Finally, it's T1 Time!

T1, Tequila Uno, the ultra-premium crafted by master-distiller Germán Gonzales, has finally been released in the USA. Here's the letter from Germán himself:

Dear friends and family of T1- Tequila Uno,

It is after a very long year that I can now say the T1- Tequila Uno is in the United States and ready for sale. I am very excited about bringing T1- Tequila Uno into the United States. This brand has been a passion of mine for many years and I have worked hard to create something of which my family and I are very proud.

We (the T1- Tequila Uno team) first introduced the brand at Dori Bryant’s SPIRITS OF MEXICO event in September 2009, as it is one of the pre-eminent tequila events in the United States. The brand did very well, winning awards for each item tasted.

As is normal, trials and tribulations come with any new product. And we did have our fair share of issues! The issues were not major, but, they had to be overcome nonetheless. The original plan was to introduce T1 – Tequila Uno into the United States in early 2010. After several months, we re-introduced our brand at the 2010 Spirits of Mexico event in September, and we are now ready to bring the brand to you. The brand is available in the United States and is already hitting market for this holiday.

The brand, (all types in 100% Blue Agave) is available in:
• Ultra Fino - a double distilled crystal clear Blanco: with hints of fruit and perfect for your favorite margarita or other cocktail.
• Excepcional – a Reposado: rested for just under a year for a light golden color and aroma of spiced citrus, apple, and agave flavor. It is best served neat, on the rocks or in your favorite mixed cocktail.
• Estelar – An Anejo: aged approximately 18 months in oak barrels for a deep golden color and contains the aroma of chocolate, for a velvety smoothness and flavor of the wood.

For you true tequila aficionados, T1 – Tequila Uno can be bought by the barrel. You will work closely with me, to determine the type of barrel – new v old, the type of char and with which product you want to start the process. You also get to pick the date to uncork the product. T1- Tequila Uno will then be packaged and personalized. A barrel contains approximately 37 cases of 750ml bottles packed 6 per case – the final number will depend on how much tequila ‘went to the angels”, (otherwise known as evaporation).

For more information, check out our website – www.t1tequila.com or our facebook page. We would love to hear from you. Please contact us with questions, comments or the name of your favorite retailer and we will get the brand to you. You can also call Kay Olsen at 860-404-1776 for more information. She is on the T1- Tequila Uno team. “From Friends to Friends”

Con un Fuerte Abraso
Germán

People know I am always searching for the absolute Holy Grail of blancos, and T1 might be it! Here's my review from last March:

http://ranchotequila.blogspot.com/2010/03/taste-test-t1-ultra-fino-el-blanco-mas.html

Oh No! The Tequila Bubble is About to Pop!

Bubble piece from CNBC.com (Thank you Lippy!)

Original Tequila Aficionado article by Christopher Zarus, AKA "Dr. Doom"

Y'know, I think the guy who wrote this is probably one of those people that is in on a "trend" early, or before the mass popularity happens. Once the thing starts to take off and Joe Blow on Main Street USA starts to talk about the thing, Mr. "I'm always ahead of the curve" is going to say, "I'm outta here!" It's a first-in, first-out" mentality. I wonder where dude was in 1992 when I had my first taste of 100% agave tequila? He was probably about to jump ship on Green Day.


Sailing off the edge! It's over!

I can confidently say that here in my neck of the woods, tequila is still on the runway, slowly ramping to popularity as knowledge improves. Around here, it's still about Cuervo and Patron. The more savvy drinker may have tried Don Julio, Milagro or Herradura. A lot of people I talk to think Sauza Tres Gen is the best of the best. And I actually played a bar the other night, Precinct in Somerville, that had El Tesoro. That's a first (for a non-tequila bar).

I agree, however, that there are too many brands, and surely some of the newer, smaller names are not going to survive. Would I invest in a start-up Tequila brand now? No. Would I have paid $80 million for Cabo Wabo? Hell no!

Partida Tequila Taking Growth Step with New Distillery

"Party" is my middle na...er, my first name, sort of...

