We run quite a lot of spirits evaluations on this luxurious journey weblog, however we’re not within the behavior of going out and spending $100, $200, or extra on a bottle of premium tequila. So after we had been staying on the St. Regis Punta Mita just lately and obtained the possibility to do a premium tequila tasting with an skilled Mexican bartender and a tequila skilled, I jumped on it and made positive to take a lot of notes.
We’ve posted a brand new evaluate of the St. Regis Punta Mita and the place is wanting nice after a current $45 million renovation. A part of that went into revamping the foyer and going from conventional to extra modern in the appear and feel. On the finish of the foyer is a good bar with 117 types of 100% blue agave tequila bottles.
We actually went top-shelf with this tasting although, making an attempt issues which are often not going to indicate up on the swim-up bar at an all-inclusive resort. A few of them you’ll be able to’t even discover in a retailer.
A Premium Tequila Tasting Flight Spherical 1: Silver and Reposado
For these tequila tastings, I obtained a pour in a perfect glass for tasting tequila and there was some form of small chew plate accompanying it that the planners paired. This additionally served to cleanse the palate between bottles.
As standard with tequila tastings, we began with the youngest and moved to the one with essentially the most time within the barrel. We tasted a silver/white tequila with no growing older then moved on to reposado, joven (a mix), añejo, and additional añejo.
Santarena Natural Silver
We began out with one thing the place the agave shines by means of, with no time growing older in a barrel. Santarena Silver tequila is among the few that’s licensed natural, although in actuality there’s not a lot fertilizer or pesticides within the combine with most tequila manufacturers anyway: agave is a a lot heartier plant than corn, grapes, or potatoes. That’s why you see it rising wild, not simply cultivated in farmers’ fields.
Santarena can be extra like a winemaker as a substitute of only a distiller, creating batches of tequila produced from single agave fields, no mixing and matching from totally different areas. They’re additionally a low-volume producer because of this. The most important rounds they produce are simply 6,000 bottles, whereas some are lower than 2,000. So when you have an opportunity to do that, it’s a uncommon deal with.
Our sampling was from the Piedra batch of 2020, quantity 254 of two,066. In addition they make a kosher model!
This was a really clean silver tequila that goes down simple, however has loads of delicate taste hints that shine by means of. It additionally got here with a stunning ceviche tostada that regarded as fairly because it tasted. We had been off to begin with Santarena tequila, a brand new one for me. See extra about them right here.
Casa Dragones Reposado
We’ve posted a evaluate of Casa Dragones Joven previously and I ought to be an enormous fan of this model since they’re based mostly proper down the street from me in San Miguel de Allende. I’ve had bother getting previous the price-to-payoff ratio although as I’ve discovered others I like higher at half the worth and the bottle isn’t all that spectacular.
I used to be happy with this Casa Dragones reposado although, aged in Japanese oak barrels as a substitute of the same old American or French. That offers it a bit totally different nostril and end than the same old.
It most likely didn’t harm that it was paired with a scrumptious lobster croquette with chipotle sauce, a mouth-watering mixture. I’m nonetheless not able to go plop down three figures for it, however I actually loved making an attempt one other one from their secure at this tequila tasting.
Clase Azul Tequila Gold (Joven)
For those who keep in a luxurious resort in Mexico wherever, you’re certain to see Clase Azul bottles on show in outstanding positions within the bar areas and eating places. The reason being, they’re among the prettiest bottles round, together with the ever present white and blue hand-painted porcelain bottles they promote essentially the most of with their reposado model inside. You possibly can see our evaluate of it at that hyperlink.
I had by no means tried this Gold model although and it’s one thing you don’t see so usually within the tequila world: a “joven” mix of three totally different growing older ranges. Let’s take it from the supply on this one:
This joven tequila combines Clase Azul Tequila Plata, a particular reposado tequila matured in French oak casks and an additional añejo completed in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.
That’s so much happening on this gold and black bottle, which is supposed to evoke a Mexican sundown. My tasting information Felipe defined that every little thing you see on a Clase Azul bottle has some form of symbolism concerned. I additionally realized one thing new: the stopper on the high is a bell, meant to be dinged when it’s time to begin pouring.
This mix was extra cohesive than I anticipated. Reasonably that making a conflict, the assorted tasting parts performed nicely off one another and the entire actually was higher than its particular person elements. One criticism I’ve heard of their reposado model is that it’s too candy, higher for dessert than for informal sipping. This mix tones that down somewhat and the anejo provides extra heft. It was particularly good with the fish taco that magically appeared, with avocado and pico de gallo.
Tasting Spherical 2: Premium Anejo
While you begin moving into the tequila manufacturers you see going for $150, $300, or extra at obligation free, these are often going to be anejo or additional anejo ones which have spent at the very least a yr growing older, plus they’re in some form of particular bottle that’s going to look spectacular as a present. Typically you’re paying for the packaging as a lot as what’s inside, however the most effective ones stay as much as the primary impression.
Generally, añejo tequila have to be aged a couple of yr (the utmost for a reposado) and a most of three, in barrels that maintain 600 liters max. (So no large picket barrels such as you typically see used for wine or cider.) Those tagged as additional añejo should spend at the very least three years within the barrel. You must attempt one among these when you’re a fan of aged rum, Scotch, bourbon, or cognac.
There’s probably not a most, however in Mexico’s local weather, when you get previous 5 years it begins to turn into counter-productive. The barrel flavors overpower the spirit.
Right here’s what we tried from the older manufacturers.
Maestro Dobel Atelier
We’ve written about Maestro Dobel earlier than and whereas they’re greatest identified for kicking off the Cristalino gimmick of bleaching out aged tequila making it look clear, we do like their reposado and añejo variations that we’ve tried.
