tequilas.”

Señor Frog’s Tequilas are available in two styles: Señor Frog’s Plata® and Señor Frog’s Reposado®. Our master distillers have created the perfect balance of quality, authentic tequila character and smoothness. “These 100 % blue agave tequilas allow you to party with the best that tequila has to offer, without experiencing regrets the next day,” says Quintanilla.

Señor Frog’s Plata is an un-oaked tequila that is double-distilled to highlight the flavors of the very best blue agave. This clean, slightly creamy tequila has a dry, medium body and a smooth, balanced finish.

Señor Frog’s Reposado is aged four months in white oak barrels, giving it a golden tone, generous body and smooth finish. The authentic blue agave flavor is complemented with hints of creamy vanilla and a fruity aroma.

The distinctive taste profiles make Señor Frog’s Plata and Reposado great by themselves or as the quintessential base for margaritas and tequila cocktails. Señor Frog’s Tequilas are available in Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle of Señor Frog’s Plata is $25.99 and Señor Frog’s Reposado is $29.99.

For more information on Señor Frog’s Tequilas, please visit www.senorfrogstequila.com.

Liven up your next occasion with these authentic drink recipes and make every event a Señor Frog’s party:

Señor Frogs Plata
Sha-la-la-la
(Named after the famous waterslide that throws people from the bar into the lagoon at the Cancun Señor Frog’s restaurant)
•    1 1/2oz Señor Frog’s Plata Tequila
•    1 1/4oz peach liqueur
•    Splash of blue Curaçao
•    Splash of lemon juice
•    Tonic water to fill
Fill high-ball glass with ice, add Señor Frog’s Plata, peach liqueur, blue Curacao and lemon juice, stir and top with tonic water. Add lime for garnish.

Señor Frogs Reposado
CHICORITA
(Named after a spooky local legend.)
•    2 oz Señor Frog’s Reposado Tequila
•    ½ oz fresh orange juice
•    ½ oz strawberry liqueur
•    4 drops of Tabasco Sauce
Mix the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice, shake and pour into a shot glass

Was I correct? Let’s see!

901 Tequila launched in New York in early May and will be creeping across the US in the future. The suggested retail price is USD $40.00, attacking the premium tequila market. However, there are varying levels of pricing in the premium tequila market, a market full of crazy tequila bottles, names and gimmicks.

The 901 coloring is perfectly clear, excellent start to a Blanco tequila style. We’ve yet to see a blanco tequila that hasn’t held a strong clear coloring so we’re on par with all other non-rested alternatives. So far, it fits the bill and passes the first test.

Once I poured it into my sipping glass I was shocked at the scents, bright salty briney pineapple smells. There is a great deal of character in the nose alone, separating itself from a few other mass market tequila’s like Patron, which often goes without a scent. First impressions mean a lot to me, a silent tequila tells no story. 901 Tequila tells a tropical story of beaches and bright sun with hints of sugary agave.

The initial attack is bright and tropical in flavor profile with an agave-like salty mid-palate transition ending with a tongue numbing burn with a light vanilla aftertaste. The pineapples in my first impression continue through the length of the sip enforcing 901‘s character and differentiating style. The liquid is both smooth and graceful on the palate with a great visocity, leaving you yearning for another sip.

I’ve yet to try 901 Tequila in a cocktail but it’s high on my list of priorities this week, it will happen and I’m sure I will be impressed. When a tequila brings its own personality to the table it carries that personality into its mixing partners as well.

I’m going to have to take back any initial hesitations, 901 Tequila is for real and competes at a good price point. 901 Tequila puts Patron to shame in terms of nose and smooth gracefulness, although both will light a fire in your tummy. Up against a Cielo Blanco or Partida Blanco, 901 falls a bit short but not by much. The tequila brands that beat out 901 Tequila in taste also beat it out in price, leaving 901 to compete against the $40.00 alternative in which their is very little competition against this clear spirit.