Dateline SAN FRANCISCO: “We are on a growth trajectory and we’re working to meet increasing demand,” said J. Gary Shansby, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Tequila Partida in announcing Partida’s move to a new distillery. “We’re maintaining the same taste profile ─ characterized by smoothness, elegance and pure agave taste ─ that has made Partida the highest rated tequila in the world.” F. Paul Pacult, America’s leading spirits expert, recently rated Partida Reposado as the best tequila in the world and one of the five finest spirits in the world.

In order to guarantee the product quality from the new distillery, Partida gathered five of America’s top tequila experts in New York including Pacult, Steve Olson, Misty Kalkofen, Phil Ward and Jacques Bezuidenhout to test the pilot run of Partida Blanco from the new distillery in a blind tasting versus the most recent Partida Blanco production from the prior distillery. Partida also tasted in San Francisco with Julio Bermejo, the ‘Ambassador of Tequila’ to the US. The results, by unanimous agreement, were spectacular. “This tasting was the ultimate statement of integrity,” said Steve Olson. “Partida has only one goal, which they achieved ─ to make the same superior product they have always done ─ and to assemble a panel of such discerning critics was a bold and courageous decision.”

Added Paul Pacult, “Partida has always been uncompromising in their quality. They have reinforced their leadership in the ultra premium tequila category yet again with this unprecedented pilot run tasting.”
Julio Bermejo commented, “Since they launched Partida has been at the forefront of distillation technique in the Tequila Valley.”
“I’m thrilled that a panel of such tough critics loved our pilot run product and endorsed the process,” said Mr. Shansby, “and I’m committed to transparency and full disclosure during the distillery change.” Other tequila brands have made distillery changes to accommodate growth but none have been as candid and transparent as Partida or as rigorous in assuring absolute consistency. “We’re staying true to our Mexican heritage and the authenticity of our brand,” continued Mr. Shansby. “This distillery change will ensure that we’re able to maintain the consistency of our product quality even as we expand our production, something we couldn’t be sure of had we remained in the old facility.” Partida is documenting the entire process of the distillery change ─ complete with photos and video ─ in a case study, which will be made publicly available.

In addition to the US panel, Partida tasted with six respected experts from the Mexican Tequila Academy in Guadalajara, Jalisco, the leading tequila authority in Mexico. Francisco Hajnal, Founder and President of the Academy, said, “The Partida samples I tasted from the pilot run are extremely well made and consistent with Partida’s renowned quality – in fact, even better than ever!”

Tequila Partida’s previous distillery in Amatitan is owned by the Partida family. “We are appreciative of the contributions from the Partida family in our early years as we embarked on this exciting journey. Their friendship and contributions to our success have meant a great deal to us.” The new Partida distillery, Fabrica La Autentica, is in the town of Tequila in the state of Jalisco just a few miles down the road. Tequila Partida brought in the same team to run the tequila on the same equipment, with the same 100% pure estate agave from the same location, and of the same age, sugar content, and specifications.

The Partida recipe, known to only four people in the world, will not change. “We got just the response on the pilot run that we were looking for,” said Partida Maestro Tequilero Jose Valdez. “Coming from such esteemed tequila experts, we couldn’t be happier.”

7 Leguas Reposado, Poppin' Fresh!

A Bottle o' Bang!

As I write this, I'm enjoying a nice highball glass of Tequila 7 Leguas Reposado on ice. This is exactly the kind of repo I like, and I'll tell you why. Most importantly, it has a big agave bang - a nice big pop of agave. I like a repo that leans more towards a blanco, using just a gentle resting to smooth the edges and mellow the bite. Everyone knows by now that I prefer blancos above all, because to my palette, nothing is better than a well-crafted and un-messed-with distillation of agave's first-pressing. Of course, I appreciate a wonderful aged añejo as much as the next guy, but I'd trade that any day to find the holy-grail of blancos.

The 7 Leguas is right up my alley with it's strong agave presence. There's a touch of woody mellowing, but the wood does not get in the way of the agave; indeed, it cradles it. This gives 7L repo a very full bodied taste with a nice smooth and lasting finish. In this case, the 8 months of aging in white oak barrels does what it should do: enhance and amplify the agave, adding a layer of depth, complexity and finish that the blanco alone cannot provide.

