Tequila Forum

[ChainWhip]

They didn't have one when I looked - only the standard 10 :-(

Oops: thought you meant the duty-free by the pier

Edited April 10, 2013 by ChainWhip

[tanstaafl2]

Power tequila lunch today at Escorpion!

The Excellia anejo was superb. It is a tequila finished in sauternes casks and cognac barrels from the same distillery that makes El Tesoro. It was also the priciest of what we tried. Fortunately I have a bottle of this at home to enjoy!

Also had a Siete Leguas anejo (the same NOM that made Patron back when it was still a decent tequila) and a Centinela anejo, a brand I was not that familiar with. Both were good if not in the same league as the Excellia.

All were highland tequilas so it made for a nice comparison.

[Alphanumeric]

I went dusty hunting the other day and found some tequilas that caught my eye. There was an Espolon Nom 1440 Añejo ($49) that was tall and slender (not like the current blanco and reposado bottles). A Herradura blanco Nom 1119 ($21) came in a similarly retro (i.e. tall and slender, not short and squat) bottle. Finally, a Corazon blanco Nom 1103 ($23) was there as well.

I recall reading that both Herradura and Espolon are shadows of their former selves and know that Corazon has been 1440 and 1103 product. Are any of these worth picking up? I think 1103 is the newer Corazon, which surprises me because I've only been able to find 1440 stuff. My only añejo thus far hasn't wowed me so the Herradura interests me the most.

[Max Power]

Power tequila lunch today at Escorpion!

The Excellia anejo was superb. It is a tequila finished in sauternes casks and cognac barrels from the same distillery that makes El Tesoro. It was also the priciest of what we tried. Fortunately I have a bottle of this at home to enjoy!

Also had a Siete Leguas anejo (the same NOM that made Patron back when it was still a decent tequila) and a Centinela anejo, a brand I was not that familiar with. Both were good if not in the same league as the Excellia.

All were highland tequilas so it made for a nice comparison.

That's 3 nice anejos to try. Did you get a chance to see the bottle of Centinela. They changed the bottle and the formulation. If it was a round bottle, it's the older one. The newer one is square. I haven't heard great things about the new one, but can't say anything myself. Centinela has/had a very trademark taste and it was great. 7 Leguas is a premium bargain at around $45 for the anejo. Lots of agave and balance without getting overly sweet. Excellia is a really good brand, but I'm not sure if I find it to be worth the big price tag. If someone was serving it, I'd surely be partaking though.

[Max Power]

I went dusty hunting the other day and found some tequilas that caught my eye. There was an Espolon Nom 1440 Añejo ($49) that was tall and slender (not like the current blanco and reposado bottles). A Herradura blanco Nom 1119 ($21) came in a similarly retro (i.e. tall and slender, not short and squat) bottle. Finally, a Corazon blanco Nom 1103 ($23) was there as well.

I recall reading that both Herradura and Espolon are shadows of their former selves and know that Corazon has been 1440 and 1103 product. Are any of these worth picking up? I think 1103 is the newer Corazon, which surprises me because I've only been able to find 1440 stuff. My only añejo thus far hasn't wowed me so the Herradura interests me the most.

Herradura went to a diffuser for their agave 10+ years ago, so it would shock me if the bottle was that old. At $21, it's worth a shot in margaritas at the worst since the current formulation of Herradura is fairly green. To be honest, the newer bottle of Corazon is much better than the old. It's rare that it happens, but I've never met anyone to say differently who has had both. The foil label Espolon is a "treasure" bottle given that it was produced before it was sold to the big boys. I've heard it's good, but $49 is a steep price for it. Most people buying dusties in CA of that are paying $25-30.

[Max Power]

They didn't have one when I looked - only the standard 10 :-(

Oops: thought you meant the duty-free by the pier

What did you end up buying? My parents were in Cozumel and couldn't find what I asked them to look for either. I need to make a trip to Jalisco and just buy what I need.

[Alphanumeric]

Perfect response, Max. Thanks.

Honestly, I'm not too knowledgeable about tequila. I've only got a few bottles and they're just okay. But even with such underwhelming examples, I really like the spirit and am eager to find some of the great stuff so I can be blown away.

[ChainWhip]

What did you end up buying?

375's of Oro Azul & Aha Toro (love the Aha Toro bottles).

I passed on Cava de Oro because its lower proof than what I can get stateside - the bottles looked "big" @ the time and was thinking about having mule-ing it back home.