Initially, you’ll notice its light copper toned coloring as if their silver got a little tan to it. The scents quickly climb through the air and tickle your nose, inviting you to smell its glories. The smells of caramel, vanillas and slight hints of cookie and you’re on the road to the Dos Lunas Reposado Tequila nose.

The taste? Light and smooth with a small spicy long lasting finish. The Reposado has a buttery oaken flavoring which obviously contributes to its smooth impact on the palate. While you’re going to get a bit of numbing alcohol feelings on the tongue, the vanilla and oak takes the edge off any potential heat from the alcohol; this isn’t just a mixing tequila my friends. The Reposado works well as a sipping tequila which translates to a smooth subtle cocktail mixing tequila.

It wouldn’t be fair to compare a Reposado to an Añejo because their a different beast, but comparing this Reposado to its Silver sister, you’ll probably have some of the same realizations I’ve have found: the Reposado’s maturity and barrel age takes a bit off the slightly more sweet/sour Silver while adding even more complexities to the spirit.

The relaxing flavors tend to bring you closer to a warm candy or dessert instead of the harsh bitter bite of a mixto tequila (51% Agave). Dos Lunas Reposado is a 100% Blue Agave tequila with lots of sweet notes to sing. You’re going to have a lot of choices in Tequila, the complexities in Dos Lunas Reposado is telling a story, do you want to listen?

Dos Lunas Añejo is bright flashy gold, resembling a gold plated jewel. By color alone you know you’re working with a quality product. Dos Lunas received a 93 point score at the Agave Spirits Challenge and the presentation is showing its colors immediately. Dos Lunas Añejo is rested for eighteen months in oak barrels, some new oak while others once held bourbon which no doubt contributes to the colors.

These oak barrels no doubt contribute to the thick butterscotch scents on the nose of this añejo. There are slight hints of vanilla if you hold the though of a vanilla wafer in your mind as you sniff. While the smells are 50% the life blood of a well crafted tequila, we cannot stop there, we must venture to taste.

Añejo makes a great sipping tequila and Dos Lunas Añejo is dying to be rolled around on the palate before finishing. This is a serious sipping spirit, it would hurt my inner child to even consider this in a cocktail. Initially, you’ll get the sweet roasted butterscotch, no doubt from the flavors rising through your nasal passages with a mid-palate transition of tropical mango or pineapple with a finish of spicy dark fruit.

We’ve had Añejo’s that were seriously heavy with sours, Dos Lunas does not have any sour tastes even at room temperature, although it will quickly numb the tongue with the 40% ABV. You’re left with a slight spice aftertaste which grows my desire for salty chips and cheeses.

With a little online shopping research we found a price point in the mid-$50 range for Dos Lunas Añejo, which we believe is a steal considering the cost of some of its competition. In our opinion, this spirit could easily sell for $80 to $90 without question, so the price is an excellent deal considering the complex taste, crisp flavors and overall craftsmanship in Dos Lunas.

This is our first experience with the brand, but it won’t be the last. It is now that we’re confident the “super-premium” label can be applied without fear of market hype as this tequila is all it claims to be and more. We’re extremely excited.

Using the Perfect Margarita Recipe used in the last two review, we’re once again creating a margarita with infused tequila. However, this Tequila is different than the last two, instead of a more heated jalapeño taste (even in the chocolate infusion with less heat and more organic taste), this is a sweet tropical blend of the islands. This is a Hawaiian margarita with sweet mango’s and melons with smooth tequila flavors and the scents of the tropics.

Smelling this tequila gives you a sense of blue skies and white sands, the taste is like a vacation on the beaches of Mexico. This is, by far, the best of the Tanteo tequila’s because it adds a new sweetness and tropical notes to an otherwise typical margarita. Tanteo‘s Tropical tequila balances the sourness of the lime and blends perfectly with a sweet agave nectar used in our recipe. The aftertaste is slightly organic, almost like there is a bit of the soils and leaves in the infusion.

If you want something unique and different yet flavorful and relaxing, mix your next margarita with Tanteo Tropical Tequila.