Casa Siete Leguas

Reviews on Tequila.net

Notes: 7 Leguas invented the Patron label, and the original Patron was made in 7L and distributed in the US from 1991 to 2002. There is no longer any association with Patron.
7 Leguas is made "de tajona" -- the ancient technique of grinding the agave with a stone wheel, driven by mules.
7 Leguas (meaning 7 leagues) was the name of Pancho Villa's horse.


The rebel Panch Villa and his steed, the famous Siete Leguas. (He never pulled the tajona)

La Gingerita!

I'm Air Ginger. Fly Me!

Here on the Rancho it's always cocktail hour, and ginger is all the rage right now. Give this one a try-- it's a combination of Espolón Reposado, ginger beer, and lime juice. Cheers!

Gingerita:
1 oz Espolón Reposado Tequila
1 oz Ginger Beer
...1/2 oz freshly squeezed Lime Juice
Stir ingredients into an ice-filled highball glass. Garnish with a lime or lemon wedge.


That'll put some fuel in your tank! Mmmm mmmm.

Summer's End Espolón Cocktail!

It's berry delicious!

It's called a strawberry basil margarita. It uses my favorite, Espolón. I think that's a boring name for a cocktail. But, well, I can't think of a better one, so, here you go:
'Rita Recipe

A New Generation of Down-priced 100% Agaves!

Casa Herradura's Retro Label.

The last year has seen the appearance of a few 100% agave tequilas in the $19 to $29 range. I've always liked a good value, which I define as getting a little more for the dollar. I've also always been willing to pay top dollar for something that is well worth it, while abhorring and avoiding things that are over-priced, like Patrón Tequila. But I'm happiest of all when I can get a big bang for the buck.

That's why I'm liking what I'm seeing on the shelves of my local package stores these days. As some of my favorite ultra-preems have disappeared, some very affordable non-mixtos have popped up. We're talkin' $20-ish. I like this trend. I think it's a good thing, for my wallet and yours, and good for the market in-general.

One might ask, how are the manufacturers doing this? How are 100% agave tequilas suddenly available at half of what they typically have been? One way they are doing this is using less-fancy, more mass-produced bottles. Makes you realize how much you pay for those beautiful hand-blown vessels.

Then there is distillation in a column still, as opposed to a pot-still, which decreases production costs.

I think the other thing, possibly the biggest thing, is marketing. Factors like competition, price-sensitivity, a growing interest in tequila in-general, increasing tequila knowledge and savvy-ness by the buyer, and more American and European ownership of the brands have led to better taste for less money. And there's money to be made in the growing tequila market, so brands are rushing to the table at all different price-points.

I think people are beginning to want something that's a step up from the Cuervo and Sauza junk, but it's a big jump from there to Patrón. Maybe it's too big a jump for some people, especially in today's market. Even Cabo Wabo, probably the other "familiar" brand name, is pricey. So the marketers are using cool, grabby-looking labels for shelf-appeal, making sure that the "100% de agave" is visible, and slapping on a price that says, "You can buy TWO of me for the price of that Patrón over there!"

One might ask, of these new down-priced labels, which is best? Are they all just good cocktail-mixers, or are any of them a good sipper, and a therefore real super-value?

My biggie of course has been the re-appearance of Espolón at $20 for both the blanco and repo. Mixable? You bet! Sippable? Indeed! I like the blanco a little better than the repo, and I take the blanco on the rocks.

Now there are more! Antiguo de Herradura is another. The local store that carries it has the blanco mis-priced at $29.95, so I didn't buy that, but the repo was $24, so I grabbed one. This one is a great mixer and I have made some nice cocktails with it. It stands up nicely. As a sipper, well, it was ok but was not as smooth as the Espo. The Antiguo has a bit of a burn. And that's ok if you're making 'ritas or Palomas!

Last year, one of the first one of these $20 bottles hit the shelves -- Tenampa Azúl by Centennario (a Cuervo product). This so far has been available as a repo only. Some people like Azúl as a sipper, but not me. Again it's a little hot and edgy for my pallette. But hey, with Azúl being $20, I'll never buy Tradicionál again, which has gone up, ridiculously, to $29. That's one of those overpriced things I'm talking about that just curdles my blood.


Notice the Plain Bottle...

