We run quite a lot of spirits opinions 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 bought the prospect to do a premium tequila tasting with an skilled Mexican bartender and a tequila knowledgeable, I jumped on it and made certain to take plenty of notes.
We’ve posted a brand new evaluation of the St. Regis Punta Mita and the place is trying nice after a latest $45 million renovation. A part of that went into revamping the foyer and going from conventional to extra up to date in the feel and appear. On the finish of the foyer is a superb bar with 117 forms of 100% blue agave tequila bottles.
We actually went top-shelf with this tasting although, making an attempt issues which are normally not going to indicate up on the swim-up bar at an all-inclusive resort. A few of them you possibly can’t even discover in a retailer.
A Premium Tequila Tasting Flight Spherical 1: Silver and Reposado
For these tequila tastings, I bought a pour in a perfect glass for tasting tequila and there was some sort of small chunk plate accompanying it that the planners paired. This additionally served to cleanse the palate between bottles.
As typical with tequila tastings, we began with the youngest and moved to the one with probably the most time within the barrel. We tasted a silver/white tequila with no growing old then moved on to reposado, joven (a mix), añejo, and further añejo.
Santarena Natural Silver
We began out with one thing the place the agave shines by, with no time growing old in a barrel. Santarena Silver tequila is without doubt one of 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 an alternative of only a distiller, creating batches of tequila comprised of single agave fields, no mixing and matching from completely different areas. They’re additionally a low-volume producer consequently. The most important rounds they produce are simply 6,000 bottles, whereas some are lower than 2,000. So you probably have an opportunity to do this, it’s a uncommon deal with.
Our sampling was from the Piedra batch of 2020, quantity 254 of two,066. Additionally they make a kosher model!
This was a really easy silver tequila that goes down simple, however has loads of delicate taste hints that shine by. It additionally got here with a beautiful ceviche tostada that seemed as fairly because it tasted. We had been off to an excellent begin with Santarena tequila, a brand new one for me. See extra about them right here.
Casa Dragones Reposado
We’ve posted a evaluation of Casa Dragones Joven previously and I needs to be a giant fan of this model since they’re primarily based proper down the street from me in San Miguel de Allende. I’ve had hassle 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 an alternative of the same old American or French. That offers it a bit completely 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 steady at this tequila tasting.
Clase Azul Tequila Gold (Joven)
Should you keep in a luxurious resort in Mexico anyplace, 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 probably the most of with their reposado model inside. You possibly can see our evaluation 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 typically within the tequila world: a “joven” mix of three completely different growing old 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 rather a lot happening on this gold and black bottle, which is supposed to evoke a Mexican sundown. My tasting information Felipe defined that all the things you see on a Clase Azul bottle has some sort of symbolism concerned. I additionally discovered one thing new: the stopper on the prime is a bell, meant to be dinged when it’s time to begin pouring.
This mix was extra cohesive than I anticipated. Quite that making a conflict, the assorted tasting components performed effectively 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 a little bit 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
Whenever you begin entering into the tequila manufacturers you see going for $150, $300, or extra at obligation free, these are normally going to be anejo or further anejo ones which have spent at the least a yr growing old, plus they’re in some sort of particular bottle that’s going to look spectacular as a present. Usually you’re paying for the packaging as a lot as what’s inside, however the perfect ones reside as much as the primary impression.
Usually, 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 further añejo should spend at the least three years within the barrel. You must strive one in all 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 change 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 finest recognized 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 basically stands out from the gang on the shelf. There are 5 completely different variations annually, throughout a unique 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 massive issues, and it did style dearer and complicated than your typical 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 effectively 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
Should you see this one in a bar and also you’re able to throw down some money to rejoice, it’s possible you’ll not wish to hesitate. Should you go to the online web page for this specific premium tequila, there’s a sign-up for to get on a notification checklist 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 present 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 bought to strive 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 undoubtedly 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 other of uncommon on the low finish. We’ve reviewed it earlier than as a result of it’s one of many best manufacturers to search out in Mexico, possibly the perfect 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 without doubt one of the finest ones I’ve tasted all yr, so I’m glad they saved it for final.
I sort of cringed a little bit when Felipe poured it over a giant dense ice dice since we’re so conditioned to assume {that a} premium darkish spirit needs 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 an alternative along with your dessert. Belief me, you’ll prefer it.”
He was proper: it tasted downright good this fashion. The additional añejo tequila, a mix of barrels aged for 3 to 5 years, actually benefitted from the ice taking a little bit 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 isn’t low-cost. A few of these tequila manufacturers individually value three figures for a shot when you order off the menu and right here you’re getting 5 samplings. Should you’re a tequila lover although, that is heaven. See extra particulars at the St. Regis actions web page.
In regards to the St. Regis Punta Mita
Whereas there are fairly just a few resorts north of Puerto Vallarta which have “Punta de Mita” of their title, 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 situated and the place you possibly can play two of the perfect golf programs on the Pacific Coast exterior of Baja. One of many two luxurious lodges you possibly can keep in there’s 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. Sit back along 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 beautiful 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 alternative 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 assist you to chill out much more. It is a romantic spot that hosts many celebratory events and the staffers have a protracted checklist of the way you possibly can create a memorable trip for 2.
One distinctive side at this St. Regis resort is the devoted butler program, the place one individual is your major contact all through the keep, caring for all of your wants. Positive, typically there shall be a butler #2 when the primary will get a day without work, however both manner you’re speaking by WhatsApp to get what it’s essential make your keep great.
St. Regis is a part of the Marriott household, so you possibly can earn or money in loyalty factors right here, a giant benefit for enterprise vacationers who’ve elite standing. As a visitor right here, you will have entry to the golf programs and tennis middle amenities within the complicated, each off-limits to most people.
See our full evaluation of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Riviera Nayarit.