Let’s Review… In a previous post, I enumerated my reasons for dreading my participation in USA Today’s 10 Best Craft Tequila list. In my experience, something inevitably goes awry with these sorts of “listicles,” and it usually starts with the editor. Contrary to the galloping propaganda disseminated by some press releases, there were no additional … Read more
There are few books on the subject of Tequila that are considered classics. The Book Of Tequila by the late, great Bob Emmons, stands out as the most essential for any student of agave spirits. I consider Emmons the first, true Tequila Journalist. He was the first American author to demystify the much maligned Mexican … Read more
In early August of 2016, I received an email from USA Today asking me to weigh in on their craft spirits-themed Readers’ Choice contests, and in our case (at press time), the soon-to-be-launched craft tequilas list. I’ll be honest, I dread these lists. What’s worse is, I dread being asked to participate in compiling them. Let … Read more
Some well-meaning follower posted on our Facebook page this answer to a press release referring to Espolón tequila… “PSA: “super premium” has no real meaning—it’s marketing happy talk.” While we’re inclined to believe that sneaky marketers have hijacked the word premium and turned it into a buzzword, in all actuality, it is a spirits pricing … Read more
Ever wonder how Tequila got to be “The Spirit of Mexico?” Dr. Marie Sarita Gaytán explains how in her landmark book, Tequila! Distilling the Spirit of Mexico. While we’ve interviewed other Tequila Boss Ladies who have a hand in producing their own brands, this tequila and mezcal researcher, who is also an Associate Professor at the University of … Read more
Editors of major men’s magazines still insist that their audience only shoots tequila. Click To Tweet One Day, At Band Camp… Recently, myself, and a few select others in this tightly knit tequila community, were asked to be interviewed for quotes concerning “surprising things you can do with tequila” for the May issue of a major, worldwide men’s … Read more
Captures gold and silver medals across contest categories… September 29, 2014, Del Mar, CA—Embajador Tequila Supreme añejo was awarded a gold medal from the longest running Mexican spirits competition in North America, the Spirits of Mexico. A panel of judges with over 300 years of experience between them also voted both Embajador Tequila Platinum Blanco … Read more
Roca Patron Hits The Road All across the country, in carefully selected cities where the beautiful people roam like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, and San Francisco, the Patrón PR machine (which spent a reported $34.1 million in measured media in 2013), is rolling out its new Roca Patrón line of tequilas. Here in … Read more
Embajador Premium Reposado tequila takes Platinum prize from among 403 entries at the prestigious SIP Awards… (Press release) Austin, TX–On April 27, 2014, at the luxurious St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, CA, a 100 member panel of judges voted Embajador Premium Reposado tequila a Platinum prize at the 6th annual SIP Awards. Embajador Tequila … Read more
Blurred Lines Throughout Part 1, we employed the use of more adjectives and descriptors to define, describe and distinguish one booze from another in the same category, as well as to give the illusion that it is actually closer to another booze in the leading categories. Words like award-winning, artisanal, small-run, limited-production, hand-crafted, and boutique … Read more