Using the Perfect Margarita Recipe used in the last review, we baseline the Jalapeño version of the margarita against its chocolate infused counterpart. The Jalapeño infused flavor takes on a life of their own once mixed in a nice margarita glass. You will not mistake this tequila when compared to anything else you’ve tried, the margarita clearly smells of potent Jalapeño pepper mixed with the flavors of lime and all the rest of our margarita ingredients.

Much like the chocolate infused Tanteo, I was slightly worried about the taste based on the strong smell of peppers but I was more relaxed knowing how well the blanco tequila worked in my first drink. Initially it tastes like a smooth margarita with hints of Jalapeño’s until the finish; this is when you’re palate is tickled with spice.

Imagine chewing on a Jalapeño without the pain and torture of the seeds and oils but all the pleasure of the spice and heat. The finish remains for ten to twenty seconds but never exceeds a mild heat on the back of the throat. Each sip yields the same results but never overdoing it and never weakening.

The Tanteo infusion must have taken months to perfect as it is not too hot yet not too dull. Tanteo Jalapeño infused blanco tequila will spice up your life and take a normal margarita to a whole new level. I’m imagining a Tanteo Jalapeño Margarita would go great with a burrito, enchilada and/or salty tortilla chips.

If you’re planning on a great mexican feast, plan on giving Tanteo Jalapeño a try when serving margaritas.

My instincts were fighting me the entire way when making my first Tanteo Chocolate Infused Margarita. I could have tried Tanteo using their recommended recipes but I wanted an initial baseline to really understand the differences between Tanteo and other tequila brands and that requires my Perfect Margarita recipe. My taste scenario was simple: substitute my typical reposado or blanco tequila for Tanteo‘s Chocolate infused alternative.

I’m not going to lie, I thought this was going to be the first time I had to write a not-so-stellar tequila review. Upon smelling the infused chocolate I was met with a ton of jalapeño flavor — a ton. I used a third party to confirm my suspicions on the bouquet of this tequila and they said it was very subtle. This goes to show you that everyone’s palate and nose is a bit different.

Moving forward, I mixed myself the exact proportions I’d typically use for my margaritas. The smell of the final drink was still, in my opinion, a powerful jalapeño but the taste was exactly what you want in an infused tequila. The chocolate is super subtle as was the jalapeño’s heat and flavor. You could taste the 100% de Agave blanco tequila with hints of infusion attacking your palate like a complex wine.

You need to search out the flavors to truly enjoy them which garners a huge amount of respect in my humble opinion. Anyone can attack your senses with overpowering sickly sweet tastes. Making a subtle flavor while maintaining the high qualities of the base ingredient is much more difficult. The finish remains on your palate for the long haul, you’ll taste jalapeño essences as you breath out but will not feel the heat of the pepper. Pure excellence.

Tanteo also has a full jalapeño flavored tequila and a tropical flavored tequila, stay tuned for in-depth reviews of the full gamut of their infused offerings. You’ll find Tanteo in the New York area for the price of USD $45.00, hopefully they’ll be expanding outwards soon enough as more folks will have access to their infused tequilas.

If it’s cold where you live, this is a must try; best when drank near a crackling fire in the dead of winter or after a long day of skiing.

From Cuervo Gold to Cavalino Reposado, we’re looking at the cheapest, the most expensive and the best of brand. You’ll get a sense of tequila’s taste and quality by experiencing our exploration of Cuervo Especial, Partida, Cavalino, Cabo Wabo, Patron, Hornitos, El Tesoro, Don Julio and others.

If youve not heard of Partida it might be due to their sales team and its street presence. Well, Partida is changing all that by hiring some experienced folks to take them to the next level!

