Price of Tequila

[pepcycle]

Occasionally, I have time to meander around the liquor store and shop for other products. Last time I bought tequila, I remember thinking that it was more expensive than it should be. Today, while waiting for a prescription refill at Rite-Aid, I noticed that the prices were very reasonable. Has the blue agave crisis ended? Can I buy a Cabo Wabo without putting a lien on my premises?

Anyone else noticed a drop in price?

[gr8erdane]

The only drop I noticed was buying it in the duty free in Cancun Airport. Cabo Wabo is too rich for my blood from the prices I've seen. I don't drink it much but the bottle of Gran Centennario Anejo I brought back should fit the bill for some time to come. That bottle cost me about 30 bucks in Mexico and Sam's has it priced at 52. They also price the Cabo Wabo Anejo at 49.

By the way, I did get a little Tequila 101 lesson from the lady in the DF. She recommended only 100% Agave tequilas and best sellers Sauza and Jose Cuervo don't come close. I won't be doing any side by side testing due to the first law of Dane's drinking:

Dane plus straight tequila equals public nudity.

(Corellary 1: nobody wants to see that)

She said to look for 100% Blue Agave on the label and you can't go wrong.

[LeNell]

Yeah, I'd say prices have balanced back out. The whole scare hype has seemed to blow over.

I concur with the 100% blue agave advice. That's all I sell here at the store. Is there a difference? You bet! The "mixto" type like the ever-popular Cuervo Gold has other junk added in...sugar, grain spirits, whatever. Casa Noble is my personal favorite. Stick with blancos. The whole oaking thing is geared towards the US market where we think everything with oak must make it better. The "natives" aren't anejo and reposado fans.

[TNbourbon]

In the "for-whatever-it's-worth" category, we've noticed in our store that the Hispanic customers virtually always buy the top-shelf tequilas/mezcals -- Cazadores, Patron, et al -- which, as noted elsewhere, are 100% agave. I suspect they laugh up their sleeves at us "gringos" and our Cuervo margaritas.

The current Beverage Retailer magazine has a story that notes the one-time agave shortage, and states it's no longer a problem for the forseeable future.

[voigtman]

I haven't had tequila in many years, but every time I visit Ian Chadwick's great tequila site, I consider it very strongly. The site is at http://www.ianchadwick.com/tequila/

and it is loaded with information, pictures, even poetry celebrating tequila and mezcal. Very professional web site.

Maybe next time I'm in the store ... Cheers, Ed

[gr8erdane]

To further my Tequila 101 notes, the lady said that the blanco was for mixing drinks, like margharitas. The Reposado was for drinking shots, and the Anejo is the (let's see, how did she put it?) "Cadillac for the discerning palate". She never said anything about aging but I did read about it later. She also spoke a bit about Mezcal but that's another item completely. This came from a native, though I guess it could have been a sales pitch so please don't think I'm just arguing with your statement.

[doubleblank]

No disrespect to Val...my first wife was from Mexico City and their drink of choice was a reposado and I agree. I think a short time in oak makes tequila a wonderful drink. Too much wood makes it taste like oak toothpicks. Herradura Reposado is my favorite.

[pepcycle]

Last month's Wine Enthusiast had some cocktail recipes for Tequila and one caught my eye. I purchased the Herradura Reposado, which was cheaper than I remember, for the Madame Wu Wu. It's basically a tequila manhattan with a splash of, dark chocolate liqeur, served up with chocolate shavings.

Interesting, but not something you drink repetitively. Nice for dessert. First bottle of tequila I've purchased in a while.

A momentary affair. There was no love. Just booze. You've got to believe me.

I feel like I cheated on Bourbon.

[Gillman]

Ed, I admire your interest in "intrepid cocktails" whether tequila, bourbon or other (and extending to desserts flavored with spirits which are a variation on the theme). Just curious if you, or other Bourbonians, have tried a cocktail I read about recently on the Jack Daniel website. It is said to have been a favorite of Jack himself, how he drank his whiskey each night. It involves sugar, water and tansy then adding the whiskey. I am familiar with the Mint Julep (and enjoy it) but a Julep made with the herb tansy instead of mint - bruised tansy according to the recipe - clearly it is muddled with the sugar and water - is something I never heard of. I would be interested in people's reaction, and any taste notes, to this whiskey cocktail.

Gary

[ratcheer]

Damn, Gary, I try to be a student of southern language and folk lore. But, not only have I never heard of that cocktail, I have never heard the term, "tansy". What is it?

