Join Tequila Aficionado for four courses of Texas BBQ, and Peñasco & Diva Tequilas this Saturday at Augie’s Alamo City BBQ Steakhouse, 909 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX
This week, we’ll be speaking to Bradley Large of Del Bravo Imports, the people who bring us award winning Route 66 (Brands of Promise Platinum in 2015), Diva (Brands of Promise double Gold in 2014) and Penasco Tequilas.
Tequila Aficionado’s Alex Perez & Mike Morales taste and discuss Penasco Tequila Extra Anejo.
We apologize for the sound quality. We’ve fixed the issue in recording and this is one of the last reviews with poor sound quality.
Visit Penasco Tequila online at TequilaPenasco.com
Follow Penasco Tequila on Facebook here.
Follow Penasco on Twitter here.
From their website:
Welcome to the world of Tequila through the vision of Del Bravo Imports.
We are committed to bringing you one of the finest distilled 100% blue agave tequilas on the market.
Tequila Peñasco represents quality, is named for the famed beach town located in the Mexican State of Sonora, on the sea of Cortes. Today, Tequila is one of the fastest growing liquors in the world. The direction of the growth is decidedly upscale. An entire tequila culture is being developed not just in Mexico but all over the world. Enjoyed in many countries, local pubs, neighborhood bars as well as many sophisticated restaurants around the world.
There is a large market of excellent 100% blue agave tequilas available in the range of $20 to $30. A greater quality of tequilas made of 100% blue agave in the $30 to $50 dollar range. Most all tequilas priced under $20 dollars are mass produced for local markets and export and are made from a mix of agave plants.
For the enjoyment of our beloved loyal Tequila drinkers; Tequila Peñasco is enjoyed in the USA in Arizona, Texas and South Carolina, as well as 3 northern states of Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua and Baja. Let your senses be your guide! DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE…
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Tequila Aficionado’s Alex Perez & Mike Morales taste and discuss Penasco Tequila Anejo.
We apologize for the sound quality. We’ve fixed the issue in recording and this is one of the last reviews with poor sound quality.
Visit Penasco Tequila online at TequilaPenasco.com
Follow Tequila Penasco on Facebook here.
Follow Penasco on Twitter here.
From their website:
Welcome to the world of Tequila through the vision of Del Bravo Imports.
We are committed to bringing you one of the finest distilled 100% blue agave tequilas on the market.
Tequila Peñasco represents quality, is named for the famed beach town located in the Mexican State of Sonora, on the sea of Cortes. Today, Tequila is one of the fastest growing liquors in the world. The direction of the growth is decidedly upscale. An entire tequila culture is being developed not just in Mexico but all over the world. Enjoyed in many countries, local pubs, neighborhood bars as well as many sophisticated restaurants around the world.
There is a large market of excellent 100% blue agave tequilas available in the range of $20 to $30. A greater quality of tequilas made of 100% blue agave in the $30 to $50 dollar range. Most all tequilas priced under $20 dollars are mass produced for local markets and export and are made from a mix of agave plants.
For the enjoyment of our beloved loyal Tequila drinkers; Tequila Peñasco is enjoyed in the USA in Arizona, Texas and South Carolina, as well as 3 northern states of Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua and Baja. Let your senses be your guide! DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE…
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Alexander Perez and M.A. “Mike” Morales taste and discuss Penasco Tequila Reposado.
We apologize for the sound quality. We’ve fixed the issue in recording and this is one of the last reviews with poor sound quality.
Visit Penasco Tequila online at TequilaPenasco.com
Follow Tequila Penasco on Facebook here.
Follow Penasco on Twitter here.
From their website:
Welcome to the world of Tequila through the vision of Del Bravo Imports.
We are committed to bringing you one of the finest distilled 100% blue agave tequilas on the market.
Tequila Peñasco represents quality, is named for the famed beach town located in the Mexican State of Sonora, on the sea of Cortes. Today, Tequila is one of the fastest growing liquors in the world. The direction of the growth is decidedly upscale. An entire tequila culture is being developed not just in Mexico but all over the world. Enjoyed in many countries, local pubs, neighborhood bars as well as many sophisticated restaurants around the world.
