A Muddled Thought

So here’s an interesting experiment. What happens when you take one brand of tequila and taste it through from Blanco all the way through to the Anejo. How does it compare at each stage of aging?

Last year we took a look at Mejor’s Blanco and it left quite an impression on us. Recently we decided to take a look at a their Reposado, and Anejo offerings.

In our previous look at Mejor’s Blanco, we found an incredibly smooth spirit filled with characters ranging from vanilla crème, and crème brulee to minor notes of banana, and the occasional refreshing note of mint.

Keeping those flavors in mind, what happens when you first add seven to nine months of time in American Oak Barrels to this Blanco tequila . Well in this case, the Reposado teases you as soon as you open the bottle with aromas of cinnamon, agave, fresh grass so well defined that it makes you wonder what you’ll experience once you begin to introduce this spirit to your palate.

And that experience would be subtle notes of ginger, a touch of smoke, that’s followed up by black cherries, black licorice, and the occasional hint of cocoa.

As a final experiment, lets take that same tequila that we saw first unaged in the Blanco, then with about seven months of age on it in the Reposado and then let’s have it sit longer in those American Oak Barrels, for a time period between fourteen and twenty months.

And folks the result is Mejor’s Anejo offering. Does it stand up to flavors we’ve seen thus far in Mejor’s previous two offerings? It definitely doesn’t disappoint. Is it our favorite? Nope, that title still belongs to the Blanco, but only by a incredibly small margin. Mejor’s Anejo offering does make your palate do the “happy dance” . It achieves this with an introductory softness when it hits the mouth. As you let the Anejo caress your palate, warming notes of dark incredibly well defined chocolate welcome you, before introducing to seductive characters of cinnamon, and caramel. These notes yet again are pushed aside by a finish filled with sweet sherry, coffee and burnt cherries.

Mejor Tequila is currently working on an Extra Anejo, unfortunately it won’t be ready for at least another 24 months. While we wait, at least we have their Blanco and Reposado, and Anejo offerings to sip and. I guess we’ll have to make do with these three incredible tequila offerings.

Final Scores:

Mejor Reposado: 9/10

Mejor Anejo: 9/10

We decided to see how both the Mejor Reposado and Anejo worked in some new cocktails.

Census Perplexus
2oz Mejor Reposado
3/4 oz Marasaka
3/4 oz Canton Ginger
Bar Spoon Pacifique Absinthe
Bar Spoon Agave

Census Perplexus. A combination of Mejor Reposado, Maraska, Canton Ginger, Pacifique Absinthe and a Barspoon Agave Nectar

The Fleet of Three
1 ¾oz Mejor Anejo
Bar Spoon Carpano Antica
¾ oz Balvenie 12 year old Doublewood Whisky
¾ oz Cinnamon Syrup
2 Dashes Cherry Bitters

Garnish with Flamed Orange Peel

The Fleet of Three. A combination of Mejor Anejo, Carpano Antica, Balvenie 12, Cinnamon Syrup and Cherry Bitters.

After taking a look at Mejor’s Blanco Tequila offering last year, we decided to take a look at one of their other offerings, known as Mejor Pink.

Hold up a second, before you start casting your doubts. It’s probably not what you’re thinking. Yes its colored pink, but it’s not flavored tequila.

Mejor decided to try an experiment initially after their Blanco offering, what would happen if they applied additional filtering technology to Mejor Blanco to add additional smoothness to the spirit. Using a proprietary (trust us, we asked) filtering technology that relies on chilled oxygenation along with a undisclosed mixture of gases at a specific(again unrevealed) temperature. According to our contacts at Mejor, if the temperature isn’t balanced correctly it will ruin the tequila. Once the initial filtration process has been completed over the course of several days, the spirit is rested for several days and then filtered again with a minimum of four runs. Using this process, Mejor is able to create a spirit that has a softer and smoother finish. Once this process has been completed, a natural odorless and flavorless pink hue is added to the Mejor Pink, before it’s bottled.

With the female vodka drinker in mind when creating their Pink offering, Mejor set out to make a very light yet tequila that starts off with smooth notes of pepper and mild agave, the occasional touch of mint, citrus, vanilla and finishing with touches of cherry.
Though still 80 proof, Mejor seems to have achieved what they set out to do, create a tequila that can be subbed in with a bit of tweaking for most vodka cocktails, or even a few of the simpler gin cocktails.

Final Score: 8/10

A relatively new tequila to the market, Don Roberto only recently begun to hit shelves in the United States in late 2009.

I know what you must be thinking; do we really need another tequila on store shelves? Well in the case of Don Roberto, the answer is yes.

Coming to us from the La Purisima Distillery in the lowland region of Jalisco, Mexico. The distillery is a family operation run by the Orendian family who opened the state-of-the-art distillery in 1995. The Orendian family brings with them 160 years of experience in tequila as well as a master distiller who’s been in the business since 1924. While Don Roberto Tequila is relatively new to the US Market, these decades of experience show in themselves quite clearly in each bottle.

