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Archive for the ‘Blanco Tequila’ Category

Review: Camarena Silver Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 13, 2016

Camerena SilverCamarena is a relatively new tequila brand launched in 2010 by six generation tequila producer, Familia Camarena. The spirit is produced at the Tequila Supremo Distillery (Nom 1456 CRT) and is apparently distributed throughout North America by E.& J. Gallo Winery.

The Camerena Silver Tequila is produced from 100% Blue Weber agaves, grown in the rich red clay and cool climate of the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. As a Highland Tequila, we can expect Camarena to exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and to have a little hot pepper in the delivery and in the finish. (This is as opposed to lowland tequila which has strong earthy flavours of agave and less hot pepper.)

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: Camarena Silver Tequila

“… I discovered a heated agave aroma with spicy white pepper scents rising into the breezes above the glass. There is a very evident vegetal earthiness apparent which warns me that this spirit is going to have a fruity agave punch to go along with its overt spiciness. Fortunately, I also notice some soothing menthol-like aromas which may salvage my tonsils …”

Please enjoy my latest tequila review as I embark on a little tequila, Chimo!

 

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The Year In Tequila – (The 2015 Rum Howler Awards)

Posted by Arctic Wolf on December 27, 2015

RH-winner2015In 2013, I lamented that it was a bad year for Tequila as far as my home Province of Alberta was concerned, and in 2014 things were to the point that I decided to omit my Rum Howler Awards for Tequila altogether. In 2015, I decided to do something about this state of affairs and I made a concentrated effort to make Tequila a larger part of my website. I began in May with my Rum Howler 2015 Margarita Challenge. As part of my efforts, I sent a call out to industry and asked for samples of Blanco Tequila with the aim of having a small competition to see which brand made the best Margarita Cocktail. I even designed my version of this quintessential cocktail just for the competition, the Alfred Cointreau Margarita Cocktail

My efforts were rewarded as I managed to garner about a dozen samples and when the dust had settled I determined that a new agave brand from Patron, Roca Patron Silver was in the opinion my cast of jurors the best Blanco tequila for our summer time tequila cocktails. My competition had the ancillary benefit of drawing the attention of more tequila producers to my website,  and I received not only a good selection of blanco tequila samples, but also a nice smattering of Reposado, and Anejo tequila as well as a very delicious Extra Anejo.

All of this means that my Rum Howler Awards for Tequila are back, and quite frankly, I could not be happier about that. Here is a link to my awards page for my 2015 Tequila Awards:

The 2015 Rum Howler Awards – The Year in Tequila

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Note: The awards pages contain links to all of the reviews for the awards spirits, two of which have never been reviewed upon my website previously.  Please enjoy the awards and stay tuned for my awards for Gin, Vodka, Whisky and Rum!

Posted in Anejo Tequila, Awards, Blanco Tequila, Extra Anejo Tequila, Extras, Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Year In Tequila – (The 2015 Rum Howler Awards)

#52 Roca Patrón Silver Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on November 3, 2015

According to the company website, Roca Patrón Tequila is a pure 100% Agave Tequila made from agave grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. The agave is 6 to 7 years old when harvested, and the heart of the plant or the piña is all that is used. As a highland tequila,we can expect the Patron Tequila to exhibit strong fruity citrus notes and to have a little hot pepper in the delivery and in the finish. The company was created in 1989 when John Paul DeJoria, and Martin Crowley formed The Patrón Spirits Company with the stated singular goal of producing “the best tequila in the world.”

Roca Patron SAM_1530Amazingly, the manner in which the agave juice is extracted from the piñas has an impact upon the distilled flavour of the final tequila. Tequila distilled from the juice which was extracted from a stone wheel Tahona has a noticeably softer and earthier flavour than tequila distilled from the juice extracted by a roller mill. Part of the reason for the difference in flavour may be that when the juice which has been extracted from the piñas which were crushed by the Tahona Wheel, the left over fibers from those piñas are placed in the fermentation vats along with the juice. The fiber and juice mixture is fermented for 72 hours in a wooden fermentation vat, where apparently some of the flavours from the fibrous material makes its way into the fermented wash.

