A Reivew for Cinco de Mayo

It is commonly believed that May, 5th or Cinco de Mayo is a well celebrated holiday in Mexico roughly equivalent to the US Holiday of Independence on July, 4rth. The truth of the matter is that Cinco de Mayo is not really a major holiday in Mexico and is more widely celebrated in the United states than it ever has been south of their border. It is not even a holiday related to Mexico’s actual Independence Day known as El Grito de la Independencia (“Cry of Independence”). That phrase was first spoken on September 16th, 1810 by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest in the small town of Delores. That moment is said to have marked the beginning of  Mexico’s War of Independence against Spain.

Cinco de May commemorates an entirely different event, the 1862 Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexican Army met and drove back an invasion force of the French. This battle ended in a victory for the Mexican Army over a much stronger and better equipped occupying French force. Although the French continued their push towards Mexico City, the Battle of Puebla provided the Mexican people a much need morale boost which eventually led to their ultimate victory over the French. (History it seems is full of remarkable parallels.)

Thus in recognition of the Battle of Puebla for which Cinco de Mayo is celebrated, we may raise a glass of Tequila today. The glass I am going to raise is one of PaQuí Tequila (Silvera).

Here is an excerpt from my review:

Review: PaQuí Silvera Tequila

” … The aroma from the glass is laid back.  An earthy agave scent is present, but it does not jump from the glass, rather it seeps out slowly. Very light citrus tones follow, but they do not try to assault the nostrils, rather they lie very gently in the breezes …”

Of course I am going to enjoy a few cocktails today, most probably a Metro Mexico Cocktail, and perhaps as the sun gets warmer, a Royal Alexander Margarita.

The Year in Tequila

All things considered, I had a pretty good year with respect to the spirit called Tequila in 2012. I was able to help in a small way with Edmonton’s first Tequila festival earlier this month, and I was able to double the number of reviews here on my website. Although Tequila has a small following in my local market (relative to rum and whisky), that small group of tequila aficionados is very passionate about their favourite spirit; and, I believe that group of Tequila lovers is steadily growing!

In an effort to recognize the growing importance of this spirit in not only my locale, but also as a global spirit; I have decided this year to give Tequila its own awards page on my website this year (last year I grouped the Gin, Tequila and Vodka Awards together all on the same page).

It is time to reveal my Tequila awards by looking at the Rum Howler’s Year in Tequila.

Here is a Link to the Awards Page:

The 2012 Rum Howler Awards – The Year in Tequila

Congratulations to all the Award Winners!

Review: Cruz Del Sol Silver Tequila

According to the website information, Cruz Tequila contains no chemicals, additives or flavorings. It is produced entirely from Blue Weber agave plants grown in the highlands of the Los Altos region of Jalisco, Mexico. After harvesting the agave, it is slow cooked in traditional brick ovens for two days, then cooled before the juice is extracted and then naturally fermented. The fermented juice is double distilled in small batches using a proprietary process. All Cruz Tequila is packaged and bottled using recycled materials. This includes the blown glass bottles and the aluminum caps as well as the aluminum cross on the front label.

I good folks at Cruz Tequila arranged for me to receive a bottle of Cruz Del Sol Silver Tequila at the beginning of the summer so that I could taste it and write about it if I chose to do so.

Here is an excerpt from the resulting review:

“… The initial aroma the aroma from the Tequila is somewhat earthy, and has a sweet underlying agave scent that to me is somewhat reminiscent of freshly broiled garden squash. Soft peppery notes come forward out of the glass, followed by clean scents reminiscent of lightly sweet orange and lime citrus juices…”

You may read my full review here:

Included with the review is a nice recipe I created for this silver tequila called, Free Fall in Crimson.

Please enjoy the review and the great recipe I provided.

Review: Avion Silver Tequila

According to the website, Avion Silver Tequila is a pure 100% Weber Blue Agave tequila made from the hand-picked agave grown in the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. As a highland tequila,we can expect the Avion Tequila to exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and to have a little hot pepper in the delivery and in the finish. (This is as opposed to lowland tequila which has stronger earthier flavours of agave and less hot pepper.)

