Black Fly Beverage Company promotes itself as Ontario’s first micro-distillery and was was founded in 2005 by husband & wife Rob Kelly and Cathy Siskind-Kelly. Named after the iconic insect immortalized by Canadian Folk Singer Wade Hemsworth, their company was given the first Distillery License granted in Ontario in over 100 years. The vision of Rob and Kathy is to create premium spirits with more natural flavours and less sweetness with quality ingredients and unique innovative packaging.

I was sent a variety of samples from Black Fly Beverages and I have decided to begin this review series with their Black Fly Tequila Shaker Shots which are produced in-house with real Mexican Tequila, real lemon and Lime Juice, refreshing soda and a hint of salt. They are sold in small shaker tubes mixed at 17 % alcohol by volume. The ingredients list suggests a premixed Margarita ready for your enjoyment.

The Tequila Shaker Shots are sold in sets of four 50 ml tubes at a retail price of about ten dollars per set. Each tube is sealed with a black plastic screw cap. The idea is that each tube is a sort of Margarita shot which is enjoyed by shaking the tube first, and then drinking the contents directly from the tube either is a ‘shot style’ or by sipping the contents.

The packaging highlights the fact that only real lemon and lime juice are used to produce the Skaker shots as well as only real genuine Tequila.

I like the unique presentation and labeling which remains economical while at the same time rather catchy. There is the small problem of storage if you consume two the the shots and want to consume the rest of the package at a later time, however, the product is meant to be shared with friends in a celebratory setting so it is likely that all four shots will be consumed at once as each of you enjoy your Tequila Shaker Shot.

I chilled my Shaker Shots in my bar fridge overnight before enjoying my first sample. As directed, I gave the sealed 50 ml tube a good shake first and then took a large swallow.

I must say I found the experience quite enjoyable. This is because the Margarita flavour was very natual indicating the presence of a pleasant highland tequila used to manufacture the shot accompanied by real lemon and lime juice. The tequila flavour was neither too bold, not too soft, and I think the shots will appeal to a wide variety of persons.

I decided to try my next shot as more of a tumbler drink, and so I poured the contents of the next tube into a small tumbler filled with ice. I stirred the mixed drink vigorously to activate the soda bubbles and sipped the serving while watching the Sunday Night Football game. I found the ‘Iced Margarita’ quite nice, in fact this was my preferred serving. As indicated, the tequila used to manufacture the shaker shot appears to be a pleasant easy going highland tequila. The serving is easy on the throat and the addition of a spot of soda gives the shot a sort of refreshing appeal.

You will note that I did not break down my scores for this review. The Black Fly Tequila Shaker Shots are such a unique serving for me to review, that I really didn’t have a basis for breaking down the review into specific components. I did settle on a score of 85 out of 100. The basis for the score is my impression of the quality of the tequila which underlies the product and my appreciation of the use of real lemon and lime juice in the products preparation.

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Serving Suggestions:

Here are a few serving suggestions I think you might enjoy:

BFM (Black Fly Margarita)

So simple yet so good!

Chill 2 oz. Black Fly Tequila Shaker Shot in your refrigerator
Give the Shot a good shake
Pour the 2 oz. serving into you favourite cocktail glass
Garnish with a slice of lime (optional)
Enjoy Responsibly!

BFH (Black Fly Highball)

Chill 2 oz. Black Fly Tequila Shaker Shot in your refrigerator
Add Ice to your favourite small Tumbler
Give the Shot a good shake
Pour the 2 oz. serving into your glass
Garnish with a slice of lime (optional)
Enjoy Responsibly!

If  you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!

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You may (loosely) interpret the scores as follows.

0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing Tequila.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, (we are probably still cocktail in territory).
80-84    We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89    Excellent for sipping or for mixing delicious cocktails!
90-94    Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)