1. Hornitos Black Barrel
Hornitos Black Barrel starts as a premium, aged Añejo, then spends four months in deep charred oak barrels to give it rich, smoky flavor and a golden amber color. It spends an additional two months in specially toasted barrels for more depth and distinct complexity.
Price: $29.99
2. Maestro Dobel Diamante
Maestro Dobel Diamante is a rule-defying blend of Extra-Añejo, Añejo and Reposado Tequila, aged in the finest European oak barrels and double filtered to produce a crystal clear liquid renowned for its character and smoothness.
Price: $49.99
3. Cazadores Tequila Añejo
Cazadores Tequila Añejo is aged in virgin American oak barrels for at least 12 months, this golden toned tequila serves the senses with dry fruits, cinnamon and notes of wood.
Price: $33.99
4. Gran Centenario Añejo
Gran Centenario Añejo is made from 100% blue agave tequila and is aged in new French Limousin oak barrels for 36 months whereby quality aged Tequila reserves are added giving this Tequila unparalled smoothness and quality.
Price: $59.99
5. Don Julio 1942
Don Julio 1942 is produced in small batches and aged for a minimum of two and a half years. Don Julio 1942 Tequila is handcrafted in tribute to the year that Don Julio González began his tequila-making journey.
Price: $170.99
6. Don Julio Reservade
Don Julio Reservade is barrel aged in smaller batches for eighteen months in American white-oak barrels. Don Julio Añejo Tequila is a testament to the craft of making a superior tasting, aged tequila. Rich, distinctive and wonderfully complex, its flavor strikes the perfect balance between agave, wood and hints of vanilla.
Price: $61.99
Tequila 101We stopped by Cantina to learn a little about one of our favorite drinks, tequila. Cantina’s co-owner, Jorge Castro, was more than happy to educate us on the special beverage that can only be produced in his home country. First off, Jorge gave us a little history lesson on tequila. Legend has it that tequila was discovered when lightning struck a blue agave plant. When the lightning hit the plant the native people saw juice coming out of the plant. They tasted the juice and liked it. When the Spanish were colonizing Mexico, they started to use the syrup from the plant for medicine. Over time they found that when it was fermented it became very nice liquor. The town where tequila was discovered in the region of Jalisco is now known as Tequila, Mexico. Agave is native to the arid and hot regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The plant has large, thick and fleshy leaves and requires very little water to survive. The core of the plant, also called the piña, resembles a pineapple. Tequila manufacturers burn and shred the pineapple. Then they extract the sweet juice. The juice is allowed time to ferment and then begins a distillation process.
Special thanks to Cantina’s co-owner and our tequila expert, Jorge Castro.Different brands use different distillation processes to make their tequila. The main difference is how many times the liquid is distilled. This can range from one to four times. After tequila is distilled, it can then be bottled or placed in barrels to age. The three main types of tequila are silver (plata), reposado and añejo. Silver is bottled right after the distillation process or aged up to six months and is clear in color. Reposado means rested, this tequila is aged from six to ten months and is a light gold color. Añejo means aged, this tequila is aged anywhere from ten months to three years and has a deeper gold color. The ageing process has a big effect on the flavor.
If you are trying to find “the best” tequila then first you need to check the label. If the label does not say 100% agave or blue agave then it is not pure tequila. For example José Cuervo is not real tequila because only around 51% is from blue agave. Next you need to decide which type and flavor suits you the best. Silver and reposado have a very strong flavor. They are typically mixed into drinks such as margaritas. Añejo is smoother than the other two types. In Mexico, añejo is poured into a shot glass but savored in sips, unlike your typical shot. This is so the flavor and the ageing process can be appreciated.
Our expert, Jorge, said that he prefers tequila añejo while playing a good game of dominos with his amigos. Jorge also said that he likes to sip his tequila while drinking a beer. He uses the beer to clear the flavor from the tequila. Jorge gave us two fun and easy ways to drink tequila. The first is simply tequila mixed with a Fresca soda. The classic grapefruit flavor is a big hit with this one. The second drink is called a submarine. You take a shot class and fill it with tequila and then place it upside down in a pint glass. Then you pour a beer of your choice into the pint glass. As you sip on the beer the tequila is slowly released into the beer.
Don’t worry, you won’t have to travel all the way to Mexico to get these. Everything on Jorge’s list is available in your local liquor store. All of these are añejo except for Dobel, which is silver.