Roca Patrón Tequila is produced from the fermented wash of the Tahona Wheel Crushed agave which is distilled twice in copper pot stills.

Here is a link to the review of the #52 spirit on my Rum Howler Top 100 Spirits Countdown.

#52 – Roca Patrón Silver Tequila

“… I discovered a light fruity agave aroma with a very mild white pepper scent rising from the glass. There is a whisper of grassy chlorophyll in the breezes and a very light scent of mineral water rising from the glass. The agave is understated and has an almost herbal quality with hints of heather and mint riding at the edges of my perception. If I take my time with the glass I can sense a few light citrus notes (particularly lime zest) and the sense of mint seems to build up very gradually …”

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You may follow my Countdown list of the 100 Best Spirits here: The Rum Howler 2015 – Top 100 Spirits

 

Posted in Awards, Blanco Tequila, Extras, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , , , | Comments Off on #52 Roca Patrón Silver Tequila

Review: Olmeca Blanco Tequila Clasico

Posted by Arctic Wolf on July 31, 2015

_0114_olmecablancoOlmeca is a Tequila brand owned by Pernod Ricard, distributed by Corby Brands here in Canada. The line-up features three sub brands, Olmeca (which is a Mixto), Olmeca Altos (which is a 100 % Blue Weber Agave tequila) , and Olmeca Tezón (which is 100% Blue Weber Agave and which is produced from 100 % Tahona crushed agave).

Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise

All of these sub brands are double distilled from Mexican Blue Agave in Copper Pot Stills. As well each of the brands will contain some distillate from the juice of agave which has been crushed in the traditional method with a two ton Tahona millstone.

Here is a link to my full review of Olmeca Blanco Tequila Clasico:

Review: Olmeca Blanco Tequila Clasico

“… I noticed an aggressive punch of smokey agave filled the air. The aroma vanished as quickly as I noticed it, and even when I took a cautious sniff from my glass, I could not locate that same punch of punky fruit and smoke. Instead, I noticed a peppery effervescence which was combined with mild agave aromas and a light sweetness which reminded me of cane …”

Please enjoy my review which ends with a nice cocktail suggestion, the Tequila Sunrise.

Chimo!

 

 

Posted in Blanco Tequila, Mixto Tequila, Tequila | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Olmeca Blanco Tequila Clasico

2015 Margarita Challenge #1 – Roca Patrón Silver Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on May 29, 2015

Roca Patron SAM_1530The month of May is almost complete, and my Tequila odyssey has arrived at its destination. My Rum Chums and I, through a series of side by side tastings have determined the Best Blanco Tequila spirit for our summer Margaritas, Roca Patrón Silver Tequila.

When I served this silver tequila to my jurors, the Rum Chums, it was in a blind format (See 2015 Rum Howler Margarita Challenge). In that blind format, this was the spirit that my entire judging panel went crazy over. It would not be an understatement to say that the Roca Patrón Silver ran a scythe through the competition. What amazed me was that, even though the agave and the hot peppery spice are understated in this expression of Patrón Tequila, those aspects of the spirit nevertheless shone through the cocktail experience. I suspect that it is the high bottling proof (45 %) which gives this agave spirit so much punch and staying power in the cocktail format.

Suffice it to say, everyone in my tasting group loved the Margarita made with Roca Patrón Silver.

Metro Mexico

Metro Mexico

You may read my full review of this wonderful agave spirit here:

Review: Roca Patrón Silver Tequila

“… As you sip, heat does build up upon the palate in the form of black and white pepper and these flavours linger on the palate after wards. There is also a light herbal tone with echoes of mint and lime zest resting within the spice …”

Of course it is not just Margaritas which taste great with the Silver Roca Patrón, I also shared another great recipe which I call Metro Mexico at the conclusion of my review.

I hope everyone enjoyed my 2015 Rum Howler Margarita Challenge this month, Chimo!

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Note: If you wish to see the final ranking for my 2015 Rum Howler Margarita Countdown, I have created a summary page which lists all of the results. That page is available here:

2015 Rum Howler Margarita Countdown

 

Posted in Awards, Blanco Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2015 Margarita Challenge #1 – Roca Patrón Silver Tequila