Before that, El Jímador (by Herradura) was my mixer of choice, being among the first really affordable 100% agaves on the market. But then that became a mixto for a while, before returning to 100% again last year. El Jímador is still a pretty good deal at $30 for a big 2 liter jug of the reposado. I noticed when I was in Mexico back in February, Jímador blanco was the default standard for margaritas if you didn't specify the tequila.

I just noticed my local store has begun carrying Agavales, another 100% that I saw a lot of in Mexican stores. Price here locally? $11. I shall have to try it.

So far, however, nothing beats the Espo for quality and price. I mean, I was happy to pay $40 and up for it back when it was on US shelves between 2002 and 2008. So now, are you kidding me? I'm in agave heaven here!

And perhaps -- one can hope -- that the mixto itself may one day be a thing of the past!

Herradura brings Antiguo to US

Dia de Tequila - National Tequila Day!

Well, apparently July 24 is national tequila day. Here on the Rancho, EVERY day is tequila day, but what the heck! I'll buy in to the faux-holiday with an extra shot of the good stuff. I'm thinking Partida, and the perfect Margarita. I have made this one before, and blogged about it. But now my humble opinion has been validated by a so-called expert, who appreared on, of all things, Martha Stewart's blog, mixing this Partida-Rita. Hey if Martha thinks she's a tequila expert, then what does that make me? I'll tell you right up front, I don't know shit about nice curtains or how to host the perfect party on a yacht. So Martha, why don't you stick to baking really good pies, and I'll blog about tequila, whaddya say?

Cool It! Here's the Rita Sangre

Sweltering! 100 degrees in the shade! The doggiest dog days.

What's a tequilero to do?

Put the heat on ice with a tangy refresher, The Rita Sangre!

This one is easy:

Mix your favorite 100% agave mixing blanco -- Azul, Jimador, Antiguo -- in to a tall icy glass of Blood Orange Italian Soda (gettable from Whole Foods).

That's it!

You can squeeza a little lime on top or garnish with a wedge of orange.

Cool it baby!

Photo to come....

A Summer Refresher!

Where's the ice?

Ok, here's one that'll cool ya down! I'm gonna call it La Paloma Rosa...ain't that a purty name? She's totally simple: the 100% agave blanco or reposado tequila of your choice (I have used Cazadores repo) and Pink Grapefruit Italian Soda -- from Whole Foods! Pour it in a tall glass over lots of ice, and add only a squirt of lime juice and a quick drizzle of agave nectar for added sweetness.
For a more frothy version, crank up the ol' blender. That's what it's there for!

Quick Espo Update (of post below).

Taking a closer look at the label of the Mexican Espolón, I found that it's a 38% alcohol bottle. Doh! That would explain ultra-unusual short, round bottle I found there in Cabo. I mean, even in Mexico, Espo has always been in a tall bottle. So the shorty is a 38% release, as opposed to the typical 40%. And of course, here I am comparing the new Espo -- a 40% -- to the Mexican 38%. No fucking wonder the new American release tastes hotter and harder, as I decribed. Woops! Well there you have it!

Verdict: The "NEW" Espolón is the SAME tequila as before, with new bottle, label and marketing.

Whew!

Espolón is back! Or Is It?

Dia de Los Tequilas -- The new labels feature the famous skeltons of Mexican folk-art

Any one who knows me knows that one of my all-time favorite ultra-premium Tequilas is Espolón. It has been hard to find in the US for years now. And it was always pricey...$40 and up. Much to my amazement, today at the liquor store I discovered a new-look Espolón! We're talkin' new label, new bottle, and new VERY LOW PRICE -- $20.00!

Is this some kind of marketing trickery? The press-release issued by Skyy claims there is the exact same juice in these new hippified bottles. Is there, really? If so, why is the price less than half of what it was before? In fact, I paid MORE for Espolón in Mexico back in February -- $24 to be exact. Were we paying for the fancy bottle and its embossed metal label all that time?

Campari/Skyy, the same company that bought Cabo Wabo last year also now owns Espolón. The spirit conglomerate bought the Espolón distillery, NOM 1440, and actually now make Cabo there, too. Apparently, the MSRP for both blanco and repo is $25.95. That's also odd, don't you think?

