Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/807384
90 / the tasting panel / april 2017 TEQUILA REPORT Pure Essence of Agave with Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco Named after Los Dragones of San Miguel de Allende, an elite cavalry that helped lead Mexico to independence from Spain, Tequila Casa Dragones blends Mexican craftsmanship with modern techniques to produce two expressions, Blanco and Joven. Both offerings begin with the finest hand-harvested blue agave grown at 1,200 meters above sea level, produced in small batches of no more than 500 cases at a time, ensuring meticulous attention to detail and the highest possible quality. Co-founders Bertha González Nieves, the first female accredited Maestra Tequilera, and Bob Pittman, founder of MTV and CEO of iHeart Media, sought to push the boundaries of what had been done before and to be one of the producers pushing the industry into the future. González and Pittman certainly hit the target with Casa Dragones Blanco, a tequila perfect for sipping neat, on the rocks or as a base for a signature craft cocktail. Its herbs and agave layers stand out in the field of mixology. "Tequila Casa Dragones' unique position in the market—and its unparalleled style—has elevated the entire tequila category, and I'm excited to work with an ultra-premium silver tequila that professionals will admire and that cocktail fans will love," says award-winning author and bartender Jim Meehan of PDT, located in NYC's East Village. Produced with 100 percent blue agave, Casa Dragones Blanco uses water from the Volcano of Tequila, in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, gathering minerals as it travels to natural aquifers. Its proprietary process creates a crisp, modern tequila that's smooth enough to sip. Every bottle of Casa Dragones Blanco is hand-labeled and hand-numbered. With its newly opened Casa Dragones Tasting Room in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are many places to appreciate Tequila Casa Dragones. A six-seat, reservation-only destination for sipping tequila, the Tasting Room recently hosted its first bartender residency program with Meehan. "For me as a bartender, it's an intimate space to showcase what I can do with cocktails using Casa Dragones Blanco and local ingredients," says Meehan. No matter where you find yourself while sipping on the tequila, you will find your taste buds transported to a Mexican paradise. —Izzy Watson Tequila Casa Dragones Named after Los Dragones of San Miguel de Allende, an elite cavalry that helped lead Mexico to independence from Spain, Tequila Casa Dragones blends Mexican craftsmanship with modern techniques to produce two expressions, Blanco and Joven. Both offerings begin with the finest hand-harvested blue agave grown at 1,200 meters above sea level, produced in small batches of no more than 500 cases at a time, ensuring meticulous attention to detail and the highest possible quality. Co-founders Bertha González Nieves, the first female accredited Maestra Tequilera, and Bob Pittman, founder of MTV and CEO of iHeart Media, sought to push the boundaries of what had been done before and to be one of the producers pushing the industry into the future. González and Pittman certainly hit the target with Casa Dragones Blanco, a tequila perfect for sipping neat, on the rocks or as a base for a signature craft cocktail. Its herbs and agave layers stand out in the field "Tequila Casa Dragones' unique position in the market—and its unparalleled style—has elevated the entire tequila category, and I'm excited to work with an ultra-premium silver tequila that professionals will admire and that cocktail fans will love," says award-winning author and bartender Jim Meehan of PDT, located Tasting Notes Lanolin, herbs and lemon are among the aromas from fresh silver tequila. The mouthfeel is bright with blue fruit, salted nuts, peach cobbler and agave. White Dragon by Jim Meehan ◗ 1¾ oz. Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco ◗ ¾ oz. Cointreau ◗ ¾ oz. lemon juice ◗ Egg white Dry-shake, then shake with ice and fine strain into a chilled coupe. Twist an orange peel over the surface. Pink Panther by Jim Meehan and Enrique Olvera ◗ 2 oz. Tequila Casa Dragones Blanco ◗ ¾ oz. lime juice ◗ ½ oz. grapefruit juice ◗ ½ oz. agave syrup ◗ 2 dashes Orchard Street Celery Shrub