Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/41419
CATEGORY REPORT Sino Silver Tequila ($34.99) One of the great aspects of the expansion of the tequila market is space for smaller, independent producers to bring unique products to market. Judy Rivera dreamed of making tequila, and when she shared this dream with her friends they replied, "Si no trata, no gana," which translates to "If you don't try, you won't win." She took that as inspiration and along with her girlfriend Melly Barajas, owner of the only 100% female-owned and -operated tequila distillery in Mexico, came up with Sino Tequila, a distinctively light and smooth silver tequila. Rivera has been running the brand without the back- ing of any large companies or investors, which "makes it tougher, but more rewarding in the end." Even though Sino Tequila is a small company, it still donates $1 from every bottle it sells to Latino Arts Network, a non-profit that supports local artists, galleries, and community centers in lower economic areas. Sino Tequila has a light slightly floral note with undertones of fresh agave. The entry is smooth and sweet with a delightful mouthfeel. Sino picks up a little heat in the mid palate along with some nice white pepper tones. The finish is long and slightly sweet with a wonderful mini pepper kick at the end. Artá Silver Tequila ($40) Artá Silver stands out on the back bar from other tequilas with its unique triangular bottle and color- ful label. It's a fusion of modern and traditional that mirrors the company behind it. Started in 2009 by David Fox, a Silicon Valley software entrepreneur, Artá brings together a very modern spirits company with an 11th -generation agave ranching family and a third- generation Master Distiller. The bottle, made from 100% recycled materials, is just one of the many sustain- able and charitable aspects of this company. Artá donates one percent of all its profits to charities in the places they do business. The nose on the Artá Silver is very sweet and floral with a hint of olive. The entry is extremely soft, smooth and flavorful, with stand-out fresh agave notes along with some nice citrus and honey. In the mid-palate there's a solid green pepper note along with a subtle honey pineapple. The finish is long, soft and sweet with the slightest hint of salt. 100 / the tasting panel / september 201 1 Azuñia Platinum Blanco Tequila ($40–$50) Intersect Beverage CEO Jim Riley wanted a tequila produced in a very traditional way, so he turned to Sergio Zuniga. Zuniga's family has been producing tequila for more than 75 years using traditional methods like clay hornos ovens, open-air fermenta- tion and pot still distillation. The result is Azuñia Platinum Blanco. Jim Riley sees a huge opportunity in the marketplace for smaller brands to make a big impact. "Tequila is not only an artisanal spirit, it's a very mixable spirit, and consum- ers are realizing it's a user friendly product." Created from agave sourced from the small lowland town of Amatitán, Azuñia tequila has a distinctly citrus quality. The nose on the Azuñia Platinum Blanco is floral combined with a nice undertone of lemon. The entry is soft and lightly sweet with a floral bouquet that is backed by solid citrus. Things build in the mid-palate with some nice spice, including black pepper. The finish is long and sweet with a slightly bitter cit- rus note like lime peel. Azuñia is both a nice smooth sipping tequila and a good mixing tequila that pairs exceptionally well with citrus-based tequila cocktails. Alderete Tequila ($48) Farming is an incredibly important component of tequila, and it's an industry that the Alderete family knows very well. The Alderete family runs a harvest- ing company in the U.S. but looked to their roots in Mexico for their latest venture, Alderete Tequila. Bringing along modern farming and irrigation practices used in the United States, they worked closely with Mexican farmers to produce an exceptional Highland tequila. "A large number of people who work for us in our harvesting company come from Mexico, so we wanted to produce something that they would enjoy and be proud of," explains Ronnie Alderete. The nose is light and slightly spicy. There's an ethereal quality to the nose that is incredibly inviting. The entry is silky soft and smooth with a slightly sweet quality. The core of the Alderete Tequila unfolds in the mid- palate with an herbal quality that's absolutely seductive. It grabs a little heat towards the finish, enough to leave your palate tingling.