Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/164544
DULCE DORADO TEQUILA DAVE AND ANDREA BLUNIER W hat prompts someone to endure the significant challenges involved in launching an innovative new tequila? According to Dave Blunier, co-owner of Dulce Dorado 100% Agave Tequila, it's part inspiration and part a genetic disposition toward being an entrepreneur. "My father, Cletus Blunier, was a highly successful businessman and I've admired his tenacity and drive for all of my life. It takes a special individual to see what needs to get done, to know how to do it, and then to go and do it. I've spent the better part of my career working hard and accepting opportunities as they arise. I think I owe that drive to my dad." Blunier says his life changed in 2011 when his wife, Andrea, and he were vacationing in Mexico and they first tasted a honey- and vanilla-infused tequila. Shortly afterward, they started working with the master distiller at Grupo Industrial Tequilero (NOM 1443), where Blunier eventually perfected his proprietary blend. As a result, Dulce Dorado Tequila is now selling so well its supply is often stretched thin. Now that's a good problem to have. www.dulcedorado.com DULCE DORADO TEQUILA BLUE NECTAR TEQUILA NIKHIL BAHADUR F or Nikhil Bahadur and his father, B. N. Bahadur, the significant challenge to developing a range of genuinely unique tequilas was remaining true to the spirit's heritage and pedigree. A quick sip of Blue Nectar 100% Agave Tequila will reveal that he and his father were successful. "We want to provide the consumer with not only a refined tequila, but also a convivial drinking experience," says Bahadur. "To that end, we employed a variety of different methods and techniques. We eventually found that sending the tequila through the still for a third distillation ensured that our silver expression was robust and agave-forward, all the while being smooth and well-rounded. We believed producing a sensational silver tequila as the critical first step in our journey." Blue Nectar Reposado contains a three-year-old extra añejo in its blend to add oaky notes and a singularly rich flavor. The brand's Special Reserve reposado is infused with essential oils and a hint of agave nectar giving it a richness similar to a wellaged brandy. Blue Nectar Tequila is made from estate-grown agaves at family-owned Tequila Selecto de Amatitlán (NOM 1459). See Publisher's Picks on page 82 for a review of Blue Nectar Special Reserve. www.bluenectartequila.com BLUE NECTAR SPIRITS COMPANY september 2013 / the tasting panel / 125 TP0913_104-156.indd 125 8/22/13 10:32 PM