Cuervo Gold

[Guest guest]

Ah yes,

Cuervo Gold - also known as CRAP! Seriously, producing crap like

Cuervo Gold should be outlawed. Here are some basic rules of Tequila

selection:

The Bottom Line Always go for the 100% blue agave brands.Taste, taste

and taste some more before deciding.

Choosing the right tequila for you is a question of knowledge and taste.

You simply cannot put these 2 issues apart, as they constitute your most

reliable reference for comparison. The following advice refers only to

100% Blue agave brands, since most " Mixtos " are not even worth a shot,

due to the abysmal difference in quality and organoleptic features.

Lets begin with the 4 basic types of tequila:

- BLANCO (a.k.a Silver or Crystal). This is tequila in its purest form.

If you really want to know is a given brand is worthy of your

recognition or not, try the BLANCO version first. This type is the most

powerful and raw expression of the Agave spirits: potent, basic flavor

structure where sweet agave flavors have to dominate. The best specimens

behave nervously in the mouth, packing quite a punch on your tastebuds.

The drier the feeling, the better in quality. Triple distilled versions

such as Porfidio or Casa Noble are surprisingly smooth and mellow. Look

for floral and citrus overtones in the retronasal passages, and the

finish should be very long and pleasing.

- JOVEN (a.k.a. GOLD or Abocado). The best specimens on this category do

not stay in barrels for more than 1 month. JOVEN tequilas offer a less

powerful experience than BLANCOS, and yet they retain most of the agave

presence, and add a slightly wooden accent to the finish. Excellent as

mixers, JOVEN tequilas constitute the perfect platform to begin

exploring the delicious complexity of aged tequila. Good 100% blue agave

JOVEN tequilas are hard to find. The worst examples on this category are

Cuervo, Sauza and Orendain.

- REPOSADO (Aged). Perhaps the most popular type, reposados have long

charmed the tequila fanatics all over the world, due to a balance

between the sweet agave notes and authoritative wooden accents from

Oak , Elm and Cedar, although the best ones are rested in french white

oak, for periods that do not exceed 8 months.

Premium and ultra premium reposados are recognizable because of their

satiny texture, superb smoothness in the mouth and throat, a deep

bouquet where agave, wood, floral ans spiced notes are dominant, along

with citrus overtones. The best feature of a good reposado is the LONG

finish...slow, deep exhalations after ingestion should bring the elegant

agave sensations in the retronasal passages well after 5 minutes of the

last sip. Purist believe its sacrilegious to MIX Reposado tequilas. And

so do I. The best 3 in the world have to be Casa Noble, Tesoro de Don

Felipe and Los Cofrades.

- AÑEJO (Extra Aged): Superior Añejos are located at the top echelon of

distilled spirits of the world. Smooth and creamy, dry and abrasive,

sweet and delicious, no other spirit in the world has the complexity and

potential of enjoyment as a fine, super premium Añejo tequila. They get

along perfectly with Cigar smoking. Añejos range from resting periods of

1 year to 5 years, although the more time they spend in the barrel, the

more wooden accents they acquire, sometimes losing the superb

organoleptic features of agave.

Choose your type according to your preferences and budget. Premium

tequilas of any type sell for over $40USD, with some añejos reaching

over $400USD. Margarita fans can decide from the first three choices,

and straight drinkers have all the options open. The best option for

mixed drink fanatics is the JOVEN (Gold) type.

My suggestion is: try at least 3 different brands when buying, and

remember: always prepare your senses for the sipping process. Moisten

your mouth and lips first, take small sips, let it glide trough your

mouth and throat, exhale slowly and trough the nose. You cant go wrong

on your final decision: your taste decides!

Cheers,

> In a message dated 4/9/2002 3:23:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> rpartovi@... writes:

>

> << Tequilas labeled " 100 per cent agave " >>

> Mine is labeled " Cuervo Gold " .