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Continue reading →: Sharing Spirits & Lessons Learned: Part 1Spirits are best shared – that’s what they’re for. Bottles aren’t for people to stare at on the shelf. I’m preparing a set of 21 sample bottles of selected tequilas and whiskies (all single malts) for two folks, one who likes tequila but who hasn’t yet delved too far into…
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Continue reading →: New Bottle Highlight Series: El Tesoro Añejo TequilaNot a “new” new bottle per se, but a newly opened new bottle of El Tesoro Añejo – This batch is from Lote (lot/batch) A-017 bottled on 19 February 2024 and overseen by master distiller Carlos Camarena who has since handed over full reins of the distillery, Tequila Tapatio/La Alteña…
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Continue reading →: SHORT REVIEW: The Glenlivet 15-Year French Oak Reserve Single Malt Scotch WhiskyThe Glenlivet is one of the world’s two top best-selling scotch whiskies. The Speyside brand’s 15-year-old French Oak Reserve is aged in new French Limousin Oak sourced from the rural Dordogne region in southwestern France. The oak’s low density enables the distillate to penetrate deeply into the wood, absorbing more…
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Continue reading →: New Bottle Highlight Series: Gracias a Dios Espadín Reposado Mezcal ArtesanalProduced at the distillery (palenque) of 4th generation mezcal master distiller Oscar Hernández in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, this mezcal is made from mature, 8-year-old Espadín/Angustifolia agave. It is aged for 2-3 months in American White Oak barrels, taking on aspects of light wood aging without losing the punchy earthiness of…
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Continue reading →: New Bottle Highlight Series: Código 1530 Blanco Tequila (First Full-Sized Bottle)There’s nothing more exciting on my spirits exploration journey than taking stock of palate evolution and development over time. Código 1530 Blanco was one of the very first traditionally made tequilas that I tried very early on in my agave spirits journey. At the time, its earthiness, pepperiness, and anise…
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Continue reading →: New Bottle Highlight Series: Tequila Ocho Plata – 2025, La Mesa EstateTequila Ocho is one of the absolute best made tequilas on the market today. Produced under the supervision of master distiller Carlos Camarena at distillery Tequilera Los Alambiques (NOM 1174) in Arandas in the Jalisco highlands, the brand uses only mature Blue Weber agaves 7-10-years-old. The harvested agaves are cooked…
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Continue reading →: SHORT REVIEW: Zumbador Reposado TequilaZumbador is a new budget-friendly tequila brand produced at distillery El Sabino (NOM 1643) in Jesús María in the Jalisco highlands by master distiller Roberto Lopez Anaya, a fourth-generation agave farmer and tequila producer. The brand uses 5½-year-old Blue Weber agave grown at 6,922 feet above sea level and cooked…
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Continue reading →: Using Tequila/Agave Spirits & Whiskies for a Grad School Seminar Discussion on Identifying Logical FallaciesFor a seminar discussion with my students on identifying logical fallacies in arguments, I wrote a one-page essay chock full of logical fallacies of argument. In small groups, the students discussed & identified these fallacies – they were on fire. We then reconvened as a class & discussed the fallacies…
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Continue reading →: New Bottle Highlight Series: Wild Common Still Strength Blanco TequilaProduced at distillery Cascahuín (NOM 1123) by master distiller Salvador “Chava” Rosales Trejo in El Arenal in the Valley region of Jalisco, Wild Common Still Strength Blanco is bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). It is made using mature Valley Blue Weber agave plants known for their more herbal/vegetal flavors.…
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Continue reading →: New Bottle Highlight Series: Tequila Ocho Reposado – 2024, Tierras Negras Estate*Produced by distillery Tequilera Los Alambiques (NOM 1474), Arandas, Jalisco, by master distiller Carlos Camarena *Agave 7-10 years old (fully mature) used *Stone/brick (clay) oven cooked (48 hours + 24 hours cooling off) *Roller mill extraction of the aguamiel *Wild yeast fermentation (open wooden tanks) for 100 hours *2x-distilled (small…
Documenting my journey into agave spirits along with a smattering of other spirits after many, many years away – This blog is meant to take note of this journey including tasting notes, bottle photography, and other related topics.
Agave Spirits+ Journey 