dSculptor Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Not a huge fan of Tequlia, but at the Binny's get together recently they had some samples of Toro dorado I just tried the Anejo version because it was the darkest...very smooth,I was quite surprised, went home with one.Had another pour of it yesterday over some ice,quite tasty,thought the wife would really like it..not too much, just in a margarita. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Not a huge fan of Tequlia, but at the Binny's get together recently they had some samples of Toro dorado I just tried the Anejo version because it was the darkest...very smooth,I was quite surprised, went home with one.Had another pour of it yesterday over some ice,quite tasty,thought the wife would really like it..not too much, just in a margarita.It takes some getting used to if you're a whiskey drinker because it's a completely different profile. The fact that you're in Wisconsin gives you access to everything. The entire tequila world can be shipped to your door with no sales tax. I'd highly recommend www.hitimewine.net for tequila purchases. PM me if you want some recommendations. If you like bourbon and liked añejo tequila, I'd definitely recommend Don Pilar Añejo. Extremely easy to drink and it's aged in virgin oak instead of used barrels which gives it a whiskey like quality that is rich and delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dSculptor Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Hey Max, thanks for the site,looks to be a good one,quite a selection.Trying new or revisting old spirits,could and can be very dangerous for me, the bourbon sickness already is a drain on the pocket book, I also used to enjoy Rum, which I also just revisited,control,control,control.However, I just had a bloody this morning with the new tequila,wow what a change up from vodka, I also just recently tried one with bourbon,also quite delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Hey Max, thanks for the site,looks to be a good one,quite a selection.Trying new or revisting old spirits,could and can be very dangerous for me, the bourbon sickness already is a drain on the pocket book, I also used to enjoy Rum, which I also just revisited,control,control,control.However, I just had a bloody this morning with the new tequila,wow what a change up from vodka, I also just recently tried one with bourbon,also quite delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 It's why I'm not all that interested in drinking bourbon anymore. Anything hard to find isn't worth drinking when you can trade it for a crap load of other things that are nearly or just as good.Max, it sounds like your priorities in Bourbonia are all fouled up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolph Lundgren Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 This is a great time to dive into tequila. People be all cray cray over bourbon right now and secondary market prices are insane. I even think Jim Cramer slammed his big red button and yelled "sell bourbon" last night on Mad Money.The tequila market is in a lull right now (at least that what it seems like to me). I believe there was a big market in the late 90s and early 2000s, but it has since faded. The tequila bar down the road from me closed last year. Obvious there is still demand, but its not what it once was. And that is great because tequila is artisinal and delish and...whats that word...bourbon used to be it...oh yeah, accessible.My buddy mentioned that one of the biggest hurdles for people to get over with tequila is that first impression, which usually isn't a good one. I tend to agree. But once you overcome that terrible "first date" and approach tequila with an open mind (and recognizing it is not bourbon), it can be a very rewarding experience.Two quick gripes with tequila: need more age on anejos and more proof (like Tap 110). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dSculptor Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 So Anejo is a broad term for the oldest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Max, it sounds like your priorities in Bourbonia are all fouled up. It goes in cycles. There's nothing wrong with being a well rounded drinker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 So Anejo is a broad term for the oldest?Blanco - Aged 0-2 monthsReposado - 2-12 monthsAñejo - 12-36 monthsExtra Añejo - 3+ yearsAnd I would disagree that there needs to be more aging in tequila. You have to keep a few things in mind.1. It takes 7-10 years for an agave plant to mature.2. The longer in the barrel, the less essence there is of the agave plant. My personal favorite is a good reposado where the barrel and plant are in perfect balance. Tequila isn't about the wood notes & spice. It's about the agave plant first and the accent flavors later. I've had 7, 10, 12, 18 year tequila. To me, they taste like wet wood chips with spice. With the huge price tags that come along with having something that is taking 20+ years from start to finish and the high evaporation element of being in hot/dry Mexican highlands, the price is not anywhere near worth the flavor for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolph Lundgren Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 When I said more aging, I should have been more clear. I'm not talking about super-aging (20+ years), but releasing more stuff in the 5-10 year range and bringing down the price a bit. Some of the 5 year tequilas I've had (Siembre Azul Extra Anejo, El Tesoro Paradiso, K&L Fuenteseca, etc...) were really great and took to the wood well. I personally would like to see more tequila in that age range and not have to pay $150+ for it just because they threw in a barrel for 5-10 years (which, relatively, is not a long time).I actually feel the opposite of you, Max, and like repos the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 26, 2014 Author Share Posted February 26, 2014 When I said more aging, I should have been more clear. I'm not talking about super-aging (20+ years), but releasing more stuff in the 5-10 year range and bringing down the price a bit. Some of the 5 year tequilas I've had (Siembre Azul Extra Anejo, El Tesoro Paradiso, K&L Fuenteseca, etc...) were really great and took to the wood well. I personally would like to see more tequila in that age range and not have to pay $150+ for it just because they threw in a barrel for 5-10 years (which, relatively, is not a long time).I actually feel the opposite of you, Max, and like repos the least. I didn't think the K&L was anything special. It's 60%+ (and that's at the least) 4 and 7 year stuff anyway. Try things like Grand Mayan, Man in Black, Toro de Lidia, etc and you'll see how it most often ruins tequilas to be in he barrel for 7-10 years. With the brands that you listed, you're talking about some of the best people in the tequila world. NOM 1414 (Siembra Azul) is my favorite distillery. Fuenteseca is NOM 1146 and Enrique Fonseca is possibly the best barrel