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Tequila 101

Shawn Reynolds (B-21) — Thu, 06 May 2010 10:00:19 +0000

Gran Centenario Anejo 47.99

Do you find yourself staring blindly on the tequila aisle? Eyes glazed over…mouth slightly agape…

Blanco? Añejo? Rep…reposa…reposado?

Here’s a quick what’s what on the various styles:

Blanco (white) is the same as plata (silver); it’s stored in stainless steel tanks for two months or less and then bottled, unaged. This style retains the intense earthy, peppery flavor of the agave.

Joven (young) or oro (gold) is simply unaged silver tequila that has been colored or flavored with caramel. Thus, there is little difference between gold and silver styles.

Reposado (rested) is aged up to eleven months in oak barrels.

Añejo (aged) spends 1-3 years in oak barrels; the barrels are typically purchased used from distillers such as Jack Daniel’s.

Extra Añejo, spends a minimum of 3 years in oak barrels.

So what is Cinco de Mayo?

Shawn Reynolds (B-21) — Wed, 05 May 2010 10:00:50 +0000

It’s not, contrary to popular belief, the date of Mexican independence, but there is a legitimate reason for Americans to celebrate. Rewind to the mid-19th century just after the Mexican-American war, an era that saw Mexico gasping physically and financially in the aftermath of both its conflict with America and its own civil war. In an effort to stabilize his sputtering economy, Mexican President Benito Juarez temporarily froze foreign debt repayment. The English, Spanish and French – not amenable to the moratorium – invaded to secure reimbursement. Though the English and Spanish soon withdrew, the French dug in at Puebla. On May 5, 1862, French forces – 8,000 strong and armed to the teeth – advanced on the hodgepodge of 4,000 or so Mestizo and Zapotec at the Batalla de Puebla. Though comprised largely of civilians wielding machetes and farm tools, a highly-skilled Mexican cavalry proved a distinct advantage; leaders quickly dispatched the troop to flank the advancing French. In a lapse of reason, France ordered its own cavalry to give chase, a command that led to its slaughter at the hands of Mexico’s superior horsemen. Brutal thunderstorms mired the remaining French infantrymen in thick mud fields clogged by scores of frenzied livestock. In the end, Mexico had achieved the impossible, dispensing with a well-trained, well-armed force that outnumbered them nearly two to one. As an unforeseen result, French supplies were unable to reach Confederate rebels, allowing Union forces to strengthen and ultimately deal the Confederates a loss at Gettysburg just over a year later. Cinco de Mayo is almost upon us so hold your glass high. Thank Mexico for the fact that you’re not a sharecropper…while you’re at it, thank them for tequila as well. I most certainly will because, without it, I am not nearly as much fun.

El Mayor Premium Tequilas

For more than 125 years, the Gonzãlez family has been carefully crafting our legendary Blanco, Reposado and Añejo 100% de agave tequilas. We are proud to introduce El Mayor Ultra-Aged Añejo, an exclusive spirit which embodies the rich family legacy of third generation Master Distiller Rodolfo Gonzãlez. Available in limited release, El Mayor Ultra-Aged Añejo is created using only the finest Weber Blue Agave plants, hand-selected and estate-grown on Gonzãlez family-owned land in the Highlands of Jalisco. El Mayor Ultra-Aged Añejo is patiently aged in small, charred white oak barrels for a minimum of 37 months. Only when the discerning palate of tequila master Rodolfo provides a final blessing is El Mayor Ultra-Aged Añejo packaged in our distinctive asymmetrical glass bottle, hand-labeled with custom metal accents, and housed in an elegant leather-wrapped canister to create a truly exceptional work-of-art.