There is a large market of excellent 100% blue agave tequilas available in the range of $20 to $30. A greater quality of tequilas made of 100% blue agave in the $30 to $50 dollar range. Most all tequilas priced under $20 dollars are mass produced for local markets and export and are made from a mix of agave plants.
For the enjoyment of our beloved loyal Tequila drinkers; Tequila Peñasco is enjoyed in the USA in Arizona, Texas and South Carolina, as well as 3 northern states of Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua and Baja. Let your senses be your guide! DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE…
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We’re expecting the gentlemen from Del Bravo for a visit on Monday so I’m doing a little preparation in the kitchen today.
Whenever we’re contacted by brand owners who will be coming through San Antonio, we like to invite them to the Tequila Aficionado Headquarters for drinks and a chat. We like to film a great deal of the chatting part which you’ll soon see in several articles coming up from Mike Morales. Since I love to pair and prepare foods with tequilas and mezcals, I usually make a little something so we don’t send our guests off into the night hungry. I’m particularly excited about meeting the gentlemen from Del Bravo Tequila, the makers of Penasco and Diva Tequilas. 
I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of infused tequilas for the sole reason that nine times out of ten, they are overdone, poorly done, or are just a company’s way of putting sub-par products on a shelf to sell to those women who still think tequila is for shooting. (Yes, I’ve become a bit of a tequila snob.) Diva Tequila is one of the very few infusions to pass the sip test here at Tequila Aficionado.
My first reaction upon seeing Diva’s presentation was a very girly “Ooh, what a pretty bottle!”
Let’s face it, the tall, faceted bottle topped with the brilliant-cut diamond style stopper is just plain gorgeous.
The question that followed was a practical one “But how’s the juice?”
Truth be told, I was afraid of being disappointed yet again with the promise of a pretty bottle with no substance to back it up. So I gave Diva a day and tried the Penasco blanco instead. After enjoying Penasco, I was prepared to give the Diva my undivided attention the next evening.
I wasn’t disappointed.
Instead of the usual overdone, sugary sweet concoctions marketed to the female drinker, I found the same crisp, clear blanco that Penasco delivered only this time it had a delightful twist of pink grapefruit. Not too tart, not too sweet, and still a wonderful sipper! (Like Goldilocks only with tequila instead of porridge!)
The Del Bravo folks know what they’re doing. From the Diva Tequila bottle design (which would look lovely placed in a box of long-stemmed roses for Valentine’s Day *hint*) to the juice inside, they’ve done this right.
After a few sips, I knew I had to take this lovely lady into the Tequila Aficionado Test Kitchen. I could see pairing her with brunch items, desserts, salads and so much more. Yes, this is the guest you must invite to your girls’ night in or ladies’ brunch.
My first project was to tweak a Strawberry Margarita Cupcake recipe I’d found on Pinterest. It was a hit!
Here’s the original recipe:
Here’s my version:
Diva Margarita Cupcakes
I prefer to cook sugar free since I have sugar issues and, nobody trusts a cook who doesn’t eat her own creations!
The orange jello was the perfect complement to the pink grapefruit in Diva.
The JLP Golden Lime Margarita was a no-brainer. I absolutely love these margaritas and knew it would be excellent in this citrus dream.
I thought coconut oil might give the cupcakes just a pinch of tropical flavor to set off all the citrus and I was right.
This recipe yielded 18 cupcakes.
When it came time to top off little darlings, I wished I had created tiny white chocolate crowns. As it turns out, they didn’t need anything so glamorous as all that. Instead of the Tequila Cream Cheese Frosting, I used the Pillsbury Sugar Free frosting and added a tablespoon of Diva. It worked out great! Then I topped each cupcake with a single chocolate pearl.
We enjoyed them for a very long time!
Tequila Cream Cheese Frosting
Of course, if you don’t feel like going through the hassle of baking, Diva Tequila pairs just as well with dark chocolate covered strawberries!
No matter how you enjoy Diva Tequila, you WILL enjoy it.
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The Ohio Valley’s schizophrenic spring weather has had an unexpectedly positive effect on my home liquor cabinet. Since it’s been too warm for the furnace and too cool for the air conditioner, the house temp has averaged about 75 degrees for two months. And one of the most notable beneficiaries is Tequila Penasco Anejo (the bourbon has benefitted, too!).
