A Paen to Fina Estampa Blanco

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A Paean to Fina Estampa blanco

Seduced by the aroma of your Gouda and Pine Nut, I exalt you

To your wicked roundabout knowing ways, I follow you.

Equine taxi to places of wonder, allow me your secret mineral visions:

A riddle of ancient symbols unlocking flight

A cave of crystals blinding in their endless light

A Reidel of ocean so clear and bright

Fina, Fina born to sweet delight.

Stallion of plenty, and messenger of the Master.

You are the last beacon in a twilight of visions:

Star-cape with hooded cowl

Desert flower bloomed atop dusty mound

Mineral elixir of a thousand voices

Bulls-eye target amongst a thousand choices.

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Blanco Battle!

TequilaFight Ver. 3.0: The Blanco Battle!

Welcome back, my friends, to the tasting that never ends!  This time we’re up for another blanco taste-off.  We’re pitting two middleweights against a relatively (to me, anyway) unknown.

First up is the mystery brand: “30-30”.

30-30

100 % blue agave of course, but I don’t know a whole lot more about him.

Next in line is “Herencia de Plata” silver.

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A quiet contender whom I HAVE heard a small bit about.. and most of it good.  He’s not so easily accessible, but whenever I’ve read a few notes about his profile I get more and more intrigued.

Lastly we have the phallic, “Chaya” silver.

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It’s hard not to notice THIS bad boy.  His big blue bottle certainly gives him a top-rated “shelf appeal”.  He’s an easy pour, but I WILL say there is a bit of trepidation as I grip that solid blue package in my hands..  (Am I liking him too much already?)

OK!  The battle is ON!

I’m circling the contenders looking for an opening.  Which silver will afford me the sliver of an opening?  I make my move.  I’m hurrying up to the 30-30.  I will tell you straight off, 30-303.  You’re the least anticipated of the group, and I did sneak a small sniff when I poured you.  I’m confused about your capabilities.  I cup you in hand and sniff:

You’re giving me a thin nose with a sharp alcohol attack.  I’m not noticing any appreciable amount of agave in your aroma.  Will you open up your drawer of secrets for me, 30-30?  One more sniff is all I can afford you.  Make it count you cardboard-hearted mannequin!  AH!  A secret peppermint sweetness that I missed the first time!  You coy, circular spirit!  I will drink you and dream as you do a circular dance on my tongue.  I am hoping for a sweet daydream…

Ugh.. a disappointment.  30-30 I found NOTHING to taste!  Did you quickly spirit yourself away and leave a hollow doppelganger in your place?  There was a wisp of some burn seeping down the back of my throat.. but I can’t count that as a taste.  You’re a strange and troubled child, 30-30.  Your nose is actually more complex than your taste!  Your guardian has dressed you but there’s nothing underneath your garments!  How can this be?  I will forcibly take you and DEMAND some taste from you:

NOTHING!  I’m experiencing a watery injustice every time I clench my epiglottis.  30-30 you are the “Archies” of the puro set.  No, you’re even LESS impressive than that.  I find no reason to drink you, 30-30.  I may even leave your glass as it stands.. half-empty (horrors!).

Allow me to wash some agua down to erase the watery insults I have been handed by the last ignoble contender.  I have a temper rising and a storm brewing.  That 30-30 has put me in a foul funk!

Herencia.. I call your name!  Will you show me a similar disrespect or will you present the full blossom of your promise?  A sniff to introduce ourselves:

You are a sweet, nutty, cinnamon confection, Herencia.  I’m getting a bright sunny afternoon on a secluded hilltop feeling.  Are you bottling that sunshine?  Will you give an inner glow after I’ve tasted your soiled blades of grass?  Ha!  I’m insulting you good-naturedly in the hopes that you’ll be goaded into showing me your loudest sunny façade!  Open up you sinner!  I’m coming in for another sniff:

I’m not certain where you’re coming from and where you’re going to take me, Herencia.  Your nose isn’t SO forceful as to present an entire picture let alone a universe to me.  I wonder/hope: is there something beyond the shiny exterior you’re presenting?  I’ll slurp you in an unjust manner:

Peppery!  You beautiful bastard!  You are hiding a peppered SOUL in your mirrored overcoat of cinnamon and glass.  I’m staring into space.  I’m allowing your pepper to subside while I contemplate more sips from your tangy underbelly.  I know you’re secretly smiling, Herencia.  You knew all along that you were packing something unexpected, yes?  If you would do me the honor of another taste, I would be ever grateful and (this time) submissive:

Floral!  I felt you sneak just a fashion of floral notes into that last “profile”.  I’m envisioning a gorgeous sunny hilltop covered with peppery blossoms and wildflower fantasias flirting at the corner of my eye.  I don’t know if I dare for a third taste my new friend.  You have already taken me to a wonderful vantage point from which to ponder my next few life-moves.  Am I asking too much for another vista?  No matter!  I DEMAND another taste as I have tamed you now and you belong inside me:

Same scene.