As you take that first sip of Don Roberto Anejo, you’re welcomed with warming notes of agave married to seductive and sweet characters of cinnamon that lead into delectable flavors of caramel, and a body filled with sweet phenomenal cocoa. As you finish that sip, bits of hazelnut and crème de menthe wave goodbye.

Score: 9/10

“Down and Out in Mexico”

1 ¾ oz Don Roberto Anejo
½ oz Aperol
1/2oz Carpano Antica
1 Dash Mole Bitters
2 Dash Jerry Thomas Bitters
Stir
Serve up, without any garnish

Down and Out in Mexico. A Combination of Don Roberto Anejo, Aperol, Carpano Antica, Mole Bitter and Jerry Thomas Bitters.

How’s by You?
Black Chocolate Stout
2 oz Don Roberto Anejo
Egg
½ oz Chai Tea Syrup
1 dash mole bitters

How's By You? A combination of Don Roberto Anejo, Chai Tea Syrup, Mole Bitters, Egg and topped off with Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.

Still Life
1 ¼ oz Vanilla Bean Infused Rittenhouse Rye
¾ oz Don Roberto Anejo
¾ oz Carpano Antica
2 Dashes Mole Bitters
Stir with Ice
Serve up with Orange Twist

Still Life. A Combination of Don Roberto Anejo, Vanilla-Bean Infused Rittenhouse Rye, Carpano Antica, and Mole Bitters.

Chinaco, a name most people aren’t nearly as familiar with as they are brands such as Don Julio, Partida, Tres Generaciones, Siembra Azul or even Casa Noble. Which is surprising as it was one of the first small batched tequilas to hit the market. Chinaco began to hit US shelves in 1983, years before any of its competitors.

We had the opportunity to taste through Chinaco’s core line of tequila’s which consists of a Blanco, Reposado and Anejo offering. They also offer an Extra Anejo known as Negro and a special 30th anniversary bottling known as Emperador.

Starting with Chinaco Blanco, you’re presented with a spirit that leads in with a very soft nose, so soft that it exhudes a layer of elegance not usually found in most blanco tequilas.

Once it hits the palate, it opens up with notes of velvety grass, a touch of nuttiness and ripe fruit almost that’s almost reminiscent of a tropical punch. It ends with a smooth finish that’s filled with characters of citrus and agave.
A must try specimen of blanco tequila. This would be a perfect example of tequila to introduce to someone that thinks all tequila is normally as harsh as those brands they shot in college bars. The floral and soft notes of Chinaco Blanco will truly open their eyes to what tequila should be.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Moving on to the Reposado, as the blanco embodied soft flavors of fruit, and a relaxing tequila coma, it’s slightly older brother smacks the taste buds awake from the soothing coma that the Blanco left you in with spicy notes that are mellowed by hints of cocoa, sweet hazelnut, ginger and cardamom. As you finish that sip you’re left with warming hints of cocoa, with a backbone of spiciness and nuances of espresso.

Final Score: 9/10

And finishing this look at Chinaco’s lineup we close out with a look at their Anejo offering.

Chinaco Anejo opens with notes of sweet agave, and a slightly milder cocoa than we saw in the Reposado offering. The spirit follows this up by notes of bitter orange, nuances of cinnamon and subtle hints of anise.

Just as that sip finishes caressing your taste buds it leaves a final mark filled with characters of vanilla, spicy cinnamon and caramel.

Final Score:8.5/10

While we’ve written about Partida Elegante before in both an overview of Partida’s Product line as well as inclusion in our Father’s Day Gift Guide, we felt leaving it out of an article on unique spirits, just wouldn’t be fair.

Partida Elegante is quite simply one of the most impressive tequila’s you’ll find yourself coming across. Partida Elegante starts with 100% blue agave that’s harvested from Partida’s own private fields. This agave is then baked in stainless steel ovens to release the sugars that after fermenting for a period of 36-40 hours transform(by process of fermentation) into the spirit known as tequila. This unaged tequila is placed in American Oak Barrels that were previously used to age Jack Daniels whiskey. The tequila sits in these barrels for a period ranging from 36-40 months. When the distiller deems it ready, thus is born Partida Elegante, Extra Anejo. With a limit of about 1200 bottles, this is one of those spirits that is truly one of a kind and worth tracking down for a sip or two.

Partida Elegante is a truly phenomenal spirit that seduces the palate from the start with aromas of sweet pristine agave so mesmerizing that they instantly conjure images of the sun setting in Mexico over the fields of Jalisco.

Upon further inspection bouquets of cocoa, caramel and espresso overwhelm the brain.
Taking that first sip is an experience in itself. Those aromas of agave that poured out earlier , now engulf the palate, as does a caramel that reminds one of candied apples, and specks of dried cherries, that’s followed up by cocoa that is ever so slightly caressed by cinnamon. Flavors of sweet vanilla ice cream, and burnt orange decided to show themselves towards my last few sips.

With a spirit, much less a tequila this well crafted, you find yourself picking new flavors and nuances with each sip.

A tequila that’s $350 a bottle is not something that is common, even in these days of high-end and handcrafted spirits. Partida Elegante is thagift you give to spirit enthusiast or bartender who just got married, the bottle you open when celebrating a major life changing event or something you share on a weekend with your closest friends. If you can find one of the 1220 bottles available throughout the world, and you have the opportunity to purchase this incredible spirit, do so. Save it for a special occasion, and when that day comes, know you have a spirit worth of such an occasion.

