Rick M. Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I'm just curious. Do you sip your blanco/reposado/anejo at room temperature or chilled? Thanks.Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChainWhip Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I'm just curious. Do you sip your blanco/reposado/anejo at room temperature or chilled? Thanks.RickI sip it like I do my whisky - no ice, neat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Picked up the Del Maguey Vida and it's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again Max.It has become one of the classic mezcals for cocktails but i agree it is very nice on its own. The Del Maguey line is well regarded and I have had several others but they are generally twice the cost of the Vida and up. Fidencio and Ilegal mezcal gets good reviews that I have seen but haven't had them myself. Ilegal comes as a blanco/joven as well as a reposado and anejo similar to tequila. I think both tend to be a bit more than Vida. The basic Fidencio may be in the same price range. I like Sombra in cocktails when looking for a bit more smokeyness. Don't drink it much on its own though. Not that I wouldn't necessarily like it, just haven't gotten around to it!I think all of these are relatively available locally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick M. Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I sip it like I do my whisky - no ice, neatI take it you do not refrigerate your tequila.Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I take it you do not refrigerate your tequila.RickCan't speak for Johnny but unless I am specifically planning on making a large quantity of margarita's or some other cocktail I don't refrigerate tequila (or pretty much any other liquor besides maybe gin and vodka). And then it is usually a "cocktail" grade of tequila selected specifically for mixing in quantity!Tequila generally is something, as he noted, that I treat just like whisk(e)y. Neat and unchilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick M. Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 Can't speak for Johnny but unless I am specifically planning on making a large quantity of margarita's or some other cocktail I don't refrigerate tequila (or pretty much any other liquor besides maybe gin and vodka). And then it is usually a "cocktail" grade of tequila selected specifically for mixing in quantity!Tequila generally is something, as he noted, that I treat just like whisk(e)y. Neat and unchilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick M. Posted April 3, 2014 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I picked up some Don Julio reposado, t-1 anejo, and Don Felix anejo while in the US. The Don Felix was on sale for $35 (I bought 2 based on Max's recommendation).Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share Posted April 5, 2014 I picked up some Don Julio reposado, t-1 anejo, and Don Felix anejo while in the US. The Don Felix was on sale for $35 (I bought 2 based on Max's recommendation).Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick M. Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Max, I'm looking at Excellia Reposado, the new version of 1921 Anejo and Casa Noble XA. Any opinions on those?Thanks,Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearmark Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I've had Excellia Blanco and Reposado and they're pretty good. The Sauternes finish doesn't work very well with tequila for me. It's not bad, but it doesn't enhance the flavor. I would recommend starting with the blanco, as it seems to work best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I've had Excellia Blanco and Reposado and they're pretty good. The Sauternes finish doesn't work very well with tequila for me. It's not bad, but it doesn't enhance the flavor. I would recommend starting with the blanco, as it seems to work best.Palates are always different of course. I prefer the Excellia reposado and especially the añejo to the blanco myself but then again I like them to spend some time in the barrel as a general rule if I am drinking them neat. But bearmark is not alone in preferring the blanco. Grover and Scarlet at Taste Tequila liked it the best as well. They use a combination of Cognac and Sauternes casks and for me it works very well. The añejo is one I try to keep available even though it is admittedly a bit spendy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick M. Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Thanks, guys. The blanco is not available so I'll go with the reposado. If I like it a lot I might go for the anejo, but it IS pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearmark Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I'm typically an Añejo tequila fan, but this is one that doesn't work for me. In particular, I really like El Tesoro Añejo, which is what Excellia Añejo starts out as. I just wanted to offer some caution just in case. In any case, I've had a hard time finding Excellia in Texas. I have to go to Louisiana. Also, the bottles are really nice. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Palates are always different of course. I prefer the Excellia reposado and especially the añejo to the blanco myself but then again I like them to spend some time in the barrel as a general rule if I am drinking them neat. But bearmark is not alone in preferring the blanco. Grover and Scarlet at Taste Tequila liked it the best as well. They use a combination of Cognac and Sauternes casks and for me it works very well. The añejo is one I try to keep available even though it is admittedly a bit spendy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanstaafl2 Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Bruce, are these available here, in ATL? I think I may go with the anejo for our CdM party this year, if it is. Thanks for the link to the Grover and Scarlet site. I enjoyed reading their reviews. But then again, how can any self respecting inhabitant of Georgia not love a gal with the name of Scarlet? So true! Scarlet does tend to conjure certain images amongst southern belles both then and now! The Excellia is in Georgia but I have sometimes had to get a store to special order it for me as it is not always on the shelf. Escorpion downtown near the Fox has it by the glass. Used to have the occasional extended Wednesday "lunches" there (which believe it or not sometimes even included food...) until the Wednesday tastings got to be a regular feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 (edited) Max, I'm looking at Excellia Reposado, the new version of 1921 Anejo and Casa Noble XA. Any opinions on those?Thanks,RickI really enjoyed both the Excellia blanco and añejo, so I assume that the repo would be a good as well. The new 1921 is very solid too...especially if it can be found around $40. Casa Noble XA is a dark chocolate bomb of a tequila. It's got lots of complexity and is a worth a try. It might be a try before you buy sort of tequila though unless you tend to like a touch of bitterness and loads of chocolate in your XA.And to add to the conversation about Excellia, I would choose the blanco over the Añejo if given the choice as well. It's one of the few rested blancos out there and it really works for the brand. Edited April 7, 2014 by Max Power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 So true! Scarlet does tend to conjure certain images amongst southern belles both then and now!The Excellia is in Georgia but I have sometimes had to get a store to special order it for me as it is not always on the shelf. Escorpion downtown near the Fox has it by the glass. Used to have the occasional extended Wednesday "lunches" there (which believe it or not sometimes even included food...) until the Wednesday tastings got to be a regular feature.I met Grover and Scarlet last fall. Grover was one of the most engaging and nice people around. A ton of fun to have a little liquid lunch with him and talk tequila. Scarlet didn't seem as interested in hanging out, but seemed nice. Many of the tequila loving people in the world have been some of the nicest people that I've met. Generous with their time and company. G&S fall into that group. Great site and really nice people. If you haven't checked out their Tequila Matchmaker App, you should. It's pretty cool and has a wealth of info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick M. Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 I really enjoyed both the Excellia blanco and añejo, so I assume that the repo would be a good as well. The new 1921 is very solid too...especially if it can be found around $40. Casa Noble XA is a dark chocolate bomb of a tequila. It's got lots of complexity and is a worth a try. It might be a try before you buy sort of tequila though unless you tend to like a touch of bitterness and loads of chocolate in your XA.And to add to the conversation about Excellia, I would choose the blanco over the Añejo if given the choice as well. It's one of the few rested blancos out there and it really works for the brand.Thanks, Max! Very helpful.Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Stumbled upon a bottle of Arette reposado for $30 which seems like a really good price. (Hi Times has it for $45 or so and Binny's is selling it for $50.) Thoughts from anyone who has had it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ejmharris Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Max, do you know if they are producing the Dos lunas Anejo again? I really enjoyed a bottle I bought about 18 months ago. I ran across a place that had a couple more. I thought they were discontinued. Didn't they age the Anejo bottles in bourbon barrels longer than most. The precious bottle was the sweetest and most bourbon tasting tequila I had ever had. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Max, do you know if they are producing the Dos lunas Anejo again? I really enjoyed a bottle I bought about 18 months ago. I ran across a place that had a couple more. I thought they were discontinued. Didn't they age the Anejo bottles in bourbon barrels longer than most. The precious bottle was the sweetest and most bourbon tasting tequila I had ever had. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I'd jump on those ASAP because I think they are no longer producing it. Get 'em all if the price is right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Went ahead and picked up the Arette reposado after the store owner dropped the price even further from $30 to $25. He said the bottle had been sitting there quite a while and he wanted to move it, so I was happy to oblige. I read Max P's review, and I know he wasn't too keen on it, but I read a very favorable review from Dave Driscoll over at K & L so I thought I'd find out for myself. I'll post something when I get around to opening it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Power Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 Went ahead and picked up the Arette reposado after the store owner dropped the price even further from $30 to $25. He said the bottle had been sitting there quite a while and he wanted to move it, so I was happy to oblige. I read Max P's review, and I know he wasn't too keen on it, but I read a very favorable review from Dave Driscoll over at K & L so I thought I'd find out for myself. I'll post something when I get around to opening it. I should probably revisit it. Arette's distillery is pretty solid and at $25, it's definitely worth a try. I will also mention that while I really like David, it's his job to sell bottles. You'll never see anything from him that says something is mediocre or sucks. And there's plenty of stuff on the K&L shelves that he has bought as a spirit buyer that fits the mediocre profile. And regarding Dos Lunas, I've seen some adds in the recent past for it. I think that it may have been purchased and re-branded as an ultra-premium club type tequila. Their website is still up and they have a list of online vendors. The few that I clicked on didn't have it FWIW. http://doslunas.com/onlinevendors.html Anyway, I may have to look into it some more. I did like that line and at the prices that Hi Time had a while back I should have bought more...as if I needed more tequila. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ejmharris Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Hank and Kevin, I appreciate the info. I have also been looking online recently and found a couple retailers selling it but hadn't pulled the trigger on any yet. I jumped at the chance to get a couple when I saw it the other day. I cracked open the new bottle to see if it compared with the previous one I had. Still pretty damn good new or not. I think I will grab the other bottles just to have around. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebunk Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) I should probably revisit it. Arette's distillery is pretty solid and at $25, it's definitely worth a try. I will also mention that while I really like David, it's his job to sell bottles. You'll never see anything from him that says something is mediocre or sucks. And there's plenty of stuff on the K&L shelves that he has bought as a spirit buyer that fits the mediocre profile. And regarding Dos Lunas, I've seen some adds in the recent past for it. I think that it may have been purchased and re-branded as an ultra-premium club type tequila. Their website is still up and they have a list of online vendors. The few that I clicked on didn't have it FWIW. http://doslunas.com/onlinevendors.html Anyway, I may have to look into it some more. I did like that line and at the prices that Hi Time had a while back I should have bought more...as if I needed more tequila. I know what you mean, about a spirit buyer's tendency to crow about the products they are trying to sell. In the case of Arette, DD actually went so far as to say it is his very favorite tequila, bar none. He mentioned that it's not the best he's ever had, but that it remains his favorite nonetheless because of the way the agave shines through (or something to that effect). Whatever the case may be, for $25 I figured I couldn't go wrong, as I can always move tequila during the summer months when friends drop by for a barbecue. Hank and Kevin, I appreciate the info. I have also been looking online recently and found a couple retailers selling it but hadn't pulled the trigger on any yet. I jumped at the chance to get a couple when I saw it the other day. I cracked open the new bottle to see if it compared with the previous one I had. Still pretty damn good new or not. I think I will grab the other bottles just to have around. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I really enjoyed the one bottle of Dos Lunas anjeo I bought last year from Hi Time which I believe I paid $22 for, if memory serves me. We blew through most of the bottle in one night which I didn't mind doing because I just figured I'd get a few more, only to discover that Hi Time no longer had any. Bummer! Now I see it around on-line for $45 or so but never actually see any in the wild. I'm not sure I like it at that price point when I can get Siete Leguas or El Tesoro anejo for the same price but I'd certainly like to get more if it returns to store shelves and a sale is going on. What did you end up paying for it, if you don't mind my asking? I should mention that I too saw that the Dos Lunas web site and Facebook page is up and running but they never responded to my email inquiry about product availability in my area. I'll let you guys know if they ever do get back to me. Edited April 10, 2014 by unclebunk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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