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 12, 2008 — J. Gary Shansby, founder and chairman of Partida Tequila (called ‘the best tequila money can buy’ by America’s leading spirits expert Paul Pacult), announced today the hiring of Richard (Rick) Scully as Director of Sales, Western Division, and Dave Singh as Director of Brand Development, as well as the promotion of Thomas Smitherman to Director of Sales, Eastern Division, from Florida Regional Manager. “With Rick and Dave on board, together with the expanded role for Thomas, we’re well organized to better support our distributors and drive sell-through at the account level,” said Mr. Shansby. “Our sales and marketing is now more aggressive and street-focused.”

Rick Scully was formerly with Meadowbank Estates, a division of Empson USA, responsible for developing their Western United States Australian and New Zealand premium wine business. He also spent five years with Remy Amerique as an on-premise sales specialist and manager with responsibilities for the entire portfolio, including Cointreau, Macallan, Mount Gay Rum, and the introduction of Don Julio. While at Remy, Rick managed major sponsorships and spearheaded local media and account promotions. Rick is based in Los Angeles and will cover Partida distribution in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Texas with Partida regional managers from those markets reporting to him.

Dave is a highly regarded premium tequila sales and marketing veteran having led the growth of Gran Centenario for four years at Jose Cuervo International, first as Brand Development Manager and then as Commercial Manager for their Super and Ultra Premium Portfolio for North America. Dave is a tequila aficionado and understands tequila extremely well, having studied at the Academia Mexicana del Tequila in Jalisco. He is also a certified mixologist by the American Bartender’s Association. He is very well-respected for his passion and knowledge within the tightly knit professional tequila community worldwide.

Dave will be responsible for managing the Partida bartender group, which has now expanded to 12 bartenders in 10 markets; overseeing Sofia Partida’s appearances at consumer and trade events; and working with the Partida field sales organization in key on-premise accounts across the country.

Thomas Smitherman joined Partida as regional manager with responsibilities for Florida and Georgia less than one year ago, and rapidly built those states into Partida’s top performers. Thomas has initiated numerous high-profile sales and marketing programs that have rapidly made Partida one of the leading premium tequila brands in Florida and Georgia. Thomas will continue to be based in South Florida. His expanded responsibilities include the entire East Coast as well as Illinois and Indiana.

Rick, Dave and Thomas will report directly to Partida founder and chairman, Gary Shansby. “I couldn’t be more excited by the passion and commitment already being demonstrated by our new sales and marketing team leaders,” added Mr. Shansby. “They embody the kind of entrepreneurial spirit and energy that are characteristic of our entire organization.”

About Partida Tequila

Partida Tequila (www.partidatequila.com) is an authentic, all-natural, estate-grown premium Tequila, made from 100% blue agave in Amatitán, the heart of Mexico’s historic Tequila region. From cultivation and harvest to cooking, distillation and aging, Partida maintains exceptional standards of quality and consistency, making Partida “the finest tequila that money can buy,” according to F. Paul Pacult, the leading spirits authority in America.

The Partida Estate produces four distinctive Tequilas: Blanco (not aged), Reposado (aged six months), Añejo (aged 18 months) and Elegante (aged 36 — 40 months). Partida Tequila is distributed in Mexico and the United Kingdom, as well as in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Washington, DC and Washington. Partida will continue to expand aggressively and strategically in the United States.

Like many chemically designed sugar substitutes, most are known not to be a very healthy alternative to real sugar. However, real sugars don’t dissolve so well in a cold drink and a few syrups (such as Orgeat Syrup) work but don’t give the Margarita the right taste. The true answer may be Agave Syrup, which I have on order and I’m awaiting to arrive but I need to, first, remove the high fructose corn syrup from the receipt which means eliminated Roses Lime Juice unfortunately.

The answer: real limes. Who knew? Plenty of people, but I’m slow, forgive me.

I’ve tried “juicing” the Limes in a juicer, first trying the entire fruit – peel and all, to see how it would taste. Well, as expect the peel has a lot of ‘flavor’ which overwhelms the margarita to the point of almost gagging. So that’s not the right solution. I then figured I’d peel them and juice them but realized cleaning a juicer is a long and tedious process for one or two shakers of margarita. At a party this might be a great solution to mass producing real lime juice but I’ve not had this occur just yet.

