Suavecito Añejo

Sometimes the most unlikely of all things end up surprising you. Long time ago, as a young 25 yr old, I went traveling through Northern India with a girlfriend of mine. Her parents were originally from Punjab, an area in northwestern India, bordering Pakistan. We’re at a local dive bar, and there’s these three guys harassing us, saying women don’t belong in bars and if we want to stay, we have to pay them. We decided to leave...we’re foreigners in another country, no need to cause problems. But they followed us out and cornered us. I figured “damn it, I’m going to get pummeled tonight”. But before I could even blink, this 22yr old 5’4” little Punjabi grad student had all three guys on the floor screaming in pain. Two years of dating and she fails to mention she’s a 3rd degree black belt in two types of martial arts!?!? I felt like telling those punks “don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone you got your ass kicked by a skinny petite Asian girl”. That’s a surprise. In a good way. So, yesterday in Denver, I walk into a Total Wine with the sole purpose of buying a really hard to find 291 cask strength rye that’s very Colorado specific. A colleague of mine suggests I pick this up too...$40 Colorado specific Anejo tequila. I’ve not had many tequilas, and generally am opposed to mixed drinks—-so I was expecting this one to be something that goes well with a margarita but not so much neat. I was in for a surprise. Cracked this open today expecting to absolutely hate it. Instead I’m on my second pour! And I don’t have two pours in one sitting. So—Aroma is definitely cooked agave, grassy and herbal. Taste is smooth like butter. Sweet at the entrance, with an herbal backbone. Absolutely 0 burn. For $40, I’m glad I bought this bottle back home. A damn good surprise that totally caught me off guard ( like those 3 poor chaps in Punjab).

Friday night tasting on this humid July evening has me tasting something other than the usual bourbon or scotch. Being a novice with tequila and still learning the profiles, as I continuously inhale this, citrus notes is what dominates. Lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice with trace amounts of vanilla and dark chocolate. Soft and velvety with a touch of edginess which keeps it vibrant. Vegetal and herbal with lime zest, cucumber, dark vanilla, dark brown sugar. A long lasting finish that’s slightly bitter and slightly woody drying leaving the palate with orange zest, honey sweetness with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Of the tequilas I have tasted to date, this is one that I must say I will need to possess. It very well balanced in flavors; light and flavorful for summer sipping (or, dare I say, for mixing). Most of all, it’s enjoyable. Thanks @PBMichiganWolverine this sample. [92/100][Tasted: 7/31/20]

A delicate, Agave Spirt from Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico crafted with Weber Azul Agave that is cooked in stone/brick ovens; fermented in stainless steel tanks; double distilled in Stainless Pot Still that has a Copper Coil; aged 2 to 5 years in ex-Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey barrels & has 2% Agave nectar added before bottling at 35% ABV. It has a delicate birth with notes of cooked agave, citrus, red fruit, wood, herbs & spices; while a smooth life adds notes of lemon, cherry & cider; that leads to a quick & balanced death with notes of Agave nectar, black pepper, smoky oak, vanilla, creamy caramel, honey & sweet chocolate. November 2022 / April / May / October 2025

Hands down my favorite tequila. The people who make this claim that it is 'very smooth' There is even a sticker on the bottle proclaiming it. They are not lying to you. This is smooth. This is excellent. Buy this if you can get it.

Sweet. Oranges, cherry and vanilla. Smooth at 70 proof, though 80 proof would be desirable.

Very sweet. Might be a good desert tequila - perhaps with cheesecake?