El Mayor Blanco $26.99
“El Mayor Blanco is noticeably sweeter than most other Blancos on the market, very smooth, creamy, and lightly spicy. Think nutmeg and allspice hints, and a touch of floral, too. The tequila bite is there, but it’s mild. El Mayor has the smoothness of a Reposado while maintaining its crisp, unaged character. That’s a tough act to follow, and it’s a spirit that I recommend highly, though it can be quite expensive. It works exceptionally well in cocktails, too, and the bottle is a nice conversation piece, too. I look forward to trying the Reposado and Añejo bottlings in the near future.” DrinkHacker.com, Grade: A

El Mayor Reposado $32.99
“This bottle didn’t last long with us, it was too good! We found there to be gentle vanilla and caramel tastes along with delicious agave. A great sipping tequila that we highly recommend you try. This 100% agave tequila is aged in white oak barrels for up to nine months. An absolutely beautiful bottle as well makes this a great gift and a real looker on the bar!” TequilaGringo.com, 9 out of 10 stars

El Mayor Añejo $36.99
Another great one from the good folks at El Mayor. We served this to some friends of ours and they all were shocked that tequila could be so good. In fact, two emailed me the next day to get the name again because they wanted to buy some. We picked up caramel (and we love when we pick up caramel) a medium heat and a delicious richness. This 100% agave tequila is aged for up to 3 years in white oak barrels. TequilaGringo.com, 8 out of 10 stars

El Mayor Ultra Aged Añejo $94.99

Prices valid 5/5/10

Cinco stars for El Mayor Ultra: Tequila worth a big celebration

Chris Sherman (B-21) — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:00:47 +0000

El Mayor Anejo (750ml) - $36.99

If you’ve already tried El Mayor in the slick and crisp blanco or the rich reposado and anejo versions you have a small clue what happens when the Gonzalez family ages the luscious juice of blue agave twice as long. If you haven’t tried any El Mayor at all, this new ultra-aged tequila will be a special thrill.

I’m not just talking about the bottle, although it’s gorgeous, a beautifully odd fiasco signed by Rodolpho himself. The true beauty is in the emptying. The liquid inside is distilled from hand-selected “piña’s” at the center of the plant, fermented with the family’s signature yeast, double distilled and aged at least 37 months in oak.

It’s as smooth as fine brandy or very old scotch with flavors of caramel, vanilla and spice, as if the piña were an elixir of roasted pineapples and other tropical fruit with a whiff of fruitcake.

This is not everyday tequila, margraitas need not apply, but an elegant tribute to Mexican spirit. Worthy of Cinco de Mayo. This is a rare treat sparsely distributed, but B-21 has secured a few lovely bottles.

Adelante!

- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler

Tequila 101

Shawn Reynolds (B-21) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:54:18 +0000

“One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.” ~ The late, great George Carlin

Do you find yourself staring blindly at the tequila aisle? “Blanco? Anejo? Hrmmmpph…”

Here’s a quick what’s what on tequila styles:

Blanco (white) is the same thing as plata (silver); it’s stored in stainless steel tanks for two months or less and then bottled, unaged. This style retains the intense earthy, peppery flavor of the agave.

Joven (young) or oro (gold) is simply unaged silver tequila that has been colored or flavored with caramel.

Reposado (rested) is aged up to eleven months in oak barrels, often purchased from distillers such as Jack Daniel’s. .

Añejo (aged) spends 1-3 years in oak.

Extra Añejo, a relatively new category, spends a minimum of 3 years in oak.

From Sammy Haggar’s Cabo Wabo to the rifle-shaped Tommy Gun, B-21 has a vast assortment of fine tequilas for your judgment impairment. Cabo Wabo, Patron, Milagro, Herradura, Don Julio, Don Eduardo, El Mayor, Tres Generations, Asombroso, Frida Kahlo, Gran Centenario, El Tesero, Tres Rios, Tezon, Tommy Guns, Oro Azul, Corralejo, and Corzo, to name a few.

Now you know why tequilas get more expensive as they go…somebody has to babysit them while they soak in the oak. The rest is a matter of personal preference. I tend to like the brash, peppery nature of a silver. My philosophy is, if you’re going to slap yourself with a shot of tequila, you may as well feel it. Others prefer the smoother nature of aged tequilas. Whatever your jam is, just enjoy yourself. And put away the training wheels; lime and salt are for sorority girls on Spring Break.

~Shawn