[tanstaafl2]

That's 3 nice anejos to try. Did you get a chance to see the bottle of Centinela. They changed the bottle and the formulation. If it was a round bottle, it's the older one. The newer one is square. I haven't heard great things about the new one, but can't say anything myself. Centinela has/had a very trademark taste and it was great. 7 Leguas is a premium bargain at around $45 for the anejo. Lots of agave and balance without getting overly sweet. Excellia is a really good brand, but I'm not sure if I find it to be worth the big price tag. If someone was serving it, I'd surely be partaking though.

It was the newer square Centinela bottle. Not having tried the older bottle I could not comment on the difference, even were I able to remember! I thought it to be fine but not great and as I recall in the same price range as the Siete Leguas. Of the two I would probably choose the Siete Leguas but maybe because I am more familiar with it.

If I am just sitting and drinking tequila neat then for me at least the Excellia anejo is worth the extra premium. Not really any comparison between it and the other two. But then I value an anejo that can brink a bit of sweetness and depth but still hold onto its agave roots so to speak.

[Max Power]

375's of Oro Azul & Aha Toro (love the Aha Toro bottles).

I passed on Cava de Oro because its lower proof than what I can get stateside - the bottles looked "big" @ the time and was thinking about having mule-ing it back home.

[Max Power]

It was the newer square Centinela bottle. Not having tried the older bottle I could not comment on the difference, even were I able to remember! I thought it to be fine but not great and as I recall in the same price range as the Siete Leguas. Of the two I would probably choose the Siete Leguas but maybe because I am more familiar with it.

If I am just sitting and drinking tequila neat then for me at least the Excellia anejo is worth the extra premium. Not really any comparison between it and the other two. But then I value an anejo that can brink a bit of sweetness and depth but still hold onto its agave roots so to speak.

[tanstaafl2]

Excellia is cognac/sauternes aged. If you like that, you should try the Don Pilar Extra Anejo. It used french limousin casks to age as well. It's one of my very favorite tequilas. If the $130-140 price scares you off. The Don Pilar Anejo is stellar for $35-40 as well.

Not that concerned with the price if it is something I like (have a couple of tequilas and mezcals in that range already) but would probably want to try it first and not sure if it is readily available locally. At least I haven't seen it in recent memory and it is not listed in the local Beverage Journal. But I will keep it in mind.

[Max Power]

Not that concerned with the price if it is something I like (have a couple of tequilas and mezcals in that range already) but would probably want to try it first and not sure if it is readily available locally. At least I haven't seen it in recent memory and it is not listed in the local Beverage Journal. But I will keep it in mind.

It's pretty much on the West Coast, but you can get it shipped from Hi Time or www.zeetequila.com. Both places have massive selections of spirits. Being in the frozen north, it's my only avenue to good tequila.

[ChainWhip]

+1 for the Don Pilars... Love the stuff

[tanstaafl2]

+1 for the Don Pilars... Love the stuff

[ChainWhip]

The extra anejo or in general? Hard to spend that for the extra anejo without trying it but likely will have to have it shipped to me if I want to give it a try.

Edited April 19, 2013 by ChainWhip

[Max Power]

The extra anejo or in general? Hard to spend that for the extra anejo without trying it but likely will have to have it shipped to me if I want to give it a try.

Both are wonderful. They use new oak barrels in stead of used and you can really tell the difference that happens in every step of what they do. The blanco is full of agave and spicy and flavorful. Awesome for a a clean sipper and amazing as a premium mixer. Using the new barrels for the anejo instead of used gives it a whiskey like quality that makes it rich and full of caramel, but without losing the tequila aspect of it. The extra anejo is finished in the French barrels and gives it a complex aspect that makes it unlike any other XA I've had.

http://tequilatourist.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-195-don-pilar-tequila-extra-anejo.html?q=pilar - Extra Anejo

http://tequilatourist.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-5-don-pilar-anejo.html?q=pilar - Anejo

http://tequilatourist.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-202-don-pilar-tequila-blanco.html?q=pilar - Blanco

It's a small brand, but it one of the more underrated ones out there. Flat out good stuff.

Edited April 22, 2013 by Max Power

[ChainWhip]

Visiting with my old friend Don Pilar (XA) tonight - temperature broke through 70deg F and it was an absolutely beautiful PacNW spring day

[bigtoys]

Cinco de Mayo Margarita

Don Abraham Anejo (3 oz), fresh squeezed lime juice (2.5 oz), Agavero orange liqueur(2 oz), simple syrup (1 oz)

too lazy (forgot) to salt the rim of the glass

Pulled pork off the Big Green Egg with some homemade mac'n'cheese.......Muy bueno!!