Tim

[TNbourbon]

Tansy

Tansy 2

[Gillman]

Thanks Tim, all this gives much interesting detail: I knew tansy was an herb but who would have thought it has such a developed history? The reference to a camphor-like taste does not sound promising! Sounds like a whiskey julep made with tansy instead of mint may be an acquired taste; still, If I see some some in a gardening or herbalist store, I may try the cocktail, just to see what old Jack drank of an evening.

Gary

[LeNell]

Yeah, oaking is always a touchy subject. I apologize for making such a broad statement. Taste is very subjective. Although many Mexicans believe that the delicate agave is overpowered by oak, there are also, I'm sure, folks who like the flavor that oak imparts. Same kinda oak arguments exist around the wine industry, too. I'm excited to see folks interested in other tequilas beyond Cuervo Gold whether blanco, reposado, or anejo.

[cowdery]

I get a kick out of the fact that the Tequila section is starting to look like the back bar at the Star Wars saloon. Some crazy bottles there.

[ratcheer]

Thanks, Tim. I have probably got that growing in my back yard, but I'm not dying to find out.

Tim

[gr8erdane]

After listening intently to the advice of the many tasters here I respect highly, I picked up a bottle of Herradura Reposado the other night. After a small sip I decided to taste it against the Gran Centennario I picked up in Mexico and have to say that the Gran Centennario made the Herradura seem watery to me. Many similarities but the GC just had a more intense flavor that was not the least objectionable.

Of course, feeling the "Laws of Tequila as Pertains to Me" kick in, I placed both on the shelf and backed away. Being at home alone does not negate Corellary 1,

[Frodo]

Interesting...

When I had a bottle of Gran Centenario a couple of years ago, I found IT watery compared to Cava Antigua or Don Fernando.

Query for all...

The state liquor store in my province is selling 3 Generations blanco (triple distilled). Can anyone give me a review/impressions of what it's like. It goes for the equivilant of $55 US and I'd rather not "just try it" without feedback. Any help here would be apprietiated.

Regards

Frodo

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Thanks for the 100% Blue Agave tip. I have been wanting to get a good tequila, but didn't know what to buy. Now I know what to look for.

Ed

[cowdery]

I'm a big fan of Herradura Reposado but I haven't tried the Gran Centennario or any of the others that were mentioned. There are so many tequilas when you go into a store now, and such a price range, and all the kooky bottles, that it is good to have recommendations from people who have actually tried and enjoyed certain products.

[Gillman]

Tonight I had some tequila, neat. This may be only the second time I have ever drank tequila. It was a white liquor, can't recall the name, not pure agave, but good, soft and rich. Can't recall the name. The nose and flavour reminded me of the odor of marijuana at rock concerts (I say this as a life-long non-user of illegal drugs). I had only a little because I was unused to the taste. I could see this in one of the tequila cocktails (Sunrise, Margarita, etc.) but do people drink this straight?

Gary

[cowdery]

I don't know if people drink what you had straight but I definitely would drink my Herradura Reposado no other way.

[gr8erdane]

Reposados and Anejos yes, straight. A good Mezcal even straight. Any of the stuff that's not 100% blue agave and aged less than the length of time it takes to get to your liquor store, not unless I run out of mixers or clothes. (Search on Dane's Rule # 1 on drinking tequila)

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

I didi get a 100% agave tequila the other day and am drinking it now. Wait, my glass is empty. Got to fix that. Ah that's better. I got the cheapest one that claimed to be 100% agave. Scopion silver. Not bad. Today I saw Herradura Reposado for not much more than I paid for the other. I will be buying that soon.

Ed, who doesn't need tequila to lose his clothes. Just now the heat is off though...

[bluesbassdad]

I have very limited experience with tequila. At the suggestion of someone on his forum I bought a bottle of the Herradura Reposado last September while on a road trip to Houston (to adopt my dog Brewski from a refuge there).

I forget how much I paid, but I think it was nearly as much as Rock Hill Farms, Kentucky Spirit or Blanton's. I delayed opening it, waiting for a time when I wanted to treat myself to something special.

When that time came, I was disappointed. I expected the tequila flavor I had become accustomed to (in small doses via blends and margaritas) to be magnified several times. I hoped that the intensity would be on a par with bourbon. In fact I found it to be weak and unsatisfying.

I don't recommend it, but I lack the knowledge to suggest an alternative that might be more likely to appeal to a bourbon drinker.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Thanks Dave,

I will probably still buy it as a number of others here mention that they like it. We'll see if I like it or not. I've drunk quite a bit of the standard blends in the past. I don't expect a more intense flavor really, more of a purer flavor, better mouthfeel, that sort of thing. I certainly don't expect it to taste much like bourbon!

Ed