By
George Brozowski
You've
undoubtedly heard that old adage about the squeaky
wheel getting the grease but have you ever heard the one about
the raving reporter getting the goodies? Since the raving
reporter in question happens to be me, let me explain that
part about getting the goodies. It all has to do with the
way I evaluate spirits for this column. Normally I like to
try the spirit straight up first in order to get a full measure
of its potency, aroma and flavor. Then I like to try it on
the rocks and next, if it's meant to be mixed, I mix it up.
And lastly I like to spring it on an unsuspecting soul or
two just to get another point of view and put in perspective
just how full of myself I really am. As you can see by all
of this tasting I am not just taking one small sip of a few
drops and writing my rave or rant.
Well,
it just so happens that some PR folks who represent certain
distillers were totally clueless to this process and believed
that sending me a few drops of their client's precious elixir
in a miniscule bottle containing less than even one shot should
be enough to get the job done. Well, let me tell you, it just
isn't so! However, other PR folks totally get it and really
make up for some of those short comings or should I say short
samplings. Point in case, I recently received a teeny tiny
bottle of scotch and after I went ballistic they sent me another
teeny tiny bottle of the same scotch which propelled me further
into the stratosphere. Well, I wrote a rant and complained
that I just couldn't get a clue as to what their stuff was
all about because there wasn't enough of it to even do a scientific,
empirical, microscopic DNA type forensic analysis. Lo and
behold they got the message! I believe some other folks must
have been paying attention because when they sent me some
tequila to taste, this Blue Nectar tequila
as a matter of fact, they sent small bottles, not necessarily
teeny tiny bottles as these are slightly larger, but the beauty
of it is they sent 18 bottles of the stuff!! Now you see what
I mean about getting the goodies? Since I have more than enough
samples to get the job done this time let's dive straight
into this agave and see what's up or down or sideways.
Let's
start with the Blue Nectar Silver. I'm a
big fan of silver tequila. I like the pure straight up unadulterated,
un-aged, un-oaked agave just the way the good Lord originally
intended for it to be. I'm willing to bet you bucks to bullets
that there must be a whole batch of you folks out there who
totally disagree with me with regard to that previous statement.
Don't get me wrong, I like that aged oaked tequila too but
there's just something pure and simple in a good silver drop
of blue agave. This Blue Nectar silver tequila's nose has
a gentle aroma full of agave and not much in the way of alcohol.
It really is one of the most temperate tequila noses I have
ever experienced, so far so good!
Straight
up it is a smoky delight followed by a good and fruity agave
palate. It is very smooth and medium in length in the finish
leaving a pleasant, sweet and smoky agave flavor in my mouth.
This is definitely one of the better silver tequilas I have
tried and worth enjoying straight up in a snifter. On the
rocks the nose becomes even fruitier letting the agave aroma
shine. The palate becomes a bit more smoky with the agave
coming in behind the smokiness with absolutely no burn and
no alcohol discomfort. The finish is clean and smooth and
a bit shorter but still leaves the refreshing taste of agave
behind. This is a very nice and tasty sipping tequila that
just might get a bit lost if diluted with other ingredients
and should be enjoyed straight up or on the rocks. Leave the
mixing to lesser tequilas.
The
Blue Nectar Reposado tequila is a pale golden
color that definitely shows a degree of ageing. Surprisingly
the nose is initially a bit sharper than the silver but settles
down nicely after just a few minutes in the open air. The
aromas of oak and agave are very mild with almost no trace
of alcohol. On the palate the mildness of the nose is complimented
by subtle hints of oak and agave with the smokiness almost
disappearing. The palate is just as smooth as the nose is
mild. The finish is short and sweet and gentle leaving just
a trace of agave in the mouth. This is one seriously laid
back tequila and it tastes a lot older than it is and I mean
that in a very good way. On the rocks the agave steps forward
with the oakiness almost getting lost in the background. This
is another great sipper.
And
last but not least is the Blue Nectar Special Reserve.
This one is also a pale golden color and the nose is also
very mild but the oakiness and agave had taken a back seat
to a very subdued spice note of vanilla and sweetened milk
with absolutely no alcohol aromas at all. This profile continues
on the palate with a layered sweetness and subtle spiciness
taking center stage followed by the agave and then the barest
note of oak. All of these flavors are so delicate they are
hard to discern fully but they blend together very nicely
and they also present a depth and complexity that I wasn't
expecting. Don't even think of putting this tequila on ice,
it just doesn't need it, enjoy it straight up and don't even
think about mixing it up because it will get totally lost.
These
three tequilas are the smoothest tequilas I have ever tasted.
That being said, don't get me wrong, they are very flavorful,
deep, layered and complex in their own right. These aren't
your momma's mixin' tequilas of old, they're far better than
that. They're priced accordingly but worth it. 750 ml bottles
can be found for around; Blue Nectar Reposado $35.00, Silver
$32.00, Special Reserve $41.99. Buy a bottle or two, pour
a snifter or three and enjoy them pure and simple.
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