Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/118688
CATEGORY REPORT Sparkle Donkey Tequila O ur unanimous pick for the most unforgettable tequila priced in the low $20s is Sparkle Donkey. Great juice at a reasonable price makes the brand a rare commodity. Sparkle Donkey is 100% agave, crafted at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila in the town of Tequila. The agaves used are harvested from both the Valley and the Los Altos Highlands. Their spiny leaves—pencas—are trimmed away close to the heart of the agave to prevent the finished spirit from developing a waxy or oily taste. The agaves are slowly baked in traditional brick ovens (hornos) and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Water used in production is drawn from the Volcán de Tequila spring that runs directly underneath the distillery. Sparkle Donkey goes through a unique oxygenation process, giving the spirit a silky smooth finish. An excellent tequila to sip neat, Sparkle Donkey Silver is highly aromatic and brimming with fruity, herbaceous flavors. Sparkle Donkey Reposado is matured for eight months in charred American oak barrels used previously to age bourbon. The distillery was able to transfer vintage barrels from Kentucky and fill them within 24 hours to keep the barrels wet. The result is a delicious Reposado that has sweet vanilla and caramel flavors often associated with a bourbon. The brand name, which is "steeped in Mexican lore," makes it an easy product to remember—the Sparkle Donkey website goes deep into this alleged history. Its quality and character makes it impossible to forget. www.sparkledonkey.com Black Rock Spirits BRILLIANT BLANCOS Fans of sipping blanco tequilas will welcome the arrival of Cabeza Tequila, from noted mixologists Simon Ford and Dushan Zaric. The crystal clear spirit is handcrafted from agaves cultivated on the Vicanco family's 800-acre estate in the Los Altos region. The harvested agaves are baked in brick ovens at the distillery, and fermentation only takes place during the winter months to create a fruitier, agave-forward spirit. The 86-proof Cabeza Blanco has a velvety textured body, an earthy, vegetal nose and a citrus and black pepper finish. The 86 Company Riazul Tequila is made at Compañia Tequilera de Arandas in the Highlands using state-of-the-art techniques such as double-distilling in both a copper pot still and a stainless column still and then oxygenating the tequila prior to bottling. The result is worth the effort: Riazul Plata has a silky texture and a vivacious, semisweet palate. The range also includes a nine-monthold Reposado and an Añejo aged 24 months in French oak. Riazul Imports Another Highland import attracting attention is Piedra Azul. The crystalline Piedra Azul Blanco has a mediumweight, slightly viscous body and a bouquet of dates, cloves and ground pepper. On the palate the tequila is dry and spicy with a long, delectably fruity finish. Underdog Wine and Spirits 146 146 / the tasting panel / april 2013 /