Why Should I Like Tequila? For All You Skeptics— Posted on National Tequila Day, July 24 2016

Patron Tequila Silver, Blanco, Patron Bottle

The first tequila I tasted that did not make me recoil in horror and reach the protection of a pile of salt and a wedge of lime.

About 10 years or so ago, my brother and I found ourselves a bit outside Philadelphia, at a celebration honoring my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.  Flying with young families is a tiring thing and our wives and children had taken to bed at an early hour, leaving us at about 9:30pm in strange city with no car and very few ideas of what to do– the rest of the family was not due until the next day.   So we retired to the bar at the hotel, which happened to be a Bennigan’s (or something very much like that).

I asked him what he was drinking.  He is a spirit enthusiast, and is always furthering his own knowledge of different ones, though I believe Scotch and Rum are favorites.  On this evening he said “Tequila.”  As nearly everyone would have done at the time, I recoiled in horror at the memory of the paint-thinner like gold substance that had left me and my college roommates flattened of affect, dizzy and ill of constitution after a night spent with the drink.   The whole idea of the lime and salt seemed like lipstick on a pig (and in actuality, better, because at least pigs are made of bacon).    Seeing this look he sought to reassure me.  “No, it’s better now.  They have high end Tequila.   He ordered two neat glasses of Patron silver, whose brand was unknown to me (and I suppose, hundreds of rap stars) at the time.

On tasting it I did not spit as in a double take.  The flavor was smooth, cool, and refreshing.  Based on what I thought it would be, I was surprised at the mild and restrained quality of its agave flavors.    It was like discovering you like Jazz– a creaky door opens in your mind where you realize you might have judged a thing too harshly, too quickly, or based on a poor candidate for its entire cannon.

Since then I have discovered not just that I like Tequila— and certainly it seems my timing makes me part of the tequila revolution—but that it might be my favorite spirit of all.  Previously I had been consigned to some version of a blended scotch, or vodka with some juice but tequila had a flavor that I actually liked—a bit of lime and ice were enough, and eventually no lime at all was necessary, and the salt stayed where it belongs- in the shaker.

I suppose the epilogue is that I feel strongly enough about the spirit to actually write about it, during a time when there is very little in any day to do so.   So it may not be often, but it will be passionately felt.  So today, on what is apparently National Tequila Today,  I wish you a responsible and happy celebration.   I am likely to have a glass of Arte Nom 1580.

The Winner and Still Champion- ArteNOM Seleccion Tequila

IMG_6145Of all the tequila I have had, far and away, the best, at any price range, is the Tequila ArteNOM Seleccion.   As I understand it, the tequilas are numbered following the casks they are aged in, which include Sherry and Port casks.  The numbers do not stay the same, as their current blanks are 1549 and 1579, which followed the infinitely superior and now out of stock 1079 (pictured, above).   The Blanco is smooth, crisp and surprisingly delicious.  The Reposado, which is usually my favorite in any tequila line has a delicious carmel-like taste.  The Anejo is the crown jewel, a superior sipping tequila that should be enjoyed slowly and likely after dinner.   For fans of tequila, you cannot go wrong with anything in this line.  These are in my opinion, after sampling many different tequilas, the finest spirits available today.   If you want to serve me tequila, please have this in your cabinet.