Tequila is big business these days. Consumers have been bitten by the agave bug, eagerly snapping up spendy bottles that fifty years ago would have been labeled “Mexican brandy.” While there are plenty of big brands (Jose Cuervo, Patrón, Sauza) and celebrity-backed brands (Carlos Santana and Casa Noble, Justin Timberlake and Sauza 901) clamoring for... Continue Reading →
Getting in sync with Sauza 901: Justin Timberlake wants you to buy, buy, buy* his new tequila
With the rise of upscale artisanal tequilas like Partida, Fortaleza, and Suerte, the big tequila heavyweights like Jose Cuervo and Sauza have seen an opportunity (or threat) and released new products targeting an upmarket niche. A notable recent example is Patron, already considered upscale in some circles, with their release of the Roca line. Sauza,... Continue Reading →
Checking Out the Partida Tequila Lineup
Tequila is one of those spirits that has fought a long battle for respect from the casual drinker. All too often, people’s tequila perceptions are formed in some drunken college haze ending in an incident with vague memories of pressing their face to a cool tile floor, causing them to declare “I don’t do tequila.”... Continue Reading →
A Summer Trip to Puebla – Strawberry, Spice and Tequila!
A recent confluence of events has had me writing and thinking about fruit shrub, Ancho Reyes Chile licor, and tequila. It’s not a stretch to picture the three flavors together – Ancho Reyes and tequila come from Mexico, and at least here in the U.S., there’s a good chance your fruit did as well. If... Continue Reading →
Artisanal Mezcal and Northwest Tequila Fest 2014
Setting up for the artisanal mezcal tasting Mezcal is one of those spirits like smoky Islay Scotch that evokes strong opinions from anyone who’s tried it. It has bold flavor, and like Islay Whisky, the most common description that comes to mind is “smokey.” Beyond that, however, the tastes are very different. I've dabbled... Continue Reading →
Improv Notebook – The Seattle Summer in May cocktail
The weather here in Seattle today was outstanding - May 1st and 80+ degrees. It seems like everybody's out soaking up the weather we don't normally get till July.I haven't been doing a whole lot of original riffing on cocktails lately - mostly sticking to tried and true recipes so I've started to get the... Continue Reading →