Partida Elegante Extra Añejo

I recently took a look at a new offering in the Tequila Market, from a company based out of Arizona, Tequila Cruz. According to Tequila Cruz’s website they’ve won several awards for their reposado offering. So I was definitely looking forward to sampling this product. When I finally had the opportunity to sample this tequila I was a bit surprised at how the spirit tasted.

Upon taking the first sip, Tequila Cruz’s reposado has an initial feel on the mouth that resembles a heavy gel like water. While you do get some of the expected notes of agave, and citrus, followed up by the occasional hint of vanilla, the spirit itself is not as smooth as one would expect a tequila being billed as a “flagship product” to be. The spirit ends with a very rough finish that is a bit on the harsh side with a hint of burn on that final drop.

Tequila Cruz advised me that they age their Reposado in American oak barrels for up to five months before bottling.

My experience with aged spirits including tequilas, is that after this amount of time the spirit should pick up some color, whether it’s a brown, orange or other dark hue. The reposado sampled was as clear as an unaged blanco specimen. When I inquired about this with Tequila Cruz, they advised that they use a special filtering technique, prior to bottling. Perhaps this is where all the issues I ran into stem from, unfortunately I can only report about my individual experience which was quite disappointment.

I had really high hopes for Tequila Cruz’s Reposado due to it having won several awards including the gold medal in 2009’s San Francisco’s World Spirits Completion. Unfortunately after tasting the spirit, I’m sorry to say it failed to live up to any of these expectations.

Final Score :3/10

Retailing in the low twenty dollar range, Hornitos Plata Tequila is a a nice introductory tequila if your looking to introduce the spirit to someone whose only experience has been those harsher brands. Hornitos Plata (unaged) tequila begins with light floral notes that are followed up with characters of cinnamon, touches of black pepper, balanced with minute inklings of sweet vanilla that ends with a smooth finish that introduces notes of lime.

If you prefer a cocktail as opposed to neat, try something a bit traditional like a Margarita.

The usual recipe being something like:

2oz of Plata(or Blanco) Tequila
3/4 Cointreau
3/4 Lime Juice

Note:If you like your Margarita more sweet than tart, add about 1/2 oz of Simple Syrup.

A Traditional Margarita

Or for something that might fit with the upcoming holidays a new eggnog inspired recipe using Hornitos Plata Tequila.

Mischievous Winter Nog
1 ¾ Hornitos Plata
1 oz Chai Tea Syrup
1 Dash Grapefruit Bitters
3/4 Amarula Liquor
Eggwhite
Top with Cinnamon

A Mischievous Winter Evening. A combination of Hornitos Plata, Chai Tea Syrup, Grapefruit Bitters,and Amarula Liquor.

Lunazul Tequila, a value priced and yet impressive blanco tequila. So flavorful you can sip it on its own.
We previously looked at Lunazul Blanco earlier this year, but felt it was worth a mention as it’s priced at around twenty dollars and is on par with most of its higher priced competitors who range in price between thirty and forty dollars.

With flavors that include espresso, orange cream, cinnamon and sweet agave in each sip, this is anything but a spirit that tastes like those other lower priced tequilas.
A great gift for any spirits lover, anyone who enjoys tequila or anyone that you might be looking to introduce to something new.

While we looked at Tanteo Tequila’s Chocolate offering, earlier this year, we decided with the holidays coming up, to take another look at it both as a stand alone spirit as well as in some new cocktails.

Tanteo Chocolate Tequila starts off with a nose of smokey cocoa.
This nose is followed up with a spirit filled with characters of milk chocolate coupled with slight hint of smokiness, creating a balanced flavor of a melted milk chocolate, with occasional hints of hazelnut.

With being the only chocolate flavored Tequila on the market, Tanteo makes for an interesting gift for anyone who enjoys a different kind of spirit or tequila.

While it can sipped neat, Tanteo’s Chocolate really begins to show its talents in cocktails. Here’s a few new ones to try …

The Great Daze
2oz Tanteo Chocolate Tequila
3/4 oz Aperol
1oz Espresso Syrup
2 Dashes Grapefruit Bitters

The Great Daze. A combination of Tanteo Chocolate Tequila, Aperol, Espresso Syrup, and Grapefruit Bitters.

2oz Tanteo Chocolate Tequila
¾ Creme De Cacao
¾ Navan Vanilla Liquor
2 Dashes Bitter Truth Mole Bitters
Egg White
Shake Dry with Eggwhite
Shake with Ice
Serve in Collins Glass
Top with Club Soda

Not Your Pappy’s Eggcream. A combination of Tanteo Chocolate Tequila, Navan Vanilla Liquor,, Creme De Cacao,Mole Bitters and Eggwhite. Top with Club Soda.

Nog Nog Whose There?

2 oz of Tanteo Chocolate Tequila
1 Whole Egg
1 oz of Cinnamon Syrup
1 oz of Heavy Cream
¾ of Maraska Maraschino Liquor