So, I went out and purchased a cheapy citrus squeezer. Roll the lime on the table after letting it sit out on the counter for the day so it warms up a bit and you’ll get the most juice out of the lime. Then, cut it in half, put half in the citrus squeeze and …squeeze. It creates roughly one shot of lime juice so squeezing both sections of the lime creates my required “two shots of lime juice.”

Now I’ve removed the need for the Rose’s Lime Juice and eliminated the high fructose corn syrup for natural flavors and sugars. The margarita will be a bit more bitter but not too bad (since the peels are not part of the equation). Now, a syrup sugar like Agave Syrup or something may work to build more of a natural sweetness, more on that when it arrives.

Hopefully this helps anyone looking to build a more natural margarita with real limes.

I’ve found this 100% agave Reposado works great as a relaxing sipper or in a sweet margarita. The smell is sweet but the taste is potent and awakening and will leave you with a satisfying smile. This Mexican surprise is well-worth a sip to get the full impact of  well balanced tequila, starting off velvet smooth and crisp and ending with a potent bang (40% alcohol by volume).

“Looking for something exceptionally smooth and rich? Experience Partida’s signature touch of sweetness in Partida Reposado. This aged Tequila delivers subtle flavors that Tequila drinkers may have not thought possible. Free of the overbearing smoky flavor common to most Reposados, this Tequila is in a class by itself.

Its enticing light amber color with splashes of golden tones gives this premium Tequila its brilliant appearance. A rich finish topped off with scents of vanilla, hazelnut and almond, F. Paul Pacult called Partida Reposado ‘The Bentley of Reposado’s’.” (partidatequila.com)

If you’re looking for a new tequila to try, Partida should be at the top of your list. I’ve found very few tequila’s that can match their Reposado, Blanco and Añejo. I think, out of each of their selections, the Reposado is the best because it falls middle-of-the line in terms of age and quality. A huge Añejo lover will want to stick with the age they love but those that are unsure or want something that’s smooth with a powerful taste that doesn’t go over the top may want to try the Reposado. Really, that goes for any of the tequila brands–to each his own.

I’ve shared the Partida Añejo with a die-hard tequila fan and his reaction was, “Wow, this is really good. I didn’t expect that.” Although he’s an avid Añejo fan I think the Reposado I’m going to give him will result in the same reaction.

The bottle has a sense of style and clarity so you can see the golden spirit held within. The golden hue is pale, much like that of thin polished copper and perfectly clear. This tequila is meant to be sipped, period. You can mix it if you wish but Partida has a great Blanco and Reposado which would work well in a Margarita or Tequila Sunrise.

Sipping this tequila will bombard your senses with that of banana, honey and pear and will finish with a strong bite to remind you you’re drinking an anejo. The taste reminds me slightly of an aged whiskey, which may be because it is”aged in American oak one-pass Jack Daniels barrels, reveals an intense flavor that can only come from advanced aging.” Aged for about eighteen months, it is smooth yet potent to the pallet, clearing your senses and nasal passages.

The spirit is 40% alcohol by volume, so drink slowly. I rang in the New Year with a small glass of Partida Añejo and will probably make it a yearly ritual. Their website does suggest this as a recipe for their anejo tequila:

Anejo Old-Fashioned

3 oz. Partida Anejo Tequila
1/4 oz. Partida Agave Nectar
Dash of Angostura
Orange Peel (muddled)
Bitters and Partida Nectar in an old-fashioned glass, add ice and Anejo Tequila.
Stir and garnish with brandied cherries on a pick.

That’s about it! What makes Partida different from other Tequila companies?

“Our agave is like no other. It’s cultivated for 7-10 years until the piñas are perfectly ripened with concentrated sugars, harvested by hand and then slowly baked in state-of-the-art stainless steel autoclaves. The reason: To preserve the freshness of each sacred agave.” (partidatequila.com)

Whatever magic it is, I believe it. Next up, time to take a drink of their Reposado! For more on types of tequila, check out our prior article on agave.

