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Suavecito Tequila Pairing Party Platter

February 19, 2019 by Lisa Pietsch

When I set about creating a party pairing platter for Suavecito Tequila, I wanted to keep it simple so anyone could do it quickly and easily.

Although I have an advantage in San Antonio where I can easily get Mexican foods and spices at the corner market, I wanted to create this pairing with items that could be easily purchased anywhere in the United States.

This way, everyone can enjoy a Suavecito pairing party with very little effort.

The first thing I did was identify the predominant flavors in the three Suavecito Tequila expressions:

Suavecito Tequila Blanco

The blanco has strong citrus notes that I felt could be brought out even more with oranges.

Suavecito Tequila Reposado

The reposado has light caramel and spice notes that brought to mind flan and gingersnaps.

Suavecito Tequila Anejo

The anejo is richer and can stand up to milk and dark chocolate as well as coffee.

[Tweet “Suavecito Tequila Pairing Party Platter: Complete instructions for a @smoothsuavecito pairing platter sure to please at your next tequila tasting party.”]

Then I did the shopping:

Mandarin Oranges (Easy to peel means the host doesn’t lose their mind with imperfect pieces)

Gingersnaps (A staple in any grocery store’s cookie aisle)

Dove Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Caramel (Rich and individually wrapped for your guests’ convenience)

Ferrero Rocher Collection with dark, milk and white chocolate (Available everywhere)

Reina Caramel Flan (Available in individual serving sizes in the refrigerated foods section with the Jello, yogurt, and pudding cups)

All totaled, these items cost less than $20 at my local grocery store.

[Tweet “Host your own Suavecito Tequila tasting party with just a few simple items you can get at any grocery store. @smoothsuavecito”]

The hardest part was determining the presentation.

I finally settled on a 3-tier platter.

This provides a dramatic presentation while still allowing several guests to reach in at the same time while avoiding collisions.

On the bottom level:

Gingersnaps and freshly-peeled mandarin orange pieces. Placing them both together provided complementary color and flavors.

Mid level:

Without a lip on the edge of the platter, the Ferrero Rocher pieces made an excellent outside border and I filled in with the Dove pieces.

Top level:

I placed the caramel flan here for easy serving and an attractive topper.

Other Options:

This can also be presented on a large tray with a selection of custard cups or monkey dishes to hold each selection and each flan. A sectioned platter would also do well.

However you serve this pairing platter at your Suavecito tequila tasting party, I highly recommend offering a quality black coffee or espresso such as Café Bustelo as a palate cleanser so your guests can enjoy each expression and pairing on its own merits.

When you host your Suavecito tequila pairing party, be sure to post a picture on Instagram and tag @tequilaaficionado. We’d love to share it!

This post was sponsored by Suavecito Tequila and created by Lisa Pietsch for Tequila Aficionado Media.

For information on the Suavecito Tequila crowdfunding campaign, please visit https://www.startengine.com/suavecito.

Find Suavecito Tequila online:

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Embajador Tequila

January 3, 2019February 14, 2017 by Lisa Pietsch

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Have you ever wondered what to pair with tequila for a Valentine’s celebration? Embajador Tequila has put together a Pinterest board to help you with surprising your Valentine, or maybe just treating yourself and friends, to some delightful holiday pairings.

If you’ve had Embajador, you’ll know that the orange groves surrounding their estate owned agave fields show themselves in the nose and flavor profile of Embajador Tequila. For this reason, one of the easiest pairings with Embajador is anything that includes cinnamon or cloves – like churros! Check out this pin to make these beauties to the right.

If you’re an oak head and prefer Embajador’s anejo, aged in Bourbon barrels, then we heartily suggest pairing with chocolate and/or caramel flavors. The combination is one you’re sure to love!

Are you looking for a quick but amazing Valentine’s Day gift you can pick up at a moment’s notice?

Try a bottle of Embajador Anejo and a box of chocolate turtles!

If you’d like to make the turtles to the left, click here.

If you prefer Reposado, then we might suggest a white chocolate mousse garnished with raspberries. The flavors and textures in each will marry well for a delicious treat.

Click here for the recipe to the right.

For the purist who loves the fresh light flavors in Embajador Blanco or a Valentine that prefers to eat healthy or has a restrictive nutrition plan, we suggest combining Embajador Blanco with a heart shaped fruit platter. This one comes with an orange cream recipe for dipping.

No matter which expression of Embajador you choose to pair with tonight, we’re certain your Valentine will love you for it!

