Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/118688
Maestro Dobel: A Talk-of-the-Town Tequila L ike a high-end wine, Maestro Dobel Silver Tequila ($27) prides itself on both its terroir and unique methods in the distillery. It's made from 100% blue agave sourced from small estates in the Highlands of Mexico, where the rich soils give the tequila a smooth and subtle sweetness. At the distillery, the tequila is stored in Hungarian white oak barrels for specified aging. Reposado, Añejo and Extra-Añejo tequilas are blended together, then filtered using a diamond filtration method. This gives Maestro Dobel its pristine clarity, with the flavor profile of an oak-aged tequila. Proximo Spirits Our Panel's Notes: "This silver tequila has the loveliest sweet peach notes, with a core of earth, slate and white pepper. The drink (parsley!) has a "healthy" green garden taste—almost like a tabbouleh tequila. Unique." —Meridith May "From the smoke on the chipotle rim to The Mixologist: Abeer the notes of pear, banana and parsley, this is Besharieh from La Hacienda one of the most memorable takes ever on the at the Fairmont Scottsdale Margarita." —Rob Holder Princess Resort. Straw Hat ◗ 1½ oz. Maestro Dobel Silver Tequila ◗ 1½ oz. mixologist's own mix (orange juice, strawberries and Italian parsley) ◗ 1 strawberry soaked in sugar ◗ Splash of Cointreau ◗ Splash of fresh sour ◗ Chipotle rub ◗ Muddle the strawberry in the sugar and then let sit for about an hour. Add ice and Maestro Dobel, mixologist's mix, Cointreau and sour and shake with ice. Strain into a glass rimmed with chipotle rub. Hochstadter's Slow and Low Rock & Rye: Worth the Wait T he history of "rock and rye" in American culture is nearly as old as the country itself. The spirit took its name from the rock candy used to sweeten the taste of harsh rye whisky. Rock and rye permeated our early pop culture: Rumor has it, this was the choice spirit for Sheriff Pat Garrett and his boys while on the hunt for Billy the Kid. It soon made its way from the saloon to the pharmacy, where it was used to treat everything from asthma to pneumonia. In keeping with the tradition of Rock and Rye, Hochstadter's Slow and Low Rock & Rye ($30) blends 98-proof rye whisky with rock candy, grapefruit, orange peel and horehound to create a smooth and nostalgic spirit. Emily Baker, Brand Ambassador for Hochstadter's, tells us, "What we're hoping is that this is the start of what could be a rock and rye resurgence." Cooper Spirits In Rock & Rye Fashion ◗ 2 oz. Hochstadter's Slow and Low Rock & Rye ◗ 1 orange twist ◗ Serve over ice. Our Panel's Notes: "A straightforward, spicy rye with a mini-chord of orange peel that makes a fine traditional Old Fashioned sing with a hint of honey." —Aaron DeFeo "Once more Rob Cooper found a niche that needed to be found. Slow and Low's nose is bright with apple cider and rye toast and chilled in a cocktail makes it all the more smooth." —Meridith May The Mixologist: Emily Baker, Western Region Sales Representative for Cooper Spirits april 2013 / the tasting panel / 127