Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/118688
CATEGORY REPORT El Cartel Silver Tequila W hile many brands have beautiful bottles, El Cartel Silver Tequila itself is absolutely riveting. Its unique feature is the gold flakes floating in the tequila. Sure, you've seen other spirits and liqueurs that contain gold, but in each case the flakes quickly settle on the bottom. Not so with El Cartel. Its flakes literally defy gravity and stay suspended motionless in the tequila. The effect is mesmerizing. After harvesting, the agaves are baked in brick ovens and slowly fermented using natural, airborne yeast. The tequila is then triple-distilled in pot stills and rested in stainless steel vats before being bottled at 80 proof. El Cartel Silver has more than good looks going for it—it has an enticing floral bouquet and a smooth entry that quickly fills the mouth with warm spicy flavors. As for the gold flakes, you can't perceive them on your tongue and they are completely safe to consume—gold is non-reactive and edible. El Cartel Blanco is similar to the El Cartel Silver version, yet different. Aside from not containing gold flakes, it is double-distilled, which produces a slightly fuller bodied spirit. The crystal clear tequila is an aromatic and delightfully spicy tequila. www.elcarteltequila.com El Cartel Holdings 150 / the tasting panel / april 2013 Wild Shot Silver Mezcal is the brainchild of country recording artist Toby Keith. The 100% agave spirit is distilled at Distelleria La Perla in San Luis Potosi, Oaxaca from mountainous green Salmiana agaves. The agaves are harvested by hand, baked in brick ovens for two days and allowed to slowly ferment. It is then doubledistilled in copper pot stills and bottled at 86.8. As is tradition, Wild Shot Silver contains a mezcal worm—gusano rojo—in the bottle. According to Keith, the worm is there to be tasted and experienced. Shaw-Ross International Importers Los Amantes Mezcal is handmade in Tiacolula, a town located 20 minutes from Oaxaca City. It's crafted from espadin agaves that are slowly roasted in a stone-lined pit and fermented using a proprietary strain of yeast. Los Amantes Joven is triple-distilled to produce a satiny, lightweight mezcal with an earthy, zesty palate with subtle smoky notes. The Los Amantes Reposado is double-distilled and matured in new white oak barrels for six months. It's an elegant spirit with an almond/mocha flavor. Palm Bay International