Click on the image below to visit the Embajador Tequila Pinboard for Valentine’s Day. There are pairing suggestions to fit every palate. Whether you’re looking for a last minute gift or something to celebrate a special occasion, these are all winners. While you’re there, check out their margarita pinboard for National Margarita Day next week!

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21 Things to Do with 21 Tequila Bottles

January 3, 2019February 10, 2017 by Lisa Pietsch

Anyone can figure out 21 things to do with 21 Tequila. Any tequila from a distillery like Nom 1414 is easily sipped or mixed in a million different combinations of cocktails. But what I found particularly inspiring about 21 Tequila is the bottle. These are not aluminum bottles to be simply tossed away, they are food grade stainless steel.

Now I have been a big fan of stainless steel containers all of my life, having grown up in a blue-collar family of carpenters who never left home without a thermos of coffee. Those thermoses fell off high rises and houses alike and still kept their coffee safe and warm. So when I saw these significant stainless steel bottles that 21 Tequila came in, I knew we could not just throw them away or put them in a box in the bottle library.

These bottles deserve their own blog so I’ve compiled a list of 21 things that you can do with these great 21 Tequila bottles after you’ve finished drinking the great tequila inside them.

21 Uses for 21 Tequila Bottles

Take them to the pool filled with any tasty beverage.
Take them to the beach filled with margaritas.
Take them to parties and show off your mixology skills.
Use them as refillable, dishwasher safe, water bottles.
Store mouthwash in them. People will love your bathroom!
Use the blanco & reposado bottles for oil and vinegar.
Mix salad dressing in them for picnics or potlucks.
Keep your barbeque sauce in them. You’ll be a BBQ god!
Use them as shaker bottles for meal replacement or protein drinks.
Keep them in your bar for cocktail shakers.
Mix fresh margaritas in them and store them in your reezer for a great frozen margarita.
Fill them with ice and use them as something cold for your head when you have too many sweet cocktails.
Use them as a coffee thermos.
Mix your drinks in them and take them tubing on a river (they float).
Use them for keeping your Gatorade cool during long bike rides.
Use them as forms for your cowboy boots.
Use them for egg storage when camping (break the eggs into the bottle and refrigerate). You can shake them up for scrambled or drop them out one at a time for fried eggs over a campfire.
Store camping matches in them to keep them dry.
Store your loose change in them.
Put a few pennies inside and use them for dog training.
Keep one at your desk for pen & pencil storage.

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Diva Tequila Waffles Recipe

January 3, 2019February 9, 2017 by Lisa Pietsch

Few infused tequilas are done well, but when you find one with as versatile a flavor profile as Diva Tequila, it’s worth taking the time to experiment with it. I’ve been using Diva Tequila in the kitchen for years now and heartily recommend adding Diva Tequila Waffles to your next brunch menu.

Diva Tequila Waffles Recipe

1 box yellow cake mix
1 box Jello (I like Orange, Strawberry or Lemon) mix
¾ cup water
⅓ cup coconut oil
½ cup Diva Tequila
3 eggs

Mix all ingredients well and cook in well-oiled waffle iron.

Top waffles with whipped cream, mandarin orange pieces and/or fresh strawberries.

Serve with a Pink Paloma made with:

2oz Diva Tequila
4oz Grapefruit Juice
Serve in glass with ice

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Caprese Salad with Siempre Tequila

January 3, 2019February 8, 2017 by Lisa Pietsch

The first time I tried Siempre Tequila, I knew immediately that it’s herbaceousness would work perfectly in a vinaigrette.

Now when most people consider using tequila in a salad dressing they want to start adding avocados and limes and getting all kitchy on the Margarita theme. But I’m here to tell you that you need to stop doing that.

The next time you are looking for a salad, consider a Caprese salad without all that balsamic nonsense going around and use a Siempre Tequila dressing instead. That’s right, no balsamic anything, no avocados, no limes, and nothing that smacks of a margarita.

Caprese Dressing Ingredients

3 Tbl extra-virgin Olive oil
5 Tbl Siempre Tequila
4 cloves garlic (skinned)
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp sugar
1/2 c fresh basil leaves (loosely packed)
10 basil leaves for topping

Preparation

Place first 6 ingredients in pulse style blender and blend until dressing is consistent and smooth. Serve drizzled over sliced tomatoes and cheese (mozzarella or goat cheese). The classic Caprese alternates tomato and cheese slices on a platter.

