Treasure Hunt: A Dusty Cuervo Afternoon in the SF East Bay

Yesterday I received a cryptic email from a tequila buddy.  He doesn’t write me often, but when he DOES it’s ALWAYS good news.  This email was no exception.

Seems he’d been in my area over the past weekend and had found some fertile treasure stores.  You know the kind I like:  bored clerk who’ll let you stand and stare at the shelves behind him for HOURS, crowded dusty shelves with one-off bottles of many different brands, TV set going in corner so he leaves you alone even LONGER.  These stores had all of that!  I jumped in the car and hurried over to the first “Treasure” shop searching desperately for what I’d been told was laying in wait: multiple wooden collector’s boxes filled with individual bottles of Cuervo’s famed “Reserva de la Familia” anejo.  This juice is extremely limited in production and distribution, and even when new it retailed for $100.  On the collector’s market some vintages go for as much as 15 times that or more!
Continue reading Treasure Hunt: A Dusty Cuervo Afternoon in the SF East Bay

Distillery 1109 Tasting {multiple brands} (episode 15) tequila review

Can ANYONE beat this FEAT?
Th’ Lip was invited to a Sooper-Exclusive tasting at the Ballard compound in Redwood City, Ca. 20 Bay Area TEQUILA AFICIONADOS gathered together to taste 17(!) bottles from the famous 1109 distillery, home to brands like Arette, Gran Viejo, Gran Clase, Unique, and El Reformador. These boys sure did like their 1109!
Continue reading Distillery 1109 Tasting {multiple brands} (episode 15) tequila review

Nocaut reposado (episode 13) tequila review

It’s a square-off in the center ring as Lippy takes on the upcoming WORLD CHAMPION contender, “Nocaut” (pronounced Knock – Out) reposado! It’s a slugfest for the ages.. and th’ lip is holding NOTHING back. Will he FINALLY recommend a NEW brand — and get over his unhealthy obsession with TREASURE bottles?? It’s all in this high stakes bout! Be there!

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Alquimia blanco, anejo (episode 9) tequila review

Lippy takes the “New Kid” out for a walk around the block a few times. Tequila Alquimia is up for tasting/ranting and Th’ Lip is FINE FORM! –SPECIAL GUEST Mike Morales joins in the fun with his report from his stint as a judge at the “Spirits Of Mexico” competition where he tasted 114 tequilas! Now HOW do you get a JOB like that? Mike tells all!

Battle for the Back Row (episode 8) tequila review


Lippy gets DEEP into some sticky-sweet emotional territory in this “Tequila FIGHT”!

While the tequila reviews are interesting and scholarly as always(?) it’s the MUSICAL soundtrack to this episode that will twist your knickers!  Turns out The BEATLES showed up in all of their remastered MONO glory — and they decide to hang out for the entire show.  Add to this, the  sweet nostalgia of Lippy’s cousin, Les, chatting in from their hometown in Penna., and you have a fully emotionally satisfying conclusion.  Is that a tear of joy in his eye, or is it the TEQUILA talking?