[tanstaafl2]

Cinco de Mayo Margarita

Don Abraham Anejo (3 oz), fresh squeezed lime juice (2.5 oz), Agavero orange liqueur(2 oz), simple syrup (1 oz)

too lazy (forgot) to salt the rim of the glass

Pulled pork off the Big Green Egg with some homemade mac'n'cheese.......Muy bueno!!

A margarita for the sweet tooth! Between the Agave nectar in the Agavero Orange and the simple syrup that is a pretty sweet recipe!

I do like the choice of something other than a blanco all the time and the Agavero Orange although my current favorite sweetner is Damiana liqueur and Solerno blood orange liqueur. But I think I would just use more of the Agavero if needed and skip that extra simple syrup.

[bigtoys]

A margarita for the sweet tooth! Between the Agave nectar in the Agavero Orange and the simple syrup that is a pretty sweet recipe!

I do like the choice of something other than a blanco all the time and the Agavero Orange although my current favorite sweetner is Damiana liqueur and Solerno blood orange liqueur. But I think I would just use more of the Agavero if needed and skip that extra simple syrup.

I have the Solerno blood orange liqueur and will have to try it in a margarita. I have cut down on the simple syrup over the years, but can help to balance out the fresh lime juice.

My other "recipe" is what I call 4-3-2-1 for the "parts" tequila-lime juice-orange liquor-simple syrup. Makes a nice 10 oz drink; even a little more after you shake it over ice. And it provides at least 100% of the US RDA for tequila.

[tanstaafl2]

This past weekend my recipe of choice was a very simple 2-1-1-1 with Espolon Reposado, lime juice, Damiana and Solerno on the rocks. Easy and pretty tasty but definitely a little on the sweet side. You can always add more tequila and/or lime if you needed it though.

[Max Power]

I'm more of a 4-3-1-1 ratio kind of guy. I usually make a big one for the night to share.

8 ounces tequila

6 ounces lime juice

2 ounces Controy

2 ounces Agave Nectar

[luther.r]

Some interesting crossover product coming up soon:

http://www.just-drinks.com/news/the-sazerac-cos-expresiones-del-corazon-tequila_id110395.aspx

Available - From June

Location - US, nation-wide

Price - From US$59.99 to $89.99 per 75cl bottle

The Sazerac Co's has released five whiskey-barrel-aged Tequilas under its Gemini Spirits & Wine unit.

Expresiones del Corazon comprises Buffalo Trace Reposado, George T. Stagg Anejo, Sazerac Rye Anejo, Old Rip Van Winkle Anejo and Blanco. They are all aged in barrels from the Buffalo Trace Distillery and made at the Casa San Matias Distillery in the Los Altos region of Jalisco.

Only 6,000 bottles of each expression are available, Sazerac said yesterday (16 May).

[Max Power]

Some interesting crossover product coming up soon:

http://www.just-drinks.com/news/the-sazerac-cos-expresiones-del-corazon-tequila_id110395.aspx

Available - From June

Location - US, nation-wide

Price - From US$59.99 to $89.99 per 75cl bottle

The Sazerac Co's has released five whiskey-barrel-aged Tequilas under its Gemini Spirits & Wine unit.

Expresiones del Corazon comprises Buffalo Trace Reposado, George T. Stagg Anejo, Sazerac Rye Anejo, Old Rip Van Winkle Anejo and Blanco. They are all aged in barrels from the Buffalo Trace Distillery and made at the Casa San Matias Distillery in the Los Altos region of Jalisco.

Only 6,000 bottles of each expression are available, Sazerac said yesterday (16 May).

The vast majority of tequilas are aged in used bourbon barrels. I'd try these if they were reasonably priced, but $60-90??? I think I'd pass on these. I think that the Tequila Whisperer will be doing a show on these this month. It's not necessarily a definitive answer on the flavor/value, but it's at least a way to get some info before you buy.

As an aside, knowing that these products come from NOM 1103 make me even less likely to want to pay a premium price. The Pueblo Viejo Orgullo, which is largely regarded as their best product (outside of Rey Sol 6 year year extra anejo), is around $40. My guess is that they already had the contract with Buffalo Trace to buy old barrels and now are just choosing to brand it.

Edited May 21, 2013 by Max Power