Italian Dressing Ingredients

- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Siempre Tequila
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
- 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
- Pinch of dried oregano

PREPARATION

Combine all ingredients in small bowl and whisk to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

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Glazed 888 Pecan Pound Cake Recipe

January 3, 2019February 6, 2017 by Lisa Pietsch

This recipe was adapted from a bourbon pecan pound cake. After looking at the ingredients itseemed to me me that Tres Ochos anejo would work especially well.

One of the tricks of baking with tequila is to know how much tequila to use and what varietal so as not to overwhelm the other ingredients. When you have a heavy recipe such as this one that calls for sour cream and nuts, an aged tequila can make for an excellent flavor accent. In this case that is exactly what Tres ochos Anejo did.

These mini Bundt Cakes did not last for long. They were a big hit with my entire crew of taste testers.

Glazed 888 Pecan Pound Cake

Ingredients

CAKE:
1 cup Butter, softened
2½ eups Sugar
6 Eggs
3 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
½ teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
8 ounces Sour Cream
½ cup 888 Tres Ochos Tequila Anejo
1½ cups Pecans, Chopped

GLAZE:
¼ cup Butter
½ cup Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
3 tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup Powdered Sugar
½ cups Pecans, Chopped

Instructions

CAKE:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 12 cup Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Beat the butter on medium, until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually mix in sugar and beat on medium 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until yolks disappear.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.
Mix together sour cream and tequila. Add to the butter mixture alternately with flour mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix on low just until blended. Stir in pecans and pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. (For mini cakes, bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.) Set on a wire rack for 15 minutes to cool. Remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
GLAZE:
In a heavy bottom saucepan, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar and milk and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat.
Add vanilla and powdered sugar and whisk until smooth.
Pour glaze over completely cooled cake and sprinkle with chopped pecans, pressing down on them gently.

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Santo Diablo Mezcal King Ranch Chicken Recipe

January 3, 2019January 12, 2017 by Lisa Pietsch

Most King Ranch Chicken recipes are pretty bland and not at all what you might expect from a Tex Mex standard. The beautiful thing about King Ranch Chicken is that everybody has a different recipe (and ours is the best).
Since we prefer our food on the spicy side, we make our King Ranch Chicken a little bit differently…

If you enjoy something spicy that you can cook up in a slow cooker for a cold winter day then this recipe is for you!

The first thing we did to liven this up is slow cook the chicken in Santo Diablo Mezcal.

(While I enjoy sipping Santo Diablo Mezcal, I have found that I really love cooking with it.)

When adding the other ingredients, we used diced tomatoes with Hatch Chiles instead of Ro-tel. Next we added cumin and red pepper. These few changes turned a bland cheesy chicken casserole into something entirely different.

[Tweet “Santo Diablo Mezcal King Ranch Chicken Recipe @SantoDiabloUSA”]

Here’s how you can enjoy it too!

Santo Diablo King Ranch Chicken

3lbs Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1/4 Cup Santo Diablo Mezcal

Place the first two ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high until the chicken pulls apart easily with a fork. Pull the chicken apart with a fork so you have a nice smoky pot of shredded chicken. The add:

2 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Can Diced Tomatoes and Hatch Chilis

1 Bag Frozen Fajita Mixed Vegetables

2 Cups Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese

2 Teaspoons Cumin

1 Teaspoon Red Pepper

Mix well and let it cook on high until bubbly. Serve over steamed rice with a glass of Santo Diablo Mezcal.

[Tweet “Santo Diablo Mezcal King Ranch Chicken – Guaranteed to warm your winter. @SantoDiabloUSA “]

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Malinalli Tequila Extra Anejo German Apple Cake Recipe

January 3, 2019January 11, 2017 by Lisa Pietsch

I won’t lie or pretend to be unbiased here. I love Malinalli Tequila Extra Anejo. It is the little black dress of tequilas. Whether it is a drink for one with a book, a quiet night for two, or special celebration with friends, Malinalli is perfect.

But just because it is great for drinking doesn’t mean you can’t cook with it. In fact just a little goes a long way. In this recipe I discovered that the delicate spices in Malinalli Extra Anejo Tequila are the perfect accent flavors for German apple cake.

[Tweet “Malinalli Tequila Extra Anejo, the Little Back Dress of Tequilas. @malinallitequil“]

If you are a fan of aged tequilas and enjoy a well-made apple cake then you will want to try this recipe.

