TEQUILAS IN FLIGHT 

The Spirit of Mexico is Now the Toast of North America


THE more bar and club operators know about tequilas, the more the house is likely to profit from it behind the bar.
    Last year alone, the tequila category grew by 8.7 percent, and it is showing every sign of exceeding even this phenomenal growth rate in 2006.
    Read on for a review flight of tequilas that run the gamut from well established to just released to get you started.

AGAVERO
    Agavero is an ultra-premium spirit that is created from a blend of 100 percent blue agave añejo and reposado tequilas hand-blended with the essence of Damiana flower for unparalleled smoothness and taste.
    Agavero is produced at Los Camichines Distillery in the Jalisco region of Mexico, where the blue agave plant is grown. The master distiller selects the highest quality 100 percent blue agave añejo and reposado tequilas that have been separately aged in specially charred, French Limousin oak barrels. The añejo tequila is aged up to 18 months,and the reposado tequila is rested for nearly a year. At 64 proof, Agavero can be enjoyed straight, on the rocks or in a number of cocktails.

CABO WABO
    Sammy Hagar discovered this bang-up tequila while off-stage in Guadalajara and ultimately brought it back to serve at his nightclub, Cabo Wabo, in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur Mexico. It’s the genuine article, 100 percent blue agave, baked in wood-fired adobe ovens and double-pot distilled the old-fashioned way for a rich, soul-warming taste.
    The Red Rocker’s Reposado tequila has been barrel-aged in oak casks for 4 to 6 months. More aging means more flavor and a smoother style. The unique hand-blown Mexican blue glass bottles will be hard to throw away, even when they’re empty.
    Anthony Dias Blue of Bon Appetit magazine named Cabo Wabo Tequila one of the “Top Three Tequilas in the World,” and The Rolling Stones even carried off 12 cases after their Hawaiian tour.

1800
    1800 tequilas are made from 100 percent blue agave, also known as agave azul tequilana weber, from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. For each of the three unique tequilas, 1800 Silver, 1800 Reposado and 1800 Anejo, special care is taken with every step of the tequila-making process. All aspects of the production process are carefully monitored to develop the rich flavors that only 1800 tequila has to offer.

El DIAMANTE DEL CIELO
    Diamante Spirits, a joint venture company of Blavod Extreme Spirits (BES) recently launched El Diamante del Cielo tequila in the United States. El Diamante del Cielo is expected to further solidify BES’ growth in the international boutique drink market with three different qualities of El Diamante del Cielo — Blanco, Reposado and Anejo. The handcrafted tequilas feature the finest, 100 percent pure blue weber agave, grown exclusively in the optimal conditions found in the Jalisco region of Mexico.
    In the triple-distilling process, the “head and tail” of the tequila are thrown out, reserving only the heart of the batch.

EL TESORO
    The El Tesoro tequila collection of El Tesoro Platinum, El Tesoro Reposado, El Tesoro Añejo and Paradiso Añejo reflect the craftsmanship, art and science of a by-gone era. Master Distiller Carlos Camarena insists the crushed fibers stay with the fermented liquid through the first distillation. When El Tesoro comes off the second distillation at 80 proof, it is bottled in used bourbon casks from Kentucky and aged in the Camerena’s stone-lined, humidity controlled cellars deep underground. These barrels are aged up to three years, resulting in a treasure of a tequila.
    El Tesoro received double gold medals for the entire El Tesoro collection at the 2005 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

JOSE CUERVO
    Jose Cuervo Gold is the No. 1 tequila in the world. The Jose Cuervo portfolio represents about 50 percent market share in the United States. Diageo North America is seeing strong market performances for Cuervo Golden Margarita, Clasico (up 12 percent from the previous year) and Reserva de la Familia (up 19 percent from the previous year). Jose Cuervo Black has been well received in the initial market introductions, and Diageo has high expectations for its performance as it begins to roll it out nationally. Diageo also has launched Jose Cuervo Black Medallion, a new super-premium tequila.

JUAREZ
    Juárez is the fourth best-selling tequila in the United States. Imported from Mexico using the finest, hand-selected agave plants, Juárez is produced at the world’s largest independent tequila distillery, ensuring the highest-quality product. Juárez is distilled under direct supervision of the Mexican government and CRT Board to guarantee consistency and quality control. With attention-grabbing promotional support and a very competitive price structure, Juárez is sure to stand out.
    Products include Juárez Tequila Gold, Juárez Tequila Silver and Juárez Triple Sec.

PATRON
    Patrón is the world’s No. 1 selling ultra-premium tequila. From the finest, most expensive weber blue agave plants grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, to the centuries-old distillation process, to the signed, handcrafted glass bottles, Patrón is produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Imported and marketed by Las Vegas-based The Patron Spirits Co., brands in the portfolio consist of Patrón Gran Platinum, Patrón Anejo, Patrón Reposado, Patrón Silver, Patrón XO Café (tequila and coffee blend).

SAUZA
    Sauza is the only brand to offer a full line (premium, super-premium and ultra-premium) of 100 percent real tequila.The Sauza portfolio includes Sauza Blanco, a premium, 51 percent agave, Silver tequila; Sauza Gold, a premium 51 percent agave; Sauza Hacienda, a premium, 51 percent agave reposado; Sauza Commemorativo, a super-premium, 51 percent agave, añejo tequila; Sauza Hornitos, a super-premium, 100 percent agave, Reposado tequila; Sauza Tres Generaciones (3G’s), a family of ultra-premium, 100 percent agave tequilas, that includes Plata, Reposado and añejo tequila.
    All Sauza tequilas are double distilled at low proof to retain the full agave flavor, except the Tres Generaciones range, which is triple-distilled for the ultimate in smoothness.

ZIRCON AZUL
    Zircón Azul is smooth and has an exceptional flavor that makes it fine sipping tequila. From the fields to the processing plant everything is done in the old world way. Zircón Azul is produced and bottled in Arandas Jalisco, Mexico using all natural products. Zircón Azul is 100 percent reposado tequila aged in white oak barrels for flavor, color and smoothness. This tequila is unique as the bottle it comes in. Both are handcrafted to perfection.