EGN NEWS DESK
We’ve posted a brand new overview of the St. Regis Punta Mita and the place is wanting nice after a current $45 million renovation. Part of that went into revamping the foyer and going from conventional to extra up to date in the appear and feel. At the top of the foyer is a superb bar with 117 kinds of 100% blue agave tequila bottles.
We actually went top-shelf with this tasting although, attempting issues which might be normally not going to point out up on the swim-up bar at an all-inclusive resort. Some of them you’ll be able to’t even discover in a retailer.
A Premium Tequila Tasting Flight Round 1: Silver and Reposado
For these tequila tastings, I bought a pour in a super glass for tasting tequila and there was some form of small chunk plate accompanying it that the planners paired. This additionally served to cleanse the palate between bottles.
As common with tequila tastings, we began with the youngest and moved to the one with probably the most time within the barrel. We tasted a silver/white tequila with no growing old then moved on to reposado, joven (a mix), añejo, and additional añejo.
Santarena Organic Silver
We began out with one thing the place the agave shines by means of, with no time growing old in a barrel. Santarena Silver tequila is likely one of the few that’s licensed natural, although in actuality there’s not a lot fertilizer or pesticides within the combine with most tequila manufacturers anyway: agave is a a lot heartier plant than corn, grapes, or potatoes. That’s why you see it rising wild, not simply cultivated in farmers’ fields.
Santarena can be extra like a winemaker as an alternative of only a distiller, creating batches of tequila produced from single agave fields, no mixing and matching from completely different areas. They’re additionally a low-volume producer because of this. The greatest rounds they produce are simply 6,000 bottles, whereas some are lower than 2,000. So when you’ve got an opportunity to do that, it’s a uncommon deal with.
Our sampling was from the Piedra batch of 2020, quantity 254 of two,066. They additionally make a kosher model!
This was a really easy silver tequila that goes down straightforward, however has loads of refined taste hints that shine by means of. It additionally got here with a stunning ceviche tostada that appeared as fairly because it tasted. We have been off to a very good begin with Santarena tequila, a brand new one for me. See extra about them right here.
Casa Dragones Reposado
We’ve posted a overview of Casa Dragones Joven up to now and I must be an enormous fan of this model since they’re based mostly proper down the highway from me in San Miguel de Allende. I’ve had hassle getting previous the price-to-payoff ratio although as I’ve discovered others I like higher at half the value and the bottle isn’t all that spectacular.
I used to be happy with this Casa Dragones reposado although, aged in Japanese oak barrels as an alternative of the same old American or French. That offers it a bit completely different nostril and end than the same old.
It in all probability didn’t harm that it was paired with a scrumptious lobster croquette with chipotle sauce, a mouth-watering mixture. I’m nonetheless not able to go plop down three figures for it, however I actually loved attempting one other one from their steady at this tequila tasting.
Clase Azul Tequila Gold (Joven)
If you keep in a luxurious resort in Mexico wherever, you’re sure to see Clase Azul bottles on show in outstanding positions within the bar areas and eating places. The purpose is, they’re a few of the prettiest bottles round, together with the ever present white and blue hand-painted porcelain bottles they promote probably the most of with their reposado model inside. You can see our overview of it at that hyperlink.
I had by no means tried this Gold model although and it’s one thing you don’t see so usually within the tequila world: a “joven” mix of three completely different growing old ranges. Let’s take it from the supply on this one:
This joven tequila combines Clase Azul Tequila Plata, a particular reposado tequila matured in French oak casks and an additional añejo completed in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.
That’s lots happening on this gold and black bottle, which is supposed to evoke a Mexican sundown. My tasting information Felipe defined that every thing you see on a Clase Azul bottle has some form of symbolism concerned. I additionally discovered one thing new: the stopper on the prime is a bell, meant to be dinged when it’s time to begin pouring.
This mix was extra cohesive than I anticipated. Rather that making a conflict, the varied tasting parts performed nicely off one another and the entire actually was higher than its particular person components. One criticism I’ve heard of their reposado model is that it’s too candy, higher for dessert than for informal sipping. This mix tones that down a bit of and the anejo provides extra heft. It was particularly good with the fish taco that magically appeared, with avocado and pico de gallo.
Tasting Round 2: Premium Anejo
When you begin stepping into the tequila manufacturers you see going for $150, $300, or extra at obligation free, these are normally going to be anejo or further anejo ones which have spent no less than a 12 months growing old, plus they’re in some form of particular bottle that’s going to look spectacular as a present. Often you’re paying for the packaging as a lot as what’s inside, however the perfect ones dwell as much as the primary impression.
In normal, añejo tequila should be aged multiple 12 months (the utmost for a reposado) and a most of three, in barrels that maintain 600 liters max. (So no big picket barrels such as you generally see used for wine or cider.) The ones tagged as further añejo should spend no less than three years within the barrel. You ought to attempt certainly one of these if you happen to’re a fan of aged rum, Scotch, bourbon, or cognac.
There’s not likely a most, however in Mexico’s local weather, when you get previous 5 years it begins to grow to be counter-productive. The barrel flavors overpower the spirit.
Here’s what we tried from the older manufacturers.
Maestro Dobel Atelier
We’ve written about Maestro Dobel earlier than and whereas they’re greatest identified for kicking off the Cristalino gimmick of bleaching out aged tequila making it look clear, we do like their reposado and añejo variations that we’ve tried.
