Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/21004
2010 Señor Personality JOSE CUERVO TRADICIONAL SILVER TEQUILA ($35) This south-of-the-border exchange student finally returned Stateside this year and brought the sunny warmth of Mexico back to the bar, graduating with honors for its lush, toasty flavors and smooth, clean finish. The new liquid is a 100% estate-grown blue agave tequila, harvested at the peak of maturity, steamed in clay ovens, fermented, double-distilled and bottled immediately to achieve a smooth and pristine liquid. In spite of a feisty attitude that relishes breaking a few rules here and there, in its heart Tradicional Silver is . . . well, traditional—cultivated by the same handcrafted, small-batch production as the first tequila ever made, methods used by founder Jose Antonio de Cuervo more than 250 years ago. It makes a primo shot or sip, but don’t let that stop you from letting it dance to “Tequila” in kick-ass Margaritas or play fast and loose in other, even more daring concoctions. Keen balance, a toasty vanilla palate and a long finish are just a few of Tradicional Silver’s other attributes. And talk about unique: To pre- serve the tequila’s authenticity, each tall, elegant bottle is assigned its own registration number in the order in which it was produced. DIAGEO NORTH AMERICA Acapulco Clam Digger 1½ oz. Jose Cuervo Tradicional Silver 3 oz. tomato juice 3 oz. clam juice ½ teaspoon horseradish Several dashes Tabasco Several dashes Worcestershire sauce Dash lemon juice 1 scoop crushed ice Lemon slice Pour all ingredients except the lemon slice into a double Old Fashioned glass. Mix well and garnish with the lemon slice. 42 / the tasting panel / december 2010 STEELE WINES 2006 Stymie Merlot, Lake County ($45) TENUTA DI GHIZZANO 2004 Nambrot, Toscana, Italy ($48) HENRIOT INC. TOHU WINES 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough ($15) TOTAL BEVERAGE SOLUTION TRINCHERO 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Haystack Vineyard, Atlas Peak ($50) TRINCHERO FAMILY ESTATES WILLIAM FÈVRE 2006 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros, France ($60) HENRIOT INC. YELLOW TAIL RESERVE 2008 Pinot Grigio, South Eastern Australia ($12) W. J. DEUTSCH & SONS ZACA MESA 2006 Mesa Reserve Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley ($42) SPIRITS 4 ORANGE Vodka, USA ($25) IMPERIAL BRANDS ABYSS Absinthe, France ($60) ALL SPIRITS INC. AGWA DE BOLIVIA Coca Herbal Liqueur, Netherlands ($32) BABCO IMPORTS AKVINTA Vodka, Croatia ($40) AKVINTA USA ALMA Añejo Tequila, Mexico ($30) XAMAY IMPORTERS/GREAT WESTERN ARTÁ Silver Tequila, Mexico ($40) ARTÁ HOLDINGS PHOTO: MARIA SCHRIBER