Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/376390
september 2014 / the tasting panel / 89 CAMPEÓN SILVER TEQUILA It's actually a simple proposition: Distillers who handcraft their tequilas using traditional techniques produce more flavorful and higher quality spirits. Such is the case with ultra-savory Campeón Silver Tequila. Fans of sipping tequilas neat will appreciate Campeón Silver (Campéon is Spanish for "Champion"). The brand is made from mature agaves grown in the high altitudes of the eastern Highlands. After harvesting, the agaves are brought to the distillery, where they are steam-cooked in brick ovens at low temperatures, a practice that ensures the plants' starches are fully metabolized into fermentable sugar. The juice is fermented using a proprietary strain of yeast before being double-distilled in a copper pot still. A quick sniff, sip and swallow and you'll be a fan. "Campeón is stylistically crafted to be fruit forward and soft on the palate, highlighting the exceptional quality of our agaves," notes John Palatella, President of The Legacy Group, producer of Campeón Tequila. "Like all of our tequilas, Campeón Silver is complex and perfectly balanced. It's a sensational tequila whether consumed neat or mixed in cocktails." Campeón enjoys a starring role in the Maragateq, a twist on the classic cocktail Maragato Especial, which was created by Emilio "Maragato" Gonzales, lead bartender at El Floridita in Havana, Cuba, during the 1920s. In the Maragateq, the light rum called for in the original is replaced with Campeón Silver. It's a good move, as the earthy, peppery and vegetal flavors in the tequila marry perfectly with the fresh citrus and tandem vermouths. Adding a flamed orange peel is the finishing touch. Says Palatella, "The Maragateq demonstrates the versatility of Campeón Silver Tequila. We wanted to pay homage to a true classic cocktail with significant historical pedigree, all the while taking into consideration ease and speed of execution." The range also includes Campeón Reposado, which is aged six to eight months in small American white oak barrels once used to age bourbon, and Campeón Añejo, a light yet sophisticated tequila barrel-aged for 16 to 18 months. Both are floral, spicy and loaded with nuance. THE LEGACY GROUP Maragateq Cocktail Livio Lauro, Southern Wine & Spirits, Las Vegas ◗ 2 oz. Campeón Silver Tequila ◗ ½ oz. sweet vermouth ◗ ½ oz. dry vermouth ◗ 2 oz. fresh orange juice ◗ Splash fresh lime juice ◗ Dash Maraschino liqueur ◗ Flamed orange peel garnish ◗ Combine all of the ingredients (except orange peel) in an iced mixing glass. Shake contents vigorously and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.