Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/19027
THE MESSAGE he old-school labels and longneck bottles of Dulce Vida tequila look straight out of a Clint Eastwood western. These tequilas are also navy strength, weighing in at 100 proof, which adds edginess to the fi nal product. But Dulce Vida is organic and distilled with great care in San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, Jalisco, and each features only the center cut for the smoothest fi nish. Dulce Vida in Austin T This naughty-nice combination took home the Double Gold at THE TASTING PANEL’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which explains Dulce Vida’s COO Richard Sorenson’s enthusiasm: “It’s a white hot market for craft distillers like ourselves.” Sorenson and CEO Charlie Paulette recently met us in Austin, Texas, at Maria Maria, a regional Mexican restaurant known for its modern culinary fl air—a perfect spot, since its updated Mexican cuisine mirrors what Dulce Vida is doing for tequila. “We bring forward as much agave as we can. I call it the IPA of tequila because it has so much fl avor,” says Paulette, who formerly worked in the craft beer industry. In addition to those pure agave notes, Dulce Vida’s spicy botanicals make this spirit as exciting neat as it is in a cocktail. —Anthony Head www.dulcevidaspirits.com Dulce Vida’s Richard Sorenson and Charlie Paulette. Staglin Family Music Festival: Wine and Music for a Cause T he 16th annual Staglin Family Music Festival for Mental Health was held on Saturday, September 11, in Rutherford, Napa Valley. Started in 1995 after the Staglins’ son Brandon was diagnosed with schizophre- nia, the festival has raised over $114 million for mental health research. This year’s event raised $2.5 million and included a scientifi c symposium, a wine tasting of 76 wineries in the Staglin caves, a concert by Dwight Yoakam, an appearance by Glenn Close and a dinner pre- oakam, an appearance by Glen Close and a dinner pre- pared by Chef Jon Bonnell. It is the top mental health fundraising event in America; the money raised funds research to fi nd better treatments, and hopefully cures, for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. For more information, visit www.imhro.org. Left to right: Garen Staglin, Dwight Yoakam, Glenn Close, Rusty Staub and John Thompson, Chairman of Symantec, at the post-concert VIP dinner at the Staglin Family Music Festival for Mental Health. 1 / the tasting panel / november 2010 PHOTO: JASON TINACCI PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO: ANTHONY HEAD PHOTO: ANTHONY HEAD