Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/29638
SAN FRANCISCO: En Fuego in Fog City uervo is the real face of Mexico,” says Sandra Tafur, Manager of Mexico DF, a bustling Mexico City–themed restaurant where authenticity reigns supreme, and dancers and art direct from Mexico City help set the scene. “When you go to Mexico City, there is Cuervo Tradicional frozen everywhere . . . everywhere!” she continues. “C Having conquered Mexico, Cuervo’s decades-long love affair North of the Border is on full dis- play here, creating a demand for Cuervo so strong at Mexico DF that on my first visit, the well had literally run dry, and customers—and cer- tainly Tafur—were anxiously awaiting a new shipment. Popularity aside, what drives Tafur’s loyalty is Cuervo’s portfolio-wide authenticity, quality and consistency, with a few shining standouts. “I like that for the premium brands, the Platino and the Reserva de la Familia are well-executed tequilas,” she says. A moment later, on further consideration, she asserts, “I believe Reserva de la Familia is by far the best tequila on the market.” A few blocks away, Carlos Delgado, Manager of Maya, an upscale eatery with a Cuervo-driven cocktail program, notes that the restaurant has been serving Cuervo products since day one, over ten years ago. “In this market, that says a lot,” he says. Like Tafur, Delgado has turned to Cuervo Platino, which shines in a Cucumber Margarita, and Cuervo Reserva de la Familia, the main ingredient in a popular super-premium Margarita. Mexico DF Manager Sandra Tafur. —Andrew Faulkner Platino Made with 100% estate- grown blue agave, everything about Jose Cuervo Platino is handcrafted, from the individually-numbered hand- blown bottles, to the hand- dipped wax seal and elegant packaging. Reserva de la Familia The Cuervo brand’s finest tequila is made from a secret family recipe and born out of the finest hand-selected, ten-year-old agave plants on the estate. Since its release in 1995, each bottle’s hand- crafted wooden box has been designed by a local Mexican artist. Jose Cuervo is imported by Diageo North America CHICAGO: Tequila’s First in the Second City S ince it opened in 2004, Chicago residents have turned to Salud Tequila Lounge in the city’s Wicker Park neighbor- hood, where customers pick Cuervo out of an extensive tequila list and cocktail menu. “With so much great history, Jose Cuervo offers a variety of 100% agave tequilas that we feature,” says Adam Geenen, General Manager. “Whether making a Margarita with the Cuervo Tradicional Silver, a Paloma with the Cuervo Tradicional Reposado, a Bandera with Jose Cuervo Platino or simply sipping on a Reserva de la Familia Extra Añejo in a snifter, we are able to offer our customers a unique experi- ence with all of the 100% agave tequilas in the Jose Cuervo portfolio.” —R. B. Adam Geenen, GM of Chicago’s Salud. april 201 1 / the tasting panel / 93 PHOTO: TOM CLARK PHOTO: ANDREW FAULKNER PHOTO: LEIGH CASTELLI