Is it fair to compare Cavalino Reposado to a mixto like Cuervo which is only 51% agave? Mildly, yes, because many non-tequila drinkers may taste Cavalino and say, “hmm, tastes like tequila, you know… like a Jose Cuervo.” Then you pull out a Cuervo Gold and put them side-by-side and tell them to try it again… a sip of Cavalino or even just the sent compared to a standard mixto makes them cringe. They are nothing alike at all. The mixto smells like a foul sweet distilled sugar candy while Cavalino hints at an aromatic tequila you’d expect to taste on the pallet.

Cavalino Blanco, a perfect silver tequila also changes your perspective of about the Mexican spirit. Both the Reposado and Blanco will change your perspective on tequila and how it should taste compared to how people think it should taste. “One is as good as another,” I hear often, but must giggle under my breath because they’re so incorrect it almost gives me a hangover pondering their unenlightened little minds.

How does Cavalino Reposado compare to a well-known “top shelf” brand like Cabo Wabo Reposado? One of our folks thought the Cabo Wabo had a smoother taste but pointed out the Cabo Wabo Reposado had a sour finish while Cavalino’s Reposado finished with a smooth flavor that doesn’t make you pucker. It may come down to preference on this one, but Cabo Wabo’s Reposado will run you between USD $45.00 and USD $55.00 depending on what state you live in (perhaps more or less in some states) while Cavalino will cost roughly $26.99 in areas around Texas.

The downfall to Cavalino? It isn’t available in all liquor stores while Cabo Wabo seems to be easily purchasable around the United States. Personally, I prefer the taste of Cavalino Reposado to Cabo Wabo but I’d not refuse either as a gift or in a drink. If you’re not a big Tequila drinker I’d highly suggest drinking a more top-shelf tequila to get a sense of the fine spirit, it’s easy to dislike something when you’re tasting the worse tequila swill you can get for ten bucks.

If you’re looking for complex flavor but less potent tequila impact, the Cavalino Blanco may be the way to go. As I’ve discussed in the past, there are many different types of tequila each having their own great properties. Most importantly, you want something that is 100% agave for a traditional great tasting tequila and most types of tequila can be made correctly, besides that of a standard Oro (“gold”) which isn’t usually 100% agave.

Blanco, or “white tequila” is an un-aged version of the reposado (“rested”) tequila so it will have less potent “tequila flavor.” I find this goes great in mixed drinks for a lighter style Margarita which still maintains a great the Mexican heritage. There is some people that suggest using lower grade tequila for mixed drinks but I’m of the opinion that you should always maintain high quality in a mixed drink given the core of the drink is based on your alcohol of choice, thus, a Reposado like Cavalino or Cabo Wabo works perfect for a Margarita without destroying it by putting in a lower grade. I don’t care for low grade mixed drinks just as I don’t care for low grade alcohol.

However, sipping a Cavalino Blanco is highly enjoyable and a bit of a change from its stronger Reposado counterpart. I really can’t say anything bad about this silver style beverage as it’s complex enough to be a tasty white tequila and doesn’t taste a bit watered down like some of the competing blanco’s in the industry.

If you’re given the chance to get your hands on a few bottles of Cavalino, don’t hesitate to invest in one of the higher end tequilas for a low end price. If too many people figure out just how great Cavalino is, it may end up being trendy and growing a life of it’s own (and a price to match). Remember, don’t buy tequila based on price, purchase a bottle of tequila based on its history and its taste. If you’re not sure, ask a tequila drinker or a professional in the industry or keep an open mind and try different styles and brands to find one that works best.

If you want to try Cavalino for yourself, you can try these stores.

You can spend a good deal of money on a bottle of Tequila, it should be treated like an expensive bottle and not “just Tequila.” If you’re unsure of their understanding of Tequila you can explain why you chose the bottle you did or find a good document describing the types of tequila to help add value to the gift.