Are they going to market the Wabo as the Ultra-Preem and the Espo as the down-priced bottle? That would be wierd to me, because Espo is WAY better tequila than Wabo. Way!

So is it the same tequila? My pallette says no.** I just did an A/B comparison between the bottle I bought of blanco in Mexico and a brand new bottle of the $20 blanco. The original tasted smoother, lighter and sweeter, not that Espo is particularly sweet. It has a big, flavorful taste with plenty of agave, spice, and a hint of licorice.**I later realized I was comparing a 38% (the Mexican bottle) with a 40% (the new US bottle), so there you have it! That explains the diff.

But the new one tasted a tiny bit harder, hotter and oilier. It is not as easy on the pallette. They ARE very similar, and maybe the difference could be the normal variation of batch-to-batch. But most would agree that my REAL Mexican juice tastes better than the new.

Read the full press-release here on Tequila.net


Espo Old and New from Drew's Stash

New Margarita: The Cabo Sunset

Aaaaahhhhh!

With summer coming, it's time to start concocting those warm-weather tropi-cocktails! The Cabo Sunset is a wonderful new margarita invented by me and bartender Dana Perry at ChiliHead BBQ. Dana really did the work -- I just came up with the name. It was inspired by my recent trip to Los Cabos -- truly one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Here's the recipe:
2oz shot of your favorite reposado tequila*. Cabo Wabo? Why not?
1oz Margaritaville Tropical Tangerine Tequila
or
1oz Cuervo Oranjo Licor de Tequila
1/2oz Cointreau
1oz orange juice
2oz sour mix

Shake well with ice

Strain/pour in to glass over ice

Add some grenadine by pouring it down the side of the glass to create the sunset effect.

Garnish with a marachino cherry and dribble a little of the marachino syrup in to the cocktail.

* I use Tenampa Azul, Milagro, or Corralejo

Cabo Sun Setting Behind El Arco...

Taste Test: T1 Ultra Fino, El Blanco Mas Fino

¡Tequila Uno, Numero Uno!

As you know, I talk a lot about blancos. It's because a good tequila begins with a great blanco. The longer one drinks tequila the more one appreciates the fresh, un-aged first-pressing of the baked blue agave. I like repos and añejos as much as the next guy, but I am driven by a desire to find the sweetest, boldest, freshest, silky-smoothest, most perfect blanco of all. I find a lot of high-end tequila veterans like myself are also blanco lovers. A smooth añejo is perhaps easier on the novice tongue.

Another reason I love a killer blanco is that blancos are versatile; you can mix 'em, drink 'em cold with rocks, or sip 'em neat. I'm also a cheap bastard, so the price of blancos appeals to me. I have a price-sensitivity of about $50, and you can typically find a really good blanco, and even some decent reposados for at or below that point.

Having tried many a good blanco, I believe I have found the the ONE; T1, that is! It is certainly the best I have had to-date. My recent taste-test proved it. We're talkin' T1 (Tequila Uno) Blanco Ultra Fino, hand-crafted by master-distiller Germán Gonzales, whose clain-to-fame is creating the lovely Chinaco line-up in the '90s. The juice is absolutely fantastic! To my pallette, this is tequila perfection, which means it has a BIG BIG agave bang!

Two tequila-loving friends and I (one who worked for years in a NYC tequila bar), compared some top-end blancos, and the T1 was the hands-down winner. It not only had the sweetest taste, but also something special, intangible. T1 has spirit in the true sense.

The competition was between these blancos:
T1, Espolón, El Tesoro, Casa Noble, and Milagro (which I considered a stand-in for Patrón silver. To me, Milagro is Patrón at the right price!). Without going in to detailed tasting notes and descriptions, let's suffice it to say that the T1 even beat my beloved Espolón. The Esppolón is great, but was a little hotter and more peppery. The T1 was sweet, complex, with a great agave punch and a slky finish. It has an easy entry and a very full-bodied taste, encompassing citrus, vanilla, earth, nuts, smoke and pepper! All three of us agreed the T1 was the clear winner. It received smiles all-around!
Ultra Fino, indeed!