To produce Avion Tequila, the harvested agave from the highlands is first slow roasted in brick ovens to bring out its natural flavors and aromas. After distillation, but before the tequila is bottled it is run through a proprietary “Ultra Slow Filtration” process which apparently lasts ten times longer than the filtration process for other tequilas. Something good must be happening because according to the Judges at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this tequila is pretty darn good. They awarded Avion Silver Tequila as the Best Unaged White Spirit, and then gave it a Double Gold Medal for the second year in a row.

This product has been brought into my local market by Corby, and I was delighted when the local rep arranged for me to receive a bottle to review on my website.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… When I brought the glass to my nose, I was taken aback. The nose is wonderful. There is a light effervescent aroma of grapefruit zest which caught my attention immediately. The aroma is very reminiscent of the smells of springtime just after a light rain shower; it is fresh, clean and very enticing… “

You may read my full review here:

As well I have included another original cocktail, The Dreadful Lemon Sky!

Please enjoy my cocktail suggestion and of course, my review.

Cheers and Happy Canada Day!

Review: Herencia de Plata (Blanco) Tequila

Herencia de Plata Blanco Tequila is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila produced by TEQUILAS DEL SEÑOR, S. A. DE C. V.,  a mid-sized, fourth generation family company located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The company was founded in 1943 and currently produces a number of tequila brands which include, Reserva del Señor, Sombrero, Tekali, Herencia Histórico, and of course Herencia de Plata.

A sample bottle was provided to me by Westway L. LTD., who is the importer of this spirit in my home province of Alberta, and it was presented at a Tequila tasting event which I held for several friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon in March. Of course after the tasting event, I put the bottle through the paces of my review methodology to provide a review here on my website as well.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… The aroma from the glass is somewhat soft and earthy with hints of honey caressed by a very light smoke and even lighter vanilla. A smattering of white pepper and of zesty lime has risen into the breezes, and that punky agave scent we know so well has melted nicely into the citrus and pepper. The overall impression I receive from the glass is a clean, fresh, almost floral spirit which seems to entice me to have a sip …”

Here is a link to my full review:

I have also created a nice recipe for this spirit called The Turquoise Lament.

Please enjoy the review and the cocktail recipe I have provided, Cheers!

Review: Patrón Silver Tequila

Patron Silver Tequila is a pure 100% Agave Tequila made from agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The Agave is 6 to 7 years old when harvested, and the heart of the plant or the piña is all that is used. These piñas are cut and slowly steamed in masonry ovens for 79 hours. The steamed piñas are then shredded and placed into a traditional stone pit, where they are broken (or shredded) into finer pieces with a large stone milling wheel called a Tahona. The resulting juice is then fermented for 72 hours in a wooden fermentation vat, and distilled twice in copper pot stills.

As a highland tequila,we can expect the Patron Tequila to exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and to have a little hot pepper in the delivery and the finish. The company was created in 1989 when John Paul DeJoria, and Martin Crowley formed The Patrón Spirits Company with the stated singular goal of producing “the best tequila in the world.”

I received a 375 ml sample bottle of the Patron Silver Tequila from Diamond Estates Wine and Spirits, who are the local distributor Patron Spirits.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“… I think it is safe to say that the Patrón Silver has a traditional highland tequila finish filled with spicy white pepper and hot citrus. It is not overly harsh considering the spice; but, neither is it smooth. Some of the earthy agave is present in the exit, but the citrus and the pepper are definitely much more abundant than the earthy herbaceous agave. …”

You may read my full review here:

Please enjoy the review and my new cocktail suggestion, The Long Lavender Look.

Cheers!

Review: Corralejo Tequila Blanco

I first encountered Corralejo Tequila Blanco at the May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) Tequila Tasting at Aligra Wine and Spirits in Edmonton last spring. I enjoyed my experience with the spirit at the tasting, and I decided I should review this tequila here on my website. Corralejo Blanco is produced in the Mexican State of Guanajuato. The distillery uses traditional methods of fermentation and distillation with clay ovens used to cook the agave and copper pot stills for the distillation.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The nose of the glass carries a mixture of honey and pepper with light herbaceous tones of agave. As I let the glass sit and return after a few minutes I notice that the honeyed tones have deepened into an aroma very similar to cane syrup. The peppery notes now carry a little citrus, and the agave remains light and enjoyable. …”

You may read the full review here:

As well I have included a nice cocktail which I call The Quick Red Fox.