Sipped somewhere in the mid-70s one evening, the blooming butterscotch and cooked agave nose was brilliant. A good bit more swishing elevated vegetal notes, hints of mint, lemongrass, and aguamiel. Since temperature raises alcohol volatility, I remained wary of vapor burn. Still, walking that fine line between elegant fragrance and fire was worth it.
The flavor of this spirit, rested 14 to 16 months in oak, was bright and brilliant, launching with all the predictable barrel notes of vanilla and light caramel, even touches of chocolate. Held in the mouth, the añejo delivered lush floral notes backed by cinnamon and some straw. After swallowing, that rumor of chocolate reappeared and then dissolved into bruléed sugar, butterscotch and toffee. Given a brief nap in the glass—and trust me, it’s hard to put down—this expression offered up orange peel, wood and again butterscotch, joined by coriander.
Some spirits lose their body when warm, but not this one. It was full and coated both glass and mouth evenly, always generous and soft to every surface. Vigorous swirling of the golden expression yielded numerous narrow legs lined up and evenly spaced as the Rockettes in action. Think that’s a bit much? Have a look for yourself. (Maybe it was the glass?)
Sadly, Tequila Peñasco did not supply any press information, such as what its products cost. A quick web search revealed only the brand’s notoriously wonky website and expired liquor store discount offers for the añejo, but no details. That’s unfortunate given that I’d like to know how it stacks up (at the cash register) against its peers.
Suffice it to say, though, if you find it, get it if it fits your budget. It’s a straight-up fine sipper.
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Tequila Penasco ReposadoThe quality of tequila pushing into the U.S. market is so high these days that it’s hard to write a really bad review. It’s easy to be wowed by some more than others, and some, though good, make me question the price point, but I have yet to find one I’d swear off drinking again.
Tequila Peñasco Reposado has extended that winning streak for all the correct reasons: flavor, aroma and color are all what a reposado is supposed to represent–that perfect balance between a blanco’s vibrancy and that kiss of maturity born of brief barrel rest.
That I liked it this much was particularly surprising given my not-so-favorable reaction to its sibling Tequila Peñasco Plata, an expression I thought fine, but unexciting. The reposado, however, delivers a 180 as a super-enjoyable sipper. Every time I’ve drunk it, I’ve always wanted more because it’s so flavorful and easygoing.
In just four to six months barrel time, it makes quick friends with the wood, but no inappropriately deep relationships. Like a new college graduate who shows some maturity gained in his matriculation, this expression displays complexity while maintaining its youthfulness. Sip it neat or use it in a cocktail–it’s flexible! Given my druthers, though, I’d choose this neat.
Its light gold tint is alluring and hints accurately of a light body with a clean finish. On the front of the palate come good wood accents, touches of cinnamon and just a whisper of pepper. After a few sips I pick up some fruit, wood flavors and even some crème brulée on the exhale. This is a spirit any novice tequila sipper could enjoy straight.
Aerating and swirling bring out some butterscotch and brown sugar notes, followed by a good dose of vapor, so don’t nose it too closely like I did (and do too often). Let it rest and the brown sugar returns alongside a scant bit of toasted bread.
What tingles the tongue up front softens quickly at mid-palate and disappears before reaching the back. No, it’s not much for finishing, but hey, after less than a half year in the barrel, what do you expect? Maybe that quick disappearing act is what leaves me so eager for more when I’m finished.
Follow Penasco on Twitter here.
Follow Penasco on Facebook here.
Tequila Aficionado is proud to welcome rising star in tequila and travel journalism, Stephen Coomes, as a Contributing Writer and Reviewer. His steady gigs include roles as contributing editor for Nation’s Restaurant News (the U.S. restaurant industry’s largest publication), restaurant critic and feature writer for Louisville magazine, feature writer for Edible Louisville and Seafood Business magazines, Kentucky travel and dining contributor for Southern Living, and dining blogger for Insider Louisville. He also writes marketing, PR, web copy and ghostwrites for numerous private clients. You can visit Steve online at www.stevecoomes.com.
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