The other day our good friend Mark Alberto Holt, creator of the SFT Tequila Bar in Sayulita, Mexico, stopped by with a very special gift. He had managed to obtain a rare and much-coveted bottle of El Tesoro de Don Felipe 70th Anniversario extra añejo. This baby is aged 7 years in American white oak bourbon barrels and only 2007 cases were made. The Camarena family released it in 2007 to celebrate 70 years of tequila making.

After hearing Mark talk about the special properties of this tequila—including the fact that it contains juice from especially sweet agave that survived a freeze—we just had to try it. See us tasting it here:

(click image to see video)

This tequila has a pleasant nose of sweet agave, vanilla and cherry with a distinct note of molasses. Once it hits the mouth it is soft and smooth with hints of cherry, and honey. The agave “bite” at the back is extremely subtle, making this a great choice for drinkers who prefer rich, subtle flavors over more traditional tequila qualities.

In short, this is a must have extra añejo, if you can find it. Thanks, Mark!

-Scarlet

Añejo tequilas — meaning tequilas that have been aged in a barrel for one to three years — are often rich in flavor and aromas. These are the cognacs of tequilas and they deserve special treatment. A shot glass just won’t do because, as we mentioned in the previous post, shot glasses don’t allow for proper aeration of the spirit.

I sat down with David Ruiz, our tequila consultant, to explore which glasses were best for tasting complex, aged tequilas. We lined up a champagne flute (which mimics an official Riedel tequila tasting glass – which interestingly, was chosen only for white tequilas), a wine glass and a brandy snifter to see which glassware would come out on top.

We were looking for a vessel that would allow us to explore all the subtle flavors and nuances of a very fine añejo. We selected Los Abuelos Añejo (which goes under the brand name Fortaleza in the U.S.) for our test since it has complex and distinctive flavors. It is both earthy and sweet, but the precise flavors and aromas you pick up depend on the quality of your glassware.

Which glass won out? Find out here:

(Click to see video)

And once you’ve watched our video, try simulating the experiment at home with your favorite añejo. We wouldn’t be surprised if you enjoyed your favorite even more after switching glasses.

-Scarlet

Put down that shot glass! Not because we’re encouraging you not to drink – don’t be silly – but because you are probably cheating whatever tequila is in that glass. See, glassware counts for a lot when it comes to how you taste and experience tequila. The traditional shot glass (referred to in Mexico as a “caballito”) just doesn’t do tequila justice. The caballito leaves little room for aeration of the spirit, which is necessary to release all the rich aromas.

(click to see video)

The “official” tequila tasting glass made by Riedel is great, but how many bars do you go to that have Riedels? Not many, because they are delicate and relatively expensive. Given the inadequacy of shot glasses and rarity of Riedel tequila glasses, you need to do some experimenting to find out which glass is right for your sipping.

Our tequila consultant, David Ruiz, kindly came by the other night to show us the proper way to select glassware for you tequila enjoyment. David is founder and organizer of the upcoming World International Tequila Conference (more news on that to come!) and gives private tequila tours and consultations through TequilaTours.com.

So, watch and learn, because the right glassware choice can make a difference when it comes to whether you simply like a tequila or whether you love it.

(Coming up in Part 2: Finding the right glass to taste añejo tequilas.)

-Scarlet

Partida blanco lovers beware: there seems to be a shortage, at least in our little Mexican village.

Rumors from multiple independent sources say that Partida has been sitting on an enormous amount of tequila and has stopped production entirely until they sell through their stock. Since the blanco is hugely popular, stores are running out of it first, with no idea when the stock will be replenished.

We just went to our favorite tequila stores in Tlaquepaque, Tecolote and El Buho, to buy a bottle of the blanco for some friends, only to discover they had run out. Ditto for the next largest tequila store. Finally, we found a few bottles at jacked up prices at another store. The 400 peso price tag (about US$32) was changed to 430 pesos (we watched as they changed the price), with 3 bottles left. (Of course, after our visit they now have only two, which we may grab shortly).

If you are a Partida blanco fan, let us know what’s going on in your part of the world. You just may want to pick up an extra bottle, just in case.

-Taste Tequila

El Gran Jubileo recently asked us to shoot some hi-def video for their new website. It was a great opportunity to be out in the agave fields and to get to know their distillery and the kind, thoughtful people who work there.

The distillery, called La Alborada, or “the dawn,” is a family business run by Ing. Juan Antonio Alvarez Rodriguez, who is not just a master distiller, but also a man fascinated with soil, agave plants, and the best way to grow and care for them. We learned an incredible amount from him, and hopefully you will too when you see the video.

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