I don’t discuss my job here at WTD very often. Basically, that’s so I don’t get fired. I like my job just fine, and I like the people I work with, but even so it’s best to keep all things professional separate from this little place. That being said, every now and again things can get a little rough at the office. Today was one of those days - the kind of day that ends up with me at home with a glass (or three) of Tequila.

It seems that most people either really like, or really hate Tequila. While it happens to be my favorite spirit, most people I know pretty much can’t stand the stuff. As incomprehensible as this opinion is to me, I attribute it to the fact that most people have never had anything other than Jose Cuervo or Sauza Tequila. While I could provide you with a long explanation of what is and is not actually tequila (Mexico has a government body to regulate this sort of thing), I’ll stick to the abridged version which is basically that Cuervo Gold and similar Sauza products are NOT technically tequila because they’re not made from 100% blue agave. Cuervo actually achieves it’s golden color through the use of dyes. This is also in part why it gives you such a nasty hangover. Also, as you may have noticed it tastes like crap.

Enter the premium tequilas…that’s right, the expensive stuff. While this post is about my current favorite, there are a number of distilleries producing quality Tequila including; Patron, Herradura, and El Tesoro. Each offers a variety, but once again, that’s outside the scope of this post. One final note before I get to the review itself…Sammy Hagar has his own tequila label (Cabo Wabo). While it’s much much better than Cuervo, I’m not particularly fond of it either, but hey, to each his own, and I do know some who think highly of it. Personal, I like my Tequila like I like my music…100% without Van Halen. Anyway, on to the Casa Noble.

One of the first things you’ll notice about Casa Noble Añejo is the distinctive bottle. I think I read somewhere that each one is handmade and painted by real Mexicans. Of course noticing the bottle assumes that you can find one. None of the liquor stores in my area carry the stuff. I actually had to order my Añejo from Mission Liquor in California. The price of a bottle varies from year to year, based on the availability of the blue agave. Right now it runs right around $75 a bottle, which I think is pretty close to what I paid, and probably enough to make you wonder what kind of jackass spends $75 on a bottle of hell water. Well, color me that jackass.
Once outside the bottle and into your glass one can’t help but notice the rich amber color of the añejo. While Cuervo gold achieves this color through the use of additives, the color in Casa Noble Añejo comes from the aging process. While most añejos are ages for 1-3 years, Casa Noble ages theirs in French white oak barrels for a full 5 years. The result is a naturally amber-colored spirit which sticks to the glass like a fine wine, and goes down easier than a $5 hooker. In fact, Casa Noble Añejo maybe too smooth, since there’s bound to be some trouble around here when Mrs. WTD comes home and finds me alone and all sorts of Tequilacated (yup…that’s a word, in so much as I just made it up).

You’ll notice that silver tequilas (those colorless tequilas aged less than 60 days) have a texture more like vodka, gin, or even water. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but with age comes texture - sort of like wrinkles on an old person. As you move up to a Reposado (tequila ages 3-12 months) the tequila starts to thicken up and take on some color - some real character. By the time you reach the Añejo level you’ve got something with a texture like light syrup (but not in an unpleasant way). Many have likened a good tequila to a high end scotch. My experience has been that the Mexican good stuff goes down more smoothly than any high end vodka, gin, or even whiskey (in the same price range). I definitely prefer the taste over any other spirit.

Here’s the bottom line. If you want to compare a good tequila to the donkey spit (Cuervo/Sauza) you’ve been drinking, pick up a bottle of Casa Noble or Patron silver. If you want an advanced tequila experience, pick up a reposado (Casa Noble, Patron, El Tesoro, etc.). Reposados can be had for the same pile of pesos as your average bottle of decent vodka or gin. If you want the best of the best, spend the extra money on a bottle of Añejo. At the very least buy a glass (order it neat) at your favorite Mexican restaurant (Bomber’s in Albany has an excellent selection). You might be glad you did, and if not…well, at least you’ll be buzzing.

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