Tequila Time!

BY TOM FIRTH AND LINDA GARSON

Nobleza 33 Tequila Reposado, Mexico

A very delicate pale yellow colour, Nobleza 33 Reposado has matured for six months in oak bourbon barrels, which come through on the nose in the form of a hint of vanilla alongside aromas of mandarin peel and cooked agave. It’s so full of flavour on the palate - each sip brings out different notes (so take it slowly!) – very definitely reminiscent of caramel on the tip of your tongue and then red apples on the mid palate. Don’t do anything except sip, sit back, and enjoy!

CSPC 104277 $89-113

Siempre

Exclusivo Vivo Blanco Tequila, Mexico

A small batch, limited run tequila, that most definitely we’d love to see more of on our shores, and there is some pretty cool – and unique processes used to make this. Too much to share here, but if interested something to look into. In the glass, it’s pretty amazing. Certainly still tequila, but remarkably soft and subtle with a strong mineral flintiness, a bit of herb and smoke, and a very smooth, almost buttery – but not vanilla character. Sleek, spicy, and yes, sexy on the palate, it’s a game-changer.

CSPC 878955 $185-195

Milagro Reposado Tequila, Mexico

One word to describe this one. Smooth…. Easy to enjoy with a herbal, brine note on the nose supported by cracked black pepper spice and a touch of dried mushroom. Good weight in the mouth, and a great example of very well-priced resposado, suitable for sipping neat and mixing in your favourite beach-style or umbrella drink.

CSPC 733112 $45-49

El Tequileño 65 Aniversario Extra Añejo,

Mexico

Wow! A limited edition of just 1,000 bottles to celebrate El Tequileño’s 65th anniversary, this extra anejo is a blend of aged tequilas from five of the distillery’s best barrels. Complex, deep, and creamy, and bottled in a crystal decanter inside a beautiful box. You’re met with the most fascinating aromas when you lift the glass to your mouth: citrus zest, chocolate, tropical fruit, brown sugar… and on the palate - banana bread, sweet spice, more tropical fruit, a little salinity, and a long, silky finish. Beautiful.

CSPC 897726 $850-900

Tequila Wars – José Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico

By Ted Genoways, Norton $42

Tequila is an endlessly fascinating spirit, and at the same time so close to us, but still incredibly exotic. While the spirit itself in some form or another goes back almost 3,000 years, it’s emergence as a global phenomenon is much more recent. José Cuervo – yes, there is an actual person – was instrumental in this, taking a relatively small and humble distillery in essentially the middle of nowhere, bringing rail, and electricity to the region and growing the business into something huge.

Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, a period of intense upheaval for Mexico, and meticulously researched, including extensive support from the family’s private papers, at times Tequila Wars paints an expressive picture where one can easily visualise these larger than life characters, while at others a deep dive into the politics and machinations of the Mexico in the 20th Century. Either way, tequila enthusiasts or those interested in learning more about this period of Mexico’s history will enjoy this one.