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by Manos Angelakis
The name Tequila comes from the botanical name of the cactus Agave Tequilana and is Mexico’s indigenous national spirit, mostly crafted in the area surrounding Guadalajara.
While many distilled spirits of similar look and taste (i.e. marc, grappa and pisco to name just a few) are the result of the distillation of the fermented grape pomace and leftover juice after wine production or wine that is considered of inferior quality, tequila is created from the chopped, pressed and fermented heart of the Agave plant. It starts life as pulque, a beer-like liquid, that it is twice or more distilled in pot stills and matured in wooden casks.
Tequila comes in two versions: clear like vodka and designated as Blanco, Silver, White or Plata, and Golden (Oro) designated as Reposado or Anejo, which means that it has spent time in contact with a usually charred oak barrel. The white spirit is either bottled immediately after distillation or spends a very short time in mellowing new oak casks or barrels; under 40 days. Reposados are aged for up to 6 months and Anejos are aged over 6 months and some for as long as 2 years.
The traditional way to drink tequila in its native territory is ice-cold and straight, in a small shot-glass. You hold a slice of lime between thumb and forefinger, squeezing lightly, you put a pinch of salt on the fleshy part between the aforementioned thumb and forefinger, you lick the salt and lime then throw back the tequila in one gulp carrying the seasonings along with it. You repeat that ad infinitum or as long as you can stay on your feet. During this tasting, I tried a few Blancos, many of which reminded me of pisco in nose and mouth. I mostly concentrated on Reposados and Anejos.
Gran Centenario Blanco Made by a company owned by Jose Cuervo. Aged for a short time in new white oak casks to smooth out the taste. Spicy agave nose, light vanilla, agave and a bit of citrus notes on the palate. Dry.
Grand Centenario Reposado Soft and elegant. Smoky agave and vanilla nose. Slightly oily agave palate. A good sipping tequila.
Gran Centenario Anejo Won Silver Medal at the World Spirits Competition, 2004. Aged for 18 months in new American oak. Intense smoky agave nose, spicy resin and vanilla palate. Excellent sipping tequila. Very enjoyable.
Stated list price: $52 for both Blanco and Reposado, $60 for Anejo.
1800 Reposado Aged in American and French oak for up to 6 months.
Stated list price: Reposado $30.
Sauza Tres Generaciones Plata Clean, medium body with  a herbal nose. Reminds me of a Brazilian aguardiente. Stoney palate with a touch of mint.
Sauza Hornitos Nose of agave, caramel and lilac. Sweet and full on the palate with vanilla, pepper and citrus. Smoky aftertaste.
Sauza Commemorative (Reposado) Aged in Bourbon casks. Agave on the palate with oak, pine resin and vanilla/caramel. Warm, smooth finish.
Sauza Tres Generaciones (Anejo) Fascinatingly smoky, vanilla and caramel on the nose. Honey, caramel, vanilla and citrus on the palate. Soft and light. Long, dry smoky agave finish. Good sipping tequila.
Stated list price: Plata $55, Hornitos $28, Commemorative $27, Anejo $53.
El Tesoro de Don Felipe (Reposado) From estate-grown blue agave. Won Double Gold at the World Spirits Competition, 2004. Subtle oak and intense vanilla from the new barrels where it ages for 9 months.
El Tesoro de Don Felipe (Anejo Also from estate-grown blue agave. Won Silver Medal at the World Spirits Competition, 2004. Aged 2 to 3 years. Rosiny with minty nose. Fruity on the palate.
Stated list price: Anejo $52.
Chinaco Blanco Taste and aroma of a light pisco. Citrus, chamomile and smoky agave on the nose. Dry. Spice, caramel, café-au-lait and earthy agave on the palate with a little bitterness on the long finish.
Chinaco (Reposado): Made in the state of Tamaulipas, not Jalisco as are most tequilas. Agave, pepper, smoke and floral notes on the nose. Caramel, oak and spices with loads of smoky agave on the palate. Barely sweet. Excellent sipping tequila.
Oro Azul Artesanal (Reposado): Pale amber with a yellowish tint. Caramel and trace of pine resin on the nose. Dryish. Burnt agave, dried fruit and seafoam on the palate. You either love it or hate it.
Oro Azul Artesanal (Anejo): Aged over 2 years in charred oak barrels. Deep vanilla, spice and cigar-box nose. Medium body. Toffee, tobacco, leather and pimiento taste en bouche. Graceful fruity agave finish.
Stated list price: Reposado $58, Anejo $75.
Corazon (Anejo): Deep amber and gold in color. Light spice and floral nose. Rich caramel and crème brulée, spice and light smoky agave on the palate. Vanilla from the oak barrels on the long finish. To my taste that was the second best of the sipping tequilas in the tasting.
Stated list price: Anejo $82.
Herradura Seleccion Suprema (Anejo): Aged for 5 years in French oak. Deep gold color, nose of vanilla, caramel and citrus, very smooth on the palate. Best Tequila of Show, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2001, Double Gold 2004. In my oppinion, the best of the sipping tequilas in the tasting.
It was a great evening.
© September 2006 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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