Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails)
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I started higher end sipping tequilas with reposados. Immediately liked it. I'm not sure what the reviews say, but I found Santo reposado to be smooth and delicious, dangerous on a hot day. We actually had to make a rule prohibiting hard liquor at family gatherings after my niece's husband had like seven too-many.
I then tried ArteNom 1146 añejo. It was complex. I'm not good at putting words to tastes, but it really made me revisit my long-held assumptions of what tequila was and wasn't.
Not being one to be satisfied with something great (greater might be right around the corner!), I went with a bottle of Herencia Mexicana extra añejo. I think I prefer the ArteNom 1146, but wow, this one had me going back for multiples just to figure it out. Caramel, oak, and vanilla? Real nice!
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@Jett129 said in Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails):
I had a serious Herencia Habit for a while,but sadly,it’s no longer available in my area. Thought it was one of the best spirit values out there.
Wonderful, I'm in good company!
There's a great store about 25 minutes away from me in southern California, and they had a few bottles.
Any other extra añejo that you recommend? I was also looking at Don Pilar (1443) and Don Abraham (1480), just based on reviews and availability.
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@Paul9221 The El Tesoro Extra Anejo spends 5 years in a bourbon barrel and for me that one checks a lot of boxes. In my area prices range from a low of about $109-$149 a bottle. I highly recommend getting the Tequila Matchmaker App. Every tequila is rated by a panel of experts,and then separately by the community which includes me and you. It also lets you know if a tequila is additive free,as well as a bunch of other helpful/useful information. I would also recommend trying any of the Don Fulano tequilas as they are also made at Nom1146.
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@Paul9221 If you happen to come across this I would recommend it if for nothing else it’s bottled at 91 proof,the same proof as the Widow Jane bourbon. They only rested it for 8 week and 8 days,so there’s not a whole lot of oakiness from the barrel,but the added proof puts the agave taste front and center and it’s quite delicious. It’s a little bit pricey for what it is
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@Jett129 said in Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails):
@Paul9221 The El Tesoro Extra Anejo spends 5 years in a bourbon barrel and for me that one checks a lot of boxes. In my area prices range from a low of about $109-$149 a bottle. I highly recommend getting the Tequila Matchmaker App. Every tequila is rated by a panel of experts,and then separately by the community which includes me and you. It also lets you know if a tequila is additive free,as well as a bunch of other helpful/useful information. I would also recommend trying any of the Don Fulano tequilas as they are also made at Nom1146.
The only El Tesoro XA than I see at my local shop is the 85th anniversary at a whopping $499!
As for the Don Fulano, it was 3rd in line when I went to pick up the Herencia. I'll definitely give it a go next! And my son, who loves these bottles, would love that square blue bottle it comes in
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@Jett129 said in Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails):
@Paul9221 If you happen to come across this I would recommend it if for nothing else it’s bottled at 91 proof,the same proof as the Widow Jane bourbon. They only rested it for 8 week and 8 days,so there’s not a whole lot of oakiness from the barrel,but the added proof puts the agave taste front and center and it’s quite delicious. It’s a little bit pricey for what it is!
I'll keep an eye out for this one. My local shop only has this version of the reposado:
https://www.hitimewine.net/tequila-ocho-reposado-2022-el-nacimiento-nom-1474-single-estate-167085
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@Jett129 said in Hard Drinkers, Lets Drink Hard (Spirits, Liquors and Cocktails):
@Paul9221 I just checked and they have really great prices on all the Don Fulano tequilas,especially the overproof Fuerte. That one’s a steal as is the Extra Anejo at $159.
Thanks for looking, Jett! Don Fulano is now at the top of the list! I'll report back, but it might be a couple of weeks since I just picked up Herencia.
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I normally don’t like beyond reposado aged agave spirits because I find they take on a cloying note. One of the interesting styles that I find more enjoyable is when they filter anejo or extra anejo through activated charcoal. Don Julio 70 is an example of that that I enjoyed.
Still prefer blanco or reposado generally though.
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@mclaincausey I would say that over 90% of the tequila I drink is blanco,and I won’t try a repo or an anejo from a distillery unless I’ve loved their blanco, because the blancos,in my opinion, are the foundation of tequila,and I can’t imagine a crappy blanco becoming a great repo or anejo. The old garbage in garbage out. I try,when possible, to find out what kind of barrels were used in the aging process,as I’m partial to bourbon barrel aging,because of my extensive bourbon background. I ‘ve had some tequilas that had been aged in cognac,or scotch barrels and didn’t especially like them. I would love to try the Cascahuin repo and anejo tequilas but I’m not optimistic about finding them. Last but not least. Would you consider the 1123 a blanco or maybe a repo?
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Makes sense to me.
I consider it a reposado I guess but very lightly rested. Which is really good for someone with my preferences.
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Arte Nom 11 mf’n 23 is some good juice. Thanks again @Jett129
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@mclaincausey I haven’t had every tequila in that series,but definitely my favorite of the ones that I have had. Last time I was in California,I popped into a convenience store and the had an aisle for spirits,and there it was for $54.95. I immediately bought 2 bottles as I had paid $70 in NYC and it was a special order. Glad to hear you’re enjoying it. My wife spits it out. Go figure.
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@mclaincausey Thought you might like this…
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Trying to finish a bottle if campari so I can switch over to the Leopold version, all this talk of tequila, and having an almost finished bottle of cocchi Americano had me mixing up a riff inspired from a La Rosita I might as well call a La Rosalia.
1oz tequila
1oz cocchi Americano
.5oz mezcal
.5oz Campari
Barspoon of agave nectar or to taste
1 dash ea of orange and grapefruit bitters
Grapefruit twist -
My version of a julep. Homegrown mint, splash of simple syrup, too much Buffalo Trace, extra distortion pedal.
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@WhiskeySandwich I’ve been doing something similar this past weekend,but using tequila,and some lime. Kind of like a tequila Mojito,which is also kind of like a Julep.
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@Jett129 that sounds good! Might have to try something like that. Can’t go wrong with tequila and lime.
