In a tequila rut? We’ve been there. It’s easy to keep grabbing the same few bottles on your bar rather then splurge on a new tequila that you may or may not like.

Fortunately, we had the opportunity to go to some great tequila trade shows last Fall, where we sampled some impressive newcomers that would like to share with you.

(“Fall?!,” you say – we know, we’ve been busy getting the new version of the Tequila Matchmaker app out the door so please excuse the delay! By the way, what are you waiting for? Install the app, it’s free!)

One of the newer brands on the market that caught our attention was Tequila Alquimia. Alquimia is an organic tequila made in the highlands of Jalisco. I distinctly remember Grover pulling me aside at the Monterey Tequila & Mezcal Expo and saying, “You need to try their blanco!”

This was unusual because a good blanco can be very hard to find. It’s easier to make a good reposado or añejo since you can use the aging process to cover up any potential flaws in the blanco. But, to produce a high-quality blanco you have to hit it out of the park straight from the still.

alquimia-tequila-bottles

Needless to say, I was excited, and Grover’s recommendation wasn’t wrong. The Alquimia blanco offers pleasant aromas of lemongrass and citrus, with hints of cinnamon after it opens up. In the mouth it starts with the smooth citrus flavors and ends with a peppery finish. Delicious!

Their reposado, aged 6 months in white oak, is also tasty. It adds vanilla and buttery notes to the flavors of the blanco. The añejo is aged three years in white oak and I think I like it even more than the reposado. It brings with it not just more buttery wood notes, but also aromas of pitted fruits (plum!) which are incredibly pleasing.

Dr. Adolfo Murillo

We haven’t tried Alquimia’s 6-year extra añejo yet, but based on the quality and consistency of the rest of the lineup, we fully expect it will live up to our expectations.

And when you consider that Alquimia has been crafted out of pure passion by Dr. Adolfo Murillo, an optometrist from Oxnard, California, the quality of this lineup is even more impressive.

Murillo, a third-generation tequila maker, grows his own agave on his family ranch in Jalisco. He is an expert in organic growing methods, and has been growing agave this way for the past 18 years.

We can’t help but think that the special care and feeding that goes into his agaves is one of the main reasons why the entire lineup is outstanding.

If you’re looking for something new to try, and enjoy a spicy finish, think about Alquimia. It just might be the thing to get you out of a tequila rut!

– Scarlet