It is a Cuervo model, however as with Reserva de la Familia, there’s a component of collectability with this Maestro Dobel Atelier launch. “This one is supposed to honor the charros,” stated my bartender Hugo as he poured, the Mexican cowboys you see competing in rodeo-like competitions throughout Mexico. It is available in a reasonably hand-painted bottle that actually stands out from the gang on the shelf. There are 5 totally different variations annually, throughout a special theme. (The 2023 model honors the boats utilized in Xochimilco, exterior of Mexico Metropolis. The 2021 bottles had been impressed by piñatas.)
This spirit retails for $199, so I used to be anticipating large issues, and it did style dearer and sophisticated than your standard aged tequila. It was a bit spicier than the norm and the character actually modified because it moved throughout the tongue, with a pleasant lingering sweetness on the finish that paired nicely with the fried shrimp it got here with. It is available in a pleasant present field when you’re shopping for it at retail.
Gran Centenario Gallardo
For those who see this one in a bar and also you’re able to throw down some money to have fun, you might not need to hesitate. For those who go to the online web page for this specific premium tequila, there’s a sign-up for to get on a notification listing for when it turns into accessible once more. After they say “restricted version,” they imply it. A 2024 article I discovered on-line stated, “There are solely 679 bottles at the moment accessible to retailers within the U.S.”
So this was an actual deal with throughout our premium tequila tasting and it actually elevated the entire expeirence. It obtained to attempt one thing I’m not very more likely to run throughout once more — or pay for because it’s $600 for a bottle. What a high quality bottle it’s although, particularly when you’re a fan of Artwork Deco model. It positively stands out as a departure from the norm. See pics and extra about it right here.
Gran Centenario is a part of the Centenario Tequila assortment, which is the alternative of uncommon on the low finish. We’ve reviewed it earlier than as a result of it’s one of many best manufacturers to seek out in Mexico, possibly the most effective vendor in that nation among the many 100% blue agave choices, relying on whose press launch you imagine. The model is a part of the portfolio of the world’s largest producer, similar to the one above, the home of Cuervo.
As we’ve stated many occasions earlier than, don’t decide Jose Cuervo by its namesake mixto headache producer that’s not 100% agave. The manufacturers they make which are pure agave, which is most of them, are fairly good. This Gallardo tequila is among the greatest ones I’ve tasted all yr, so I’m glad they saved it for final.
I form of cringed somewhat when Felipe poured it over an enormous dense ice dice since we’re so conditioned to assume {that a} premium darkish spirit ought to be sipped neat. “It’s actually sizzling on this open-air foyer within the afternoon,” Felipe stated, “so it’s refreshing to have this on ice as a substitute together with your dessert. Belief me, you’ll prefer it.”
He was proper: it tasted downright excellent this manner. The additional añejo tequila, a mix of barrels aged for 3 to 5 years, actually benefitted from the ice taking somewhat of the oak edge off together with the pairing of chocolate cake with dulce de leche. Yum!
As you’d most likely count on, this premium tequila tasting with meals pairings will not be low cost. A few of these tequila manufacturers individually price three figures for a shot when you order off the menu and right here you’re getting 5 samplings. For those who’re a tequila lover although, that is heaven. See extra particulars at the St. Regis actions web page.
Concerning the St. Regis Punta Mita
Whereas there are fairly a number of resorts north of Puerto Vallarta which have “Punta de Mita” of their identify, solely two of them are literally contained in the manned gates of the upscale Punta Mita growth of lots of of prime acres. It’s the place a few of Mexico’s most unique villas are positioned and the place you’ll be able to play two of the most effective golf programs on the Pacific Coast exterior of Baja. One of many two luxurious motels you’ll be able to keep in there may be The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.
The 4 Seasons opened on the very finish of the final century, when just a few properties had been dotted across the space and solely one of many golf programs was completed. By the point the St. Regis Punta Mita got here alongside, the unique gated neighborhood was a lot additional alongside and phrase was getting out. We reviewed the property quickly after it opened and have gone again twice. This time we had been checking it out after a significant $45 million renovation. Chill together with your favourite beverage and are available alongside on a property tour!
The important thing promoting factors of this resort are nonetheless in place. It’s on a stunning stretch of ocean going through an offshore island, there are three lovely infinity swimming pools going through the ocean, and all of the rooms on this oceanfront luxurious resort have a large furnished balcony or terrace to get pleasure from.
This resort spreads out alongside the water and has a seaside to itself, however it’s compact sufficient to get round on foot. That is particularly simple when you’re staying at one of many beachfront villas with its personal plunge pool and kitchen. When it’s time to enterprise out, you simply go left, proper, or up the hill to have a selection of a number of eating places. These vary from a beachfront toes-in-the-sand place for lunch to high-end Carolina, the place the tasting menu with wine pairings is pleasant.
There’s a full spa right here that may aid you to calm down much more. It is a romantic spot that hosts many celebratory events and the staffers have an extended listing of how you’ll be able to create a memorable trip for 2.
One distinctive facet at this St. Regis resort is the devoted butler program, the place one individual is your essential contact all through the keep, caring for all of your wants. Positive, typically there can be a butler #2 when the primary will get a day without work, however both means you’re speaking by means of WhatsApp to get what you should make your keep great.
St. Regis is a part of the Marriott household, so you’ll be able to earn or money in loyalty factors right here, an enormous benefit for enterprise vacationers who’ve elite standing. As a visitor right here, you may have entry to the golf programs and tennis heart amenities within the advanced, each off-limits to most people.
See our full evaluate of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Riviera Nayarit.