THE WORLD'S BEST...TEQUILA...VOTED in a PRIVATE TASTING from www.TheFiftyBest.com by Philip S. Kampe

MISSION: TO CHOOSE THE BEST TEQUILA ON THE MARKET

FACT: There are over 1000 TEQUILA'S currently produced in Mexixo.

FACT: I had the privilege of sampling 20 BLANCOS and 19 ANEJOS in a BLIND TASTING.

FACT: TEQUILIA can be WHITE/SILVER and PLATA BLANCO (86% of the Mexiacn market).

FACT: TEQUILA labels usually bear the letters: NOM ( Norma Official Mexicana). These initials command the highest standards for tequila makers and consumers.

HISTORY:
ALL Tequila's start off as BLANCO, with portions set aside for aging.
GOLD/JOVEN is UN-AGED Tequila to which select sugar cane or caramels have been added. REPOSADO is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of two months, but, most average six months. ANEJO must be aged at least one year in wood.
EXTRA ANEJO is aged for more than three years.

GOAL: CHOOSE the BEST TEQUILA from the 39 Tequila's sampled and VOTED by Spirits and Wine Journalists; Bartenders and Tequila lovers.

LOCATION: EASTSIDE SOCIAL CLUB in New York City.

TATSING RESULTS:
(BLANCO/PLATA/SILVER)

#1 NOBLEZA $36
DOUBLE DISTILLED/ESTATE GROWN/PREMIUM/BLUE WEBER AGAVE
Smooth, creamy, spicy,perfumy, sweet, cinnamon,vanilla, chewy, smoky, hay, floral, lavender, hazelnut, earthy with a long finish

#2 TRES AGAVES $26
Double distilled. Straight from the still to the bottle.

#3 (Tie) HORNITOS $25
CHAMUCOS $42

#4 CABO WABO $22

#5 AVION $40

#6 HERRADURA $32

#7 RIAZUL $55

#8 EL JIMADOR $19

#9 CORZO $40

#10 (Tie) DON EDUARDO $45
SEMENTAL $45

#11 (Tie) ANTIGUO $ 26
ESPOLON $ 20

#12 (Tie) CAZADORES $21
INOCENTE $46

#13 CHINACO $30

#14 EL TESORO $44

#15 TEQUILIA55 $30

#16 CAMPO AZUL $30

TASTING RESULTS
(ANEJO)

#1 RIAZUL $74
DOUBLE DISTAILLED/ESTATE GROWN/PREMIUM BLUE WEBER AGAVE.
Smooth, fruit, vanilla, caramel, honey,buttery, spice, cinnamon, woody, delicate, licorice,
pepper, hazelnut, scotch like, stellar.

#2 (Tie)
NOBLEZA $50
DOUBLE DISTILLED, STRAIGHT FROM THE STILL TO THE BOTTLE.
Vanilla, smoke, sweet, fruit, brown sugar, caramel, almond, light, peppery, spicy, delicate, woody, complex, balanced, multi-layered, smooth finish.

TEQUILA55 $40
COMPLEX with hints of vanilla, cream, cinnamon, spice, caramel, citrus, fruit, wine grape, apples, lemon zest, butterscotch, nutty, smoky, leather, pepper, dried fruit.

#3 (Tie)
DON EDUARDO $45
TRES GENERACIONES $41

#4 (Tie)
CAZADORES $36
CHINACO $45

#5 (Tie)
HORNITOS $32
TRES AGAVES $40

#6 (Tie)
CAMPO AZUL $35
SEMENTAL $60

#7
CABO WABO $40

#8 (Tie)
CHAMUCOS $62
EL TOSORO $50

#9 (Tie)
ANTIGUO $35
EL JIMADOR $40

#10
AVION $48

#11 (Tie)
CORZO $50
HERRADURA $42


For COMPLETE RESULTS and TEQUILA INFORMATION, Visit: http://www.thefiftybest.com/

PHILIP S. KAMPE