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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/57862
CHEERS SPIRITS TASTING By Tony Abou-Ganim Tequila is Muy Caliente! I t is truly amazing to watch the growth in the 100 percent agave Tequila market. I have been in the game long enough to remember when Mixto was tequila. I was working behind the stick in 1990 when I encountered Patrón's hand- blown bottle and things have not been the same since. Shortly thereafter I met Julio Bermejo at Tommy's and my mind was about to be blown. Today our guests have such a vast array to choose from it can be hard to know where to begin. Here are a few of the myriad of choices readily available: Highland Tequilas Don Julio Blanco Nose: A blast of ripe, sweet baked agave, honeysuckle and lemon verbena with white pepper spice. Palate: Baked apple, smoke and green veggies, prominently green bell pepper with a rich mouth feel. El Tesoro Platinum Nose: Tones of green bell pepper, white pepper, lime zest and fresh cut grass. Palate: Rich and almost creamy, oily mouth feel with beautiful acidity. It has vegetal qualities and dries out nicely with a touch of spice. It has a nice, memorable and warm medium fi nish. Corso Silver Nose: It is very clean, and has fresh Agave notes with hints of peach, green apple and citrus. Palate: Rich, full bodied with balanced alcohol. It has notes of cream soda, vanilla and roasted agave. Tequila Ocho Plata Nose: It opens with notes of vanilla, caramel and oak. Th en, the spicy and vegetal notes come in to play. Palate: Opens with forward alcohol and fi lls up the chest like a hug on the inside with a memorable fi nish. Deleon Diamante Nose: Spicy, fresh, fruity and balanced with delicate fl oral and citrus notes. It has a complex nose. Palate: It is thin, not creamy on the palate. Th e alcohol is robust and aggressive with a bitter fi nish. Patrón Platinum Nose: Layer after layer of aromas that are in balance with the alcohol and citrus notes. Palate: A honeyed sweetness leads to cream soda and ripe tree fruits like peaches and pears. Th is spirit feels rich, soft and creamy in the mouth, which comes in warm and ends with a dry, yet earthy agave fi nish. Lowland Tequila Herradura Blanco Nose: Rich baked agave, bright orange peel, slightly herbaceous leading to cinnamon and vanilla spice. Palate: Spicy pepper, licorice and butterscotch dominate here with a rich, full-bodied mouth feel. Jose Cuervo Platino Reserva de la Familia Nose: Earthy yet fl oral, slightly musty and woody, with mushroom and herbal notes. Palate: Very spicy and peppery with a rich and full-bodied mouth feel. It has a pleasant, medium fi nish. Puro Verde Organic Silver Nose: Slightly earthy with stewed fruit notes, prunes, a hint of caramel and a blast of white pepper. Palate: green, under ripe apple, supporting both black and white pepper with a short fi nish. Ambhar Plata Nose: A buttery, spicy note on the nose with a hint of asparagus and green vegetal aromas. Palate: Alcohol shows itself more aggressively on the palate. It has big blasts of black pepper and is a touch bitter on the warm fi nish with notable acidity. Tony Abou-Ganim is the founder of Las Vegas-based Th e Modern Mixologist and author of the Th e Modern Mixologist- Contemporary Classic Cocktails. He serves as the director of judging for the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and created the mixology program for the Bellagio Hotel when it opened. 66 | MARCH 2012 www.cheersonline.com