Please enjoy the review and my cocktail!

Review: Don Julio Blanco Tequila

Photo courtesy forrest

Don Julio Blanco Tequila is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila made from agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. As a highland tequila,we can expect the Don Julio to exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and to have a little hot pepper in the finish. The company was established by Don Julio González, who apparently began to examine the prospect of making his own Tequila in 1942. He established his distillery called, La Primavera, and spent nearly forty years refining his Tequila into the spirit which now bears his name.

I first encountered Don Julio Blanco at the May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) Tequila Tasting at Aligra Wine and Spirits in Edmonton. I enjoyed the crisp taste and decided that this was a bottle I would not mind acquiring and reviewing on my website.

Here is an Excerpt from my review:

“…Soft peppery notes come forward out of the glass, followed by lemon and lime citrus juices. Muted fruity agave and a hint of  vanilla waft into the air as well providing just a little more softness and I must admit the aroma has made me eager to begin to taste the spirit…”

You may read the full review here:

As well please enjoy the Traditional Margarita cocktail recipe I provided at the end of the review.

Cheers!

Review: Hornitos Plata Tequila

Hornitos Plata Tequila is a 100 % Agave Tequila produced by the Sauza Tequila Import Company  located in Tequila, a municipality of the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The Tequila is the creation of Don Francisco Havier Sauza (Don Franco), a third generation member of the Sauza family who founded the La Preseverancia, distillery. Don Franco is credited with helping the Mexican Government to establish the Jalisco region of Mexico as the exclusive origin of genuine tequila in 1974.

According to the company website, the Plata is constructed to be a pure expression of the natural agave flavour of Tequila, and is made with no aging or contact with wood at all.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

“…The entry into the mouth is spicy with more of that citrus than I noticed on the nose. The spicy taste is kind of like black pepper but with a touch of cloves and ginger thrown in. The vegetal earthiness of the Agave fruit lies under the spices accenting them with that punky agave taste but in some ways the earthiness takes a backseat to the pepper which becomes even spicier as you sip some more…”

Here is a Link to the Full Review:

Of course I have a cocktail recommendation which in this case is one of my own cocktails, The Green Ripper.

Please enjoy the cocktail and the Review!

Review: Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila

Last week I received an invitation from Aligra Wine and Spirits to attend their May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) Tequila Tasting which featured 12 Tequila spirits, beginning with 3 unaged Blanco Spirits, and carrying through all the way to 2 ultra high-end extra anejo spirits. The tasting was hosted by the Owners of Aligra, Grant and Allison Schneider, and was so thoroughly enjoyable that I decided that it was time to begin to publish a few more Tequila reviews here on my website.

Cabo Wabo Tequila is made from 100 percent Blue Weber Agave grown in the lowlands of the Mexican State of Jalisco. The distinction between agave grown in the lowlands is important because lowland agave tends to carry more earthy and vegetal flavours into the final distilled Tequila than Agave grown in the highlands. Interestingly, the founder of Cabo Wabo Tequila is rock musician Sammy Hagar, and his Tequila was apparently named after the nightclub he owns in Cabo San Lucas.

When I began to publish spirit reviews, my examination of Cabo Wabo Reposado was the very first Tequila review I published (in November 2009, shortly after I opened my website). So when I  was able to sample the Cabo Wabo Blanco at the recent Cinco de Mayo Tasting event, I decided that it was time to provide another review of one of Sammy Hagar’s lowland tequilas.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

“…In my tasting notes I wrote down words like ‘earthy garden squash’, ‘sweet bell peppers’, and ‘light peppery lime’.  But these tasting notes do not do justice to how wonderfully complex the flavours are, or how nicely they mingle together…”

You may read my full review here:

As well I have provided a new cocktail called “The Deep Blue Good-bye“. Please enjoy the review!