wizard in the business. And El Tesoro with Carlos Camarena does great things too, but I've had the 75th anniversary El Tesoro and it's not as good as the 7 year 70th Ann. And like I mentioned before, 7 years in the barrel might not seems that long, but when you factor in that it takes a decade for the plant to grow and that the angel's share loss is exponentially higher in the hot and dry highlands, the added expense is merited. Growing corn & grain is easy...growing agave is not. It's the most common complaint that I hear about tequila isn't old enough. If there was a way to make it taste good and get it to people at a price where it could actually be purchased, I'm sure that one of the hundreds of distilleries would be doing it. Fuenteseca has come out with age stated stuff that is old. The 9 year is $225, the 12 year is $300, the 18 year is $550. I guess with people paying $450 for PVW15 and 18 year tequila for $550 is downright reasonable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolph Lundgren Posted February 26, 2014 Share Posted February 26, 2014 I thought the K&L Fuenteseca opened up nicely with some air. The rest of their prices on the extra anejos are insulting. I agree on the ET 70th.I understand the nuances of harvesting agave and aging tequila, but I do think that a little more aging (done right) might make some great anejos. Look what the Kentucky boys can turn a unpleasant white dog distillate into with some oak and time. I think agave is a vastly superior pure spirit, and I'd like to see what some more time in oak could do to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) I thought the K&L Fuenteseca opened up nicely with some air. The rest of their prices on the extra anejos are insulting. I agree on the ET 70th.I understand the nuances of harvesting agave and aging tequila, but I do think that a little more aging (done right) might make some great anejos. Look what the Kentucky boys can turn a unpleasant white dog distillate into with some oak and time. I think agave is a vastly superior pure spirit, and I'd like to see what some more time in oak could do to it.The 7+ year ones are out there. For me, I think 5 years is generally the sweet spot for an XA, but it's always a mood thing on what age/expression I want. People who know what they're doing can make the older ones sing...but it's rare. Edited February 28, 2014 by Max Power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Sipping on ArteNOM 1414 Reposado and Alquima Reposado - both are delicious but missing some bite & thicker mouthfeel after I've been on a Cask-Strength streak. I figure if I drink beer and tequila for a week, it'll reset my palate for lower proof enjoyment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutton Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Had my first pour of a San Matias Extra Anejo (3 yrs - NOM 1103), "Hawthorne" bottling done for Julio's, which was a blend of a few casks selected by the store. First impression was a bit of shock at the color - not very dark at all - maybe between the Don Julio rep and anejo. Also plenty of agave flavor here, very much closer in style to a reposado than an anejo to my uneducated palate, but with a much fuller body, more viscous.It was the first pour after work, and I wasn't really in a "tasting" frame of mind but I thought it very good - at $39.99, also a good price. They had an Extra Anejo 3 yr single barrel that I also purchased, but haven't opened yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Sipping on ArteNOM 1414 Reposado and Alquima Reposado - both are delicious but missing some bite & thicker mouthfeel after I've been on a Cask-Strength streak. I figure if I drink beer and tequila for a week, it'll reset my palate for lower proof enjoyment! It is hard to drink backwards to an extent. While I enjoy many CS offerings, I think that I still enjoy the easier sipping of 80 proof items just as much. That's why I like to mix it up. One to two nights with tequila, one with scotch, one with bourbon, one with wine...and two with water. Although occasionally, I'll be like last night and do: malt, tequila, mixed drink. Lots of good basketball and no kids. It was a fine evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 It was a fine evening.The simple pleasures eh?I'm continuing my journey south geographically and on the ABV scale tonight with Maestro Tequilero XA (38% ABV) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 The simple pleasures eh?I'm continuing my journey south geographically and on the ABV scale tonight with Maestro Tequilero XA (38% ABV) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Focusing on tequila tonight. Started with Gran Dovejo Reposado. Great balance and baking spice from NOM 1414. Moved on to Marquez de Valencia Reposado. A bit more wood influence and pepper on this one. Very different, but very nice as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Going back a few posts...I'm trying a tequila aged for 52 months tonight. Gran Marquis Tequila Extra Añejo. It's got a lot of cognac type spice notes and goes down really easy, but it's $300 and not worth that price. It's aged in French Oak, but I'd still take Don Pilar's XA for half the price any day. My review of this one will post in about a week. Complex and tasty, but for $300, buy 6 stellar juices and roll with all the ages. As always, just my opinion. Everyone's tastes are different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 It wasn't as sweet as I thought it'd be but there was a nice dustiness to pair with the agave spice. I'm enjoying my samples immensely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 It wasn't as sweet as I thought it'd be but there was a nice dustiness to pair with the agave spice. I'm enjoying my samples immensely I assume that you're talking about Don Pilar XA. That's kind of the extra element that being a tequila lover allows for. It is such a different flavor than grain based spirits that I get the chance to pick and choose. Every time that I decide to have a pour for the night, I get to fall in love with something all over again. Irish, Scotch, Bourbon, Tequila...all different, all delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Maestro - my first XA in a long long time... I'm sipping on some Asombroso XA tonight and it has a nice dark/dried-fruit sugar thing going on... Maybe a little bitterness peeking through too. Delightful.I'm eyeing that Cava de Oro XA but it's skeeerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Maestro - my first XA in a long long time... I'm sipping on some Asombroso XA tonight and it has a nice dark/dried-fruit sugar thing going on... Maybe a little bitterness peeking through too. Delightful.I'm eyeing that Cava de Oro XA but it's skeeerry Which AsomBroso? 5 year or 11 year? Did I send it? If so, 5year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 5year from the phallic bottle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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