Here's How They Ranked:
1) Tequila Uno Ultra Fino: Big, perfectly balanced, smooth and sweet, Rating: 5-Pencas!
2) Espolón: Full-bodied, flavorful, a bit more heat/bite
3) El Tesoro: Mild and smooth -- not as big as expected but nice
4) Casa Noble: Earthy, big agave taste, ashy finish
5) Milagro: Most alcohol, not super flavorful but a great mixer

¡No Te Preocupes, it's Cabo San Lucas!

¡Paraiso de Tequila!

When we disembarked our flight in Los Cabos on Feb 13, we had a lot of plans for the upcoming week. Most of them involved putting on a fun birthday for little Drew, who would be turning three during our stay. A piñata had to be purchased and cake had to be baked. But I'm a tequila lover, and naturally my desire for tequila exploration (and consumption) bubbled just below the surface. Would I find a good selection? Would the prices be good? Would I fall in to a tourist trap? Answers were soon to come. We hailed a van and set out on our way to the resort.

CABO REÁL

Where Blue Agave Breezes Whisper Through the Swaying Palms...

Immediately upon our arrival at Melia Cabo Reál, my wife and I were presented with margaritas. Mmmm, tasty and refreshing. OK, I thought, we're on the right track. We paid an up-front all-inclusive fee, which included all food and booze, so I was determined to get our money's worth. I soon discovered that the the resort had a fairly limited selection of tequila, but it was everywhere you went. There are multiple bars and restaurants there, and they all offer a few choices. I soon found what would become my "house" tequilas for the week. For 'ritas it would be Jímador Blanco or Reposado, for icy shots by the pool it would be 100 Años Repo, and for a straight-up drink with dinner it would be Herradura Repo. Melia also had Don Julio, but I am not a fan of DJ.

I actually developed a taste for the Cién Años. It's by no means the best tequila I've ever had, but it was a smooth and drinkable 100% repo that beats Patrón by a mile. On ice it was nice. While I was enjoying these agave tequilas, I was noticing the many other Americans (it was about 75% Yanks and 25% Mexicans and other nationalities like Germans, Italians and Asians) ordering 'ritas with no preference. The bars were pouring not even Cuervo Gold in those...it was, I dunno, some well-liquor like El Toro or something. Ugh! Hangover in a bottle.

After a couple days I started drinking palomas instead of margaritas. In Mexico they have a kind of Fresca that I've never seen here. (I'd like to find it here -- any suggestions?). The MexiFresca comes in yellow cans and it is NOT diet. It actually tastes like a sweet grapefruit soda, instead of whatever indistinguishable flavor one finds in American Fresca. That, with Jimador Blanco, a squeeze of lime and salt on the rim and ... mmmm... Paloma en la playa paraisa!

(Speaking of "paradise", I learned a some Spanish I didn't know: The word for "paradise" is NOT "paradiso", it is "paraiso" with no "d". Just a little aside for ya).

IN TOWN
On day-three we took the free shuttle in to Cabo San Lucas, about 10-miles south of the resort. The bus dropped us at the Peurto Paraiso mall. As we walked in the main entrance, I was be-dazzled by the amount of tequila for sale, well, everywhere. Even shops that were not liquor stores had it. There was a souvenir shop with tequila. A drugstore; tequila. Deli; tequila. T-shirt shop; tequila. And there were at least three full-blown liquor stores, one called Hacienda de Tequila. Oh boy! Jackpot!


Cabo's Famous Arco, Where Pacific and Sea of Cortez Meet

Next of course I had to check selection and prices. The first bottle I looked at was a 750 of Corralejo repo, one of my everyday tequilas around here. At my local store I pay $39.99 plus tax -- about $43 bucks. In Cabo? $11 US dollars, no tax! Eee-Leven bucks! Wowza! And this was an American tourist mall, meaning better deals could be found off the beaten track. But since we weren't going off the beaten track (with wife and 3-year-old in-tow)these prices would have to do.

