San Francisco’s secret tequila stash

Just a few days after we moved into our new apartment in San Francisco’s Mission District, we took one of our leisurely strolls. The entire area was new to us, so vigorous exploring needed to be done.

This particular walk took us to the “other” side of Mission Street, a part of the neighborhood we don’t often visit. We were in search of a bar that had both tequila and food, but didn’t really find one.

As we walked past the corner of 24th and Folsom, something in my peripheral vision grabbed my attention, causing me to stop suddenly and peer inside this store that didn’t look like anything important from the street.

I remember Scarlet, hungry and thirsty, looking wary.

“I want to look in here,” I said. “I’ll be real quick.”

Half an hour later (!) we left, with two bottles of premium tequila and smiles on our faces, thanks to Ed, who introduced us to the bottles of Fortaleza Añjeo and El Diamonte del Cielo Anejo, which we proudly carried home. When we gave them a try, we knew right away that Ed not only knew what he was talking about, but his tastes for it were right in line with ours.

Score! This neighborhood is awesome.

Ed Ramirez runs the P&S Liquor Store from behind a cage-like area in the back of the store. When I entered the store for the first time, I walked to where Ed was standing and did what I always do in these situations – scan the entire collection of bottles for the tequila.

I saw none, and that’s what I was expecting.

I asked Ed if he had any tequila, and he told us to “come around back.”

Hmmm. OK, this could be interesting. Scarlet and I walked past the refrigerated section, around the wine, and stepped down into a tiny little room that was actually the back of the “cage-like” area. This room was loaded up with tequila of all kinds. I immediately spotted the bottle of Herradura Seleccion Suprema and asked Ed about it.

He told me he wasn’t ready to sell such a prized possession, which was probably a good thing for my wallet, because I would have easily dropped $350 for it right there.

We started talking about all the different tequilas he had in that room and he made suggestions. We’ve been back several times since then, and he’s always chatted us up, made suggestions, and we’ve never been disappointed.

He introduced us to Dos Lunas Añejo and Oro Azul Añejo on our second trip. When we arrived for our third trip, Ed wasn’t there, but his daughter was. She sold me that 10-year old bottle of Herradura Seleccion Suprema was for sale just as he was walking back into the store. (Whoops!)

We noticed some construction going on in another part of the store, and before we could ask about it he told us that it was going to be a tequila tasting room. We were excited. Someday, when I grow up, I want to install a tequila tasting room in my house – and something tells me I won’t get any resistance (just as long as I promise not to hang any Frank Zappa posters inside.)

We returned this past weekend hoping to get a taste of the new tequila room, and were not disappointed.

Ed loves to talk about tequila just as much as we do, and he started making rapid-fire suggestions about brands we’ve never heard of (which is normal) — but then followed up the suggestions with a sample of each! This tasting room is indeed a little bit of paradise.

We left with two bottles this time – “Stallion Añejo,” which comes in a bottle that is in the shape of a horse’s head, and Centinela Añejo. We tasted the Stallion at the store, and it is smooth in the front and finishes with a little spice at the back. We have never seen these tequilas anywhere else, and each and every time we return he’s got something new to show us.

Now, if Ed would just allow me to set up a little bed in that room, I’d be all set. Perhaps next time.