Most of the greatest tequila manufacturers that win blind tasting awards are priced at a traditional degree and are put into bottles that don’t wow anybody. That is much more true for mezcal, which is perhaps in a bottle that doesn’t actually have a label if you happen to purchase it in Oaxaca. So after I see a model like Tequila Solarum that’s constructed on spectacular packaging and gimmicky product strains, I’m skeptical from the beginning. I had the possibility to provide it a good shot with a full-blown tasting although, so right here’s my assessment of how that turned out.
To start with, we couldn’t have requested for a extra elegant setting for our tasting that on the massive bar terrace of Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets and techniques. This dramatic property, which cascades down a cliff to the beautiful sea and pier advanced, arrange this tasting with a view simply because the solar was making its manner towards the horizon. We began out with the common tequila whereas it was nonetheless daylight, then switched to their signature product at sundown, which made sense contemplating its attributes that I’ll get into in a minute.
All of the whereas we have been socializing with enjoyable individuals and nibbling on good meals whereas our Solarum Tequila host defined the model story and what we might be tasting: their blanco, reposado, and anejo choices. Then the show-stopper signature tequila that prices much more.
Customary Tequila Solarum Tasting Notes
The type of spirit you want is a really private selection that always has little to do with inherent high quality. One individual’s “greatest bourbon ever” could also be Maker’s Mark as a result of they like the flavour profile and telling them that some award-winning fancy model that prices thrice as a lot is best goes to ring hole for them.
So take what I say as simply my very own opinion, although I’ve most likely tasted extra tequila manufacturers than 99.9% of the inhabitants. We began out with the Solarum Plata and for me this was the most effective of the bunch. This tequila is made out of agave grown within the highlands of Jalisco and this one had some good floral overtones, natural notes, and a bit much less pepper than you get within the lowlands. It was a stable tequila that may maintain as much as most others on the market.
The reposado is what I’d usually purchase for on a regular basis use however this one solely spent two months in oak barrels, which made it style to me like a tequila that wasn’t positive what it needed to be when it grew up. It felt adolescent as a substitute of totally developed and I wrote “cantina tequila” in my notes.
The Solarum Añejo was extra balanced, with 12 months in oak for it to search out its footing and grow to be refined sufficient to sip after dinner. I loved it right through the glass, however it had extra of a bit than most aged tequilas from Los Altos, with much less leveling-out than I’d count on and a harsher alcohol-forward nostril than you normally get with one thing aged this lengthy in oak. In all equity although, it retails for underneath $50, so it’s a good worth.
Succession Flashbacks With Flecks of Gold
One in all my favourite episodes of the nice TV present Succession was Episode 6 when boss man Tom takes his protege Greg out for an evening in town in New York. They eat at a restaurant the place Greg asks why there aren’t any costs on the menu and Tom solutions, “As a result of they’re insane!” They go hang around alone in a VIP space of a membership, overlooking the individuals dancing, and Greg asks why what their photographs have flecks of gold in them. Tom says one thing to the impact of, “As a result of we’re wealthy!”
Tom reveals a number of occasions all through the collection that he’s impressed by outward indicators of wealth, even after they’re goofy, like gold flecks in a drink which are solely going to finish up getting flushed down the bathroom a day or two later. That’s what you get with Solarum’s signature providing, a “further añejo cristalino” tequila full of flakes of 24-caret gold, retailing for round $90 in Mexico. So the liquor has been handled to eradicate the colour from the barrel getting older after which a pinch of gold, perhaps from the hand of fairies, went into the concoction.
At a time when gold is buying and selling at $3,356 per ounce as I write this, I’m a bit torn about really feel about this package deal, which I’ve received to confess is kind of hanging. On the one hand it looks as if a discount if you happen to simply need to pull one thing out at a celebration that may get individuals speaking. Alternatively this looks as if an ostentatious waste, even whether it is simply gold leaf. I stored reflecting on these blended emotions as our host at this tequila tasting poured from a lit-up bottle meant to point out off the dear steel shavings going into our glasses.
However hey, in an surroundings when a brand new model of tequila appears to pop up each month, half of these new ones endorsed by celebrities, you’ve received to do one thing to face out. Being nice isn’t sufficient, particularly if you wish to woo the younger cocktail crowd, so that you’ve received to discover a advertising gimmick that may assist the children keep in mind your identify subsequent time they’re in a bar.
Solarum Tequila positively employed a great advertising and packaging company as a result of their merchandise look stunning. Beautiful bins, good bottles, caps which have some heft, and a emblem with a cool background story. Perhaps all that, mixed with gimmicks like valuable metals floating into your glass, will probably be sufficient to succeed.
However what concerning the high quality of what’s inside? If I closed my eyes and ignored the gold, the 24K bleached further anejo didn’t style any higher (or extra pure) than comparable ones I’ve tried like Don Julio 70 and Tequila Cosmico. It’s simply that on this case, you’ve received a trick inside a trick, which might be simply what some showy partiers are searching for.
See extra at the official web site right here (Spanish solely). As greatest as I can inform, this model will not be obtainable within the USA on the time of writing, however most likely will probably be later. In Vegas not less than…