On that first trip, I scored a 750 of Siete Leguas repo for $23 and one of El Tesoro blanco for about the same. The Mexicans hold the ET in high esteem, I gathered. I also grabbed an $11 bottle of Corralejo. Did I mention it was only $11 bucks? Should have bought ten of those. I saw dozens of different labels -- Aha Toro, Centennario, Herradura, Partida, Los Abuelos, 100 Años, Cabo Wabo and more more more. Then I spied one of my all-time favorites, Chinaco! It became unavailable around here in about 2007. Bought a 750 of the repo. Such a beautiful gold color I have rarely seen. One thing I liked about these stores is that that all offer free tastes of tequila. I tasted the Los Abuelos repo, which was wonderful and I had them set me aside a bottle. At $40 that was pricey, and the bottle is a little big and heavy for travelling. Eventually I opted not to buy it. (Funny how things are relative; if I had seen the Abuelos here for $40 I'd buy it and look over my shoulder like a thief who had just stolen something!)

On our second trip in to town a couple days later, I only bought one more bottle. I love Espolón, especially the blanco, and I was hoping to find some. This proved to be harder than I expected. The first two places I tried didn't have it. Then I left the Americanized confines of the mall to a place across the street whose sign proclaimed the "Lowest Tequila Prices" would be found there. I perused the shelves and was about to give up when, on a bottom shelf in the back, I found TWO bottles of El Espolón blanco. One was the typical tall 750ml, and the other was, wow, this short, round 750 bottle. I had never ever seen even a picture of Espo in that bottle. According to the labels, the contents were identical, and so was the price, $300 pesos. That's about $25 USD. I pay over $40 for that here, and the only place that has it is running out. I bought it, choosing the little squat bottle just for the novelty of it. Thought it might be a little easier to pack also.

Interestingly, one tequila I hardly saw at all in Cabo was Patrón. A couple stores had it, a few didn't. None of the bars I went to offered it. One guy told me it was more expensive in Mexico than in the US. This reinforces what I already knew: Patrón is an American product.

So to total my score: I returned with one Corralejo repo, one Siete Leguas repo, one Chinaco repo, one EL Tesoro blanco and one Espolón blanco. It's a total of 3.75 liters, well under the duty-free limit for three travellers.


Then, upon my return, I found on our doorstep a just-delivered sample bottle of T1 Tequila Uno Blanco Ultra Fino. It's incredible. We're going to have a lot of fun tasting and comparing these nice tequilas. More on that later....!

As they like to say in Cabo, "¡No te preocupes!" which of course means, NO WORRIES!

Chinaco Repo Review on Tequila.net
El Tesoro Blanco Review on Tequila.net
Espolón Blanco Review on Tequila.net
7 Leguas Repo Review on Tequila.net

The Robb Report, T1 Tequila

Here's a nice profile on T1:
Agave Artist

Show Me Yours (I'll show You Mine!)

Here's the full current collection:

Front Row L to R: Tenampa Azul Repo (lives in the freezer), Cazadores Repo, Herradura Anejo, 375s of Espolon Repo, Anejo and Blanco, Corralejo Repo, Presidente brandy
Second Row L to R: ElTesoro Anejo, Partida Repo, Milagro Repo Reserva, Casa Noble Repo,Los Abuelo Blanco, Casa Noble Blanco, Corralejo Repo Triple Distilado, 1921 Repo Reserva, Penca Azul Anejo 2007 Reserva

2010: Año de Agave?

¡Hola amigos y feliz año nuevo!

Your tio Drew had a very big and busy holiday season. Of course much good tequila was enjoyed.

We are looking forward to a trip to Mexico in a month. Bringing the fam to Cabo for a week. Little Drew will be turning 3 there on Feb 16th. A piñata birthday will be in order! On the beach! ¡Vámos a la playa!

Just heard from Ryan Hutchins of Tequila Uno, and he promises to get a sample my way soon. To refresh, T1 is the new ultra-premium tequila master-crafted by Germán Gonzalez, the man responsible for the highly regarded Chinaco Negro and other fine tequilas. Germán is from a renowned aristocratic family who owned the distillery Gonzaleña. His Great Grandfather was El Presidente de Mexico. This man has blue-agave running through his veins!


Dos del Uno

While I wait with baited breath for my sample, Ryan sent me a nice hi-res pic of the T1 blanco and repo in their crystal decanter-style bottles. Feast your eyes! Makes your mouth water, don't it?