Herencia, there is a subtle command in you that I respond to favorably.  You are easily a worthy “conversationalist” but I wonder if I’d grow tired of the same pastoral scene time after time?  I long for a more complex discourse, my serene compadre.  I will seek you out as long as your sale price fits within your status.

A quick wash through, and I am clicking my teeth in anticipation of my solid blue stallion.  Chaya, your thick bottle has given me the pour with the most girth.  I respect your hearty load, and pray that it delivers a sensation equal to its manly heft.  A sniff:

Ohhh yes!  I am reveling in a gummy, thick, agave musk.  Chaya, do you have a “rock” in your history?  If so it would only be fitting for a Stallion of such engorged proportions.  You have a wet and round nose profile, sir. I’m smelling wet cement with peppery fruit. I am thoroughly engaged.  I’m stepping right up for my “punishment”.  Don’t hold back on the taste – give it all to me in one thick blast:

Wow!  That was a lot of flavor, tongue action, and alcohol brandishment all at the same time.  I like your complexity, Chaya!  A quick rinse and I am game for another round:

Damn, Chaya!  You could go all night with your complex and piquing “conversations” couldn’t you?  You’re the porn star of silvers. I think I’ll try one more chewy taste of your sweet nectar, Chaya – hit it:

Yes!  Ha ha!  That was a great mouthful of thick peppery washes.  Whew!  What did you say your name was, stranger?

I’m not embarrassed about handling your attentive phallic package if you don’t gloat over my lack thereof.  I am yours for the evening, Chaya.  I can see that you and I will be having plenty to talk about over the years.  Teach me to stand tall.

Winner:

Chaya Silver!!

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Jose Cuervo "Reserva del La Famila Fest" is coming!

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In three short days I’m going to be joining a group of international tequila aficionados in Redwood City, Ca. for a once-in-a-lifetime tasting event.

We’re going to taste and compare 15 years’ worth of Cuervo “Reserva” over the course of two days. The Festival was organized online through Ian Chadwick’s mighty “Mumpsimus” Tequila Forum. The cost of admission is for each attendee to bring one bottle from any of the years of the production run (1995 -2008). I am bringing a still-hard-to-obtain 2008 year. The Reservas come in a limited edition artist-created wooden box, and some of art on the boxes is quite wonderful. You can read a bit of an overview of the product here.

I have a very limited experience with the Reservas. I have only tasted the 2007 product and was not impressed. Especially considering their $100/bottle price tag. I have been informed, however, that there are some incredible years in the history of the product, so I am drooling at the possibility of lining up 15 different Reidel glasses and tasting all the years at once! Could I actually be so lucky? I am in the process of “TOXIFYING” up my body so that the excessive alcohol won’t drop me to the floor. I’m in TRAINING, baby!

I plan on doing some tequila tasting tonite in anticipation of the big showdown over the weekend. I’ll post later about exactly what I drank and how it tasted. I’ll also be posting about the various “for trade” bottles I plan on bringing to the event, and I may even write a bit about the “dusty bottles” I hope to procure in some tucked-away and secret independent liquor stores in the South Bay. SHHHHHHHHHHh.. That’s on the QT!

UPDATE:

I decided to try out a few former favorites last night as I cooked dinner and watched the Iraq war documentary on PBS. (Unfortunately that viewing activity requires ALOT more tequila than I am willing to commit to these days..)

I drank:

Don Fernando blanco (old clear bottling) – Making a taste comeback for me.

Chaya blanco – Benefitted from the teeny drops of DF left in the glass.
Fina Estampa anejo – Light and sweet. Always a winner.

Casa Noble Single Barrel anejo (limited production run!) – My current infatuation. Lots of cherry/chocolate balancing that signature “Cofradia” bitter core.
I gotta say, I liked ’em all. And I especially liked the order of their “introduction” on my palate.