Personally, I asked for Cabo Wabo Anejo Tequila from my mother, but I’m not sure if she’s willing to spend the USD $69.99 on the bottle. I also told her Don Julio Anejo Tequila would be an enjoyed gift as well and it’s half the price (around USD $43.99). I didn’t bother to ask for a Don Julio 1942 Anejo Tequila which was around USD $124.00 a bottle!

Although the bottles should give away the “this is expensive” vibe, it’s good to know they actually will understand and respect the bottle. When I first received my Cabo Wabo Reposado bottle I said a polite “thank you” and questioned to myself “why did they buy me tequila?” Later, I found out exactly why, they had heard I was into Margaritas that year and I received a lot of Margarita mixes, glasses and other stuff. They could have just gotten me a gold bottle of Jose Cuervo for under USD $20.00 but they wanted to give me something special.

At first taste, I realize it was definitely special. The special person on your list will feel the same way when they taste a nice sipping Tequila or mixing it into a high end Margarita.

Nopal, another cactus which could threaten the Mexican industry may be targeted by Japanese and Chinese production companies.

“Nopal and Maguey are Mexican plants and if we don’t take the necessary measures in time, we run the risk of losing the denomination of origin”, Cesar Duarte, the deputy who sponsored the move, told the Efe news agency.

There is rumor the Chinese firms may have already contacted the European Commission about registering the Nopal plant as a product of China. This hasn’t been confirmed but it could mean Chinese are working on a plan to cut into Mexico’s precious tequila industry.

I’m not sure if it will help or harm us, but tradition has always referenced tequila as a product of Mexico. The end result could be good for the consumer if the tequila they produce in China is of high quality and taste. It may also reduce the cost of tequila, in general, if it floods the market.

(Thanks, BBC)

White Tequila (“Blanco”)

Also known as a silver tequila, still un-aged and can be 100% agave (the good stuff) or something or what is known as a mixto which means they blend a partial amount of agave with sugars and water. A silver may or may not be aged up to 60-days.

Note: If you mix anything with sugar you’re more likely to receive a nasty hangover. If you plan to drink a lot of tequila or margaritas order 100% agave tequila (just ask the waiter or waitress)

Gold Tequila (“Oro”)

Cuervo Gold got it’s name by the type of tequila it possesses. This is the cheapest type of tequila, an un-aged silver mixed with a caramel to give it the gold coloring. Some artificial aging can take place by using wood flavoring, fructose and glycerin. If you order up a Margarita and it seems to be cheaper than all the others on the menu… you’re probably getting a gold tequila. Remember, an un-aged silver tequila that’s bottom of the line probably isn’t 100% agave plant. Translation: hangovers from hell.

Rested (“Reposado”)

A well rested tequila is a happy tequila! These tequilas are stored in wooden tanks for a minimum of 2 months. A higher end Reposado is aged three to nine months – yum! Although the quality can differ from brand to brand the chances are good you’ll be drinking a 100% agave and not a mixto – but ask anyway.

Vintage (“Añejo”)

Older means wiser, right? Exactly! This is an old tequila aged in a white French oak barrel (sometimes Bourbon barrels which you’ll taste slightly in its flavor) for a minimum of one year. You can still get a mixto añejo but you’ll probably end up with a true 100% agave aged for four years or so. Some say more than four years will ruin the tequila, but who can pass up an aged tequila…really.

You may also see a category called Extra Añejo, a new category established in March of 2006. This has a minimum of three years aging… but really, who needs extra when you have añejo?

With that, you can now order a great mixed drink. Remember, mixto doesn’t really mean “mixed drink” – you should always strike for 100% agave if you want to keep your body happy the next day. Two weeks ago I managed to put down six añejo margarita’s in a two hour period and woke up refreshed, albeit a bit foggy in the brain.

You’ll find even Cuervo has 100% agave in their higher end tequila so we don’t have to black list Cuervo. You’ll find Cabo Wabo to have 100% agave which should be obvious by the price tag.

Cheers!