Malinalli German Apple Cake Recipe

Ingredients

2 Eggs
1 can Apple Pie Filling
2 cups Sugar (or sugar substitute)
2 teaspoons ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 cup Malinalli Extra Anejo
2 cups all-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9×13 inch cake pan with nonstick spray.
In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.
Spread batter into the prepared pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes or until cake tests done. Let cake cool on a wire rack. Once cake is cool serve with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar or with a Cream Cheese Frosting and, of course, a snifter of Malinalli Tequila!

[Tweet “Malinalli Tequila @malinallitequil Extra Anejo German Apple Cake Recipe”]

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Christmas Panettone with Embajador Tequila Recipe

January 3, 2019December 24, 2016 by Lisa Pietsch

If you’ve tasted Embajador Tequila then you know that there’s always just a hint of orange. If you’ve visited the Embajador Distillery then you’ll know why. Orange groves surround their agave fields. It is because of this unique and very intentional terroir that Embajador Tequila pairs exceptionally well with orange, cloves, cinnamon, and Christmas!

That’s exactly why I chose to create a Panettone (traditional Italian Christmas bread) with Embajador instead of brandy. In case you’re wondering, It is delicious!

Assemble the following ingredients in a bread machine (or bowl if you prefer Old World ways):

1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/3 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Sugar
6 Eggs
1/2 Cup Softened Butter
1.5 Teaspoons Orange Peel
3 Tablespoons Embajador Anejo
3.5 Cups Flour
3 Teaspoons Yeast
1 Cup Mixed Dried Fruit (I used Cranberry, Raisin, and Date)

I ran this on the Dough cycle so I could bake in a pan in the oven, but this will bake up just as easily in the bread machine. If you choose the machine, run it on a regular 2lb loaf cycle. If you choose the oven, bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Christmas Panettone with Embajador Tequila Recipe http://wp.me/p3u1xi-4vl — A cross section of the light, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of Embajador Panettone.

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Revel Avila Agave Spirit Facts

June 5, 2018September 16, 2016 by Lisa Pietsch

Revel Avila Agave Spirit Facts

Revel Spirits are very unique agave spirits. You’d understand if you’d tasted them!

If you haven’t tasted them yet, we heartily recommend you give they a try.

Since our reviews of Revel, we’ve discovered some delicious details about the spirit that agave geeks like us really appreciate:

Revel Spirits’ Blue Weber Agave plants are grown in the state of Morelos, Mexico
The soil is very rich with alkaline and the farms are very close to an active volcano, Popocatépetl
This soil has only been farmed for 15-20 years
The farms are run by Revel’s partner Héctor Ruiz and his family
Morelos soil is distinct from other regions of Mexico, creating a taste different from Tequila, even though Revel is made with 100% Blue Agave
REVEL currently uses only 100% Blue Weber agave. They will have other Avila brands to follow using different types of Agave plants

For the REVEL brand:

Old school method: (some of their Piña’s are roasted)
Revel’s Piña’s are thrown into a pit filled with volcanic rock from the local volcano, covered with sand and leaves and a pipe is inserted into the middle of pit to release smoke (so it’s less smoky than Mezcal)
Piña’s are roasted for 48 hours covered and another 24 hours uncovered
New school method: (some of their Piña’s are steam heated)
Then the steamed and roasted Piña’s are blended, shredded, fermented
The product is triple distilled through column distillers which creates the Blanco
The Reposado is made from the Blanco placed in (once used) American Oak Whisky barrels for one year.
The Añejo is made from the Blanco by inserting the Blanco into (new) French oak barrels for two years – which takes on a different complexity then the Reposado

Following are the previous reviews we’ve done of Revel’s Agave Spirits:

We were not compensated for these reviews but we did receive free product samples in exchange for honest, unbiased reviews.

Brands participating in Tequila Aficionado Tours, like Revel, are selected to participate based upon our interest in working with and promoting them. We never endorse a brand we would not recommend to our mothers. All participants in our tours pay a one-time sponsor fee to participate. #sponsored

The first thing I did was identify the predominant flavors in the three Suavecito Tequila expressions:

Then I did the shopping:

The hardest part was determining the presentation.

On the bottom level:

Mid level:

Top level:

Other Options:

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

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21 Uses for 21 Tequila Bottles

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Please share this with your friends:

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Preparation

Italian Dressing Ingredients

PREPARATION

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Glazed 888 Pecan Pound Cake

Ingredients

Instructions

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Santo Diablo King Ranch Chicken

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Malinalli German Apple Cake Recipe

Ingredients

Directions

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Assemble the following ingredients in a bread machine (or bowl if you prefer Old World ways):

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For the REVEL brand:

Following are the previous reviews we’ve done of Revel’s Agave Spirits:

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