This is a Cuervo model, however as with Reserva de la Familia, there’s a component of collectability with this Maestro Dobel Atelier launch. “This one is supposed to honor the charros,” mentioned my bartender Hugo as he poured, the Mexican cowboys you see competing in rodeo-like competitions throughout Mexico. It is available in a fairly hand-painted bottle that basically stands out from the gang on the shelf. There are 5 completely different variations annually, throughout a unique theme. (The 2023 model honors the boats utilized in Xochimilco, exterior of Mexico City. The 2021 bottles have been impressed by piñatas.)
This spirit retails for $199, so I used to be anticipating massive issues, and it did style costlier and sophisticated than your common aged tequila. It was a bit spicier than the norm and the character actually modified because it moved throughout the tongue, with a pleasant lingering sweetness on the finish that paired nicely with the fried shrimp it got here with. It is available in a pleasant reward field if you happen to’re shopping for it at retail.
Gran Centenario Gallardo
If you see this one in a bar and also you’re able to throw down some money to rejoice, you could not need to hesitate. If you go to the net web page for this specific premium tequila, there’s a sign-up for to get on a notification checklist for when it turns into out there once more. When they are saying “restricted version,” they imply it. A 2024 article I discovered on-line mentioned, “There are solely 679 bottles presently out there to retailers within the U.S.”
So this was an actual deal with throughout our premium tequila tasting and it actually elevated the entire expeirence. It bought to attempt one thing I’m not very more likely to run throughout once more — or pay for because it’s $600 for a bottle. What a fantastic bottle it’s although, particularly if you happen to’re a fan of Art Deco fashion. It positively stands out as a departure from the norm. See pics and extra about it right here.
Gran Centenario is a part of the Centenario Tequila assortment, which is the other of uncommon on the low finish. We’ve reviewed it earlier than as a result of it’s one of many best manufacturers to seek out in Mexico, perhaps the perfect vendor in that nation among the many 100% blue agave choices, relying on whose press launch you imagine. The model is a part of the portfolio of the world’s largest producer, identical to the one above, the home of Cuervo.
As we’ve mentioned many occasions earlier than, don’t judge Jose Cuervo by its namesake mixto headache producer that isn’t 100% agave. The manufacturers they make which might be pure agave, which is most of them, are fairly good. This Gallardo tequila is likely one of the greatest ones I’ve tasted all 12 months, so I’m glad they saved it for final.
I form of cringed a bit of when Felipe poured it over an enormous dense ice dice since we’re so conditioned to suppose {that a} premium darkish spirit must be sipped neat. “It’s actually sizzling on this open-air foyer within the afternoon,” Felipe mentioned, “so it’s refreshing to have this on ice as an alternative together with your dessert. Trust me, you’ll prefer it.”
He was proper: it tasted downright excellent this fashion. The further añejo tequila, a mix of barrels aged for 3 to 5 years, actually benefitted from the ice taking a bit of of the oak edge off together with the pairing of chocolate cake with dulce de leche. Yum!
As you’d in all probability count on, this premium tequila tasting with meals pairings will not be low cost. Some of those tequila manufacturers individually value three figures for a shot if you happen to order off the menu and right here you’re getting 5 samplings. If you’re a tequila lover although, that is heaven. See extra particulars on the St. Regis actions web page.
About the St. Regis Punta Mita
While there are fairly just a few resorts north of Puerto Vallarta which have “Punta de Mita” of their title, solely two of them are literally contained in the manned gates of the upscale Punta Mita improvement of a whole lot of prime acres. It’s the place a few of Mexico’s most unique villas are situated and the place you’ll be able to play two of the perfect golf programs on the Pacific Coast exterior of Baja. One of the 2 luxurious lodges you’ll be able to keep in there may be The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.
The Four Seasons opened on the very finish of the final century, when just a few properties have been dotted across the space and solely one of many golf programs was completed. By the time the St. Regis Punta Mita got here alongside, the unique gated group was a lot additional alongside and phrase was getting out. We reviewed the property quickly after it opened and have gone again twice. This time we have been checking it out after a serious $45 million renovation. Kick again together with your favourite beverage and are available alongside on a property tour!
The key promoting factors of this resort are nonetheless in place. It’s on a beautiful stretch of ocean dealing with an offshore island, there are three stunning infinity swimming pools dealing with the ocean, and all of the rooms on this oceanfront luxurious resort have a large furnished balcony or terrace to take pleasure in.
This resort spreads out alongside the water and has a seashore to itself, however it’s compact sufficient to get round on foot. This is particularly straightforward if you happen to’re staying at one of many beachfront villas with its personal plunge pool and kitchen. When it’s time to enterprise out, you simply go left, proper, or up the hill to have a selection of a number of eating places. Those vary from a beachfront toes-in-the-sand place for lunch to high-end Carolina, the place the tasting menu with wine pairings is pleasant.
There’s a full spa right here that may allow you to to loosen up much more. This is a romantic spot that hosts many celebratory events and the staffers have an extended checklist of the way you’ll be able to create a memorable trip for 2.
One distinctive side at this St. Regis resort is the devoted butler program, the place one individual is your principal contact all through the keep, taking good care of all of your wants. Sure, generally there will likely be a butler #2 when the primary will get a break day, however both means you’re speaking by means of WhatsApp to get what you’ll want to make your keep fantastic.
St. Regis is a part of the Marriott household, so you’ll be able to earn or money in loyalty factors right here, an enormous benefit for enterprise vacationers who’ve elite standing. As a visitor right here, you’ve gotten entry to the golf programs and tennis heart amenities within the advanced, each off-limits to most people.
See our full overview of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Riviera Nayarit.
