By Kristi Trimmer, Guest Blogger, Foodies Like Us.com

Most people have heard of wine tastings, food tastings, and even more recently beer tastings, but have you ever thought of a tequila tasting? Did you know that there are hundreds of tequila makers, some that are small boutique-style as well as name brands? Which one tastes better? Is there a difference? These questions and more were on my mind as I ventured to my first Tequila Festival <http://www.phoenixtequilafest.com/>  in early December in downtown Phoenix.

Most tequilas are produced in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. This area is renowned for being the best growing region for the blue agave plant.  The pinas or the hearts of the blue agave, are harvested by hand, fermented, and then distilled to make the precious tequila. Each tequila craftsman has their own process which gives their tequila its unique taste and richness.   The rich red soil, ambient temperature, and consistent annual rainfall of Jalisco, Mexico produces some of the most amazing tequilas out of this unique region of the world. An astounding 300 million plants are harvested there every year!

Blue Agave Plant

Did you know that tequila was soon developed after the Spaniards brought distillation to Mexico, and is named for the town of Tequila? Tequilas labeled 100% Blue Agave are considered the absolute best. Mexican law states that tequila must be made with at least 51% blue agave with the remaining 49% being a raw ingredient and it is most commonly sugarcane, although other raw products may be used. Tequila is generally bottled at 80 proof although some of the aged versions are bottled at higher alcohol levels.

My two favorite tequilas makers this day were Senor Rio Tequila <http://www.senorrio.com/>  and Cruz Tequila <http://www.cruztequila.com>. I for sure thought I was going to love Patron Silver, but to my amazement, I really don’t care for Silver Tequilas or for Patron. Who knew I loved reposados? Silver tequila is also known as white (blanca) or silver (plata) and is bottled soon after distillation. Its smooth, fresh flavor usually has hints of herbs including pepper. Although I am not a huge fan of silvers, Cruz’s Silver Tequila was very creamy, extremely smooth, and was absolutely heavenly in their Signature Cruz Cucumber Margarita:
2 oz Cruz Silver Tequila
1 lime, squeezed
2 cucumber wheels
1 oz Agave nectar
~~Muddle then shake with ice, splash with water, and serve over ice~~

Cruz Silver Tequila Cruz uses hand blown glass and aluminum, and recycles all of their bottles and packaging ~ thanks for thinking of the environment!!

What is reposado tequila? It is tequila that may contain added flavoring and coloring but it must be aged at least 2 months and can be aged for up to a year. The wood aging (usually in oak) infuses the reposados with hints of vanilla and spice and produces character more mellow than that of tequila blanco. Some of the best reposados are aged in old brandy barrels which enhances the sweet smokey taste.

Now let’s talk about those reposados that I fell in love with.  Cruz’s Reposado took 36 batches and 3 years to perfect. Boy was it yummy with its hints of vanilla and a buttery almond finish.

Senor Rio’s Reposado tequila was the hands down winner for the day for me. Senor Rio tequila begins with 100% blue agave estate grown plants that are slowly cooked in traditional stove ovens. They are fermented in open tanks that allow the fragrance from the surrounding fruit trees to blend with the tequila for natural hints of citrus. Their master distiller than double distills this premium tequila. Senor Rio’s Reposado is a true work of art ~ I loved it.

Senor Rio Tequila--love those bottles

One of my favorite drinks with Senor Rio Tequila is the Love Hangover:
2 oz Senor Rio Reposado Tequila
1 oz orange juice
4 oz pineapple juice
1 oz cream
~~Shake with ice then serve over ice in a tall glass rimmed with sugar~~

At the Phoenix Tequila Festival there were over 30 tequila craftsmen and each of them had at least 3 tequilas including the blanco (silver), the reposado, and the most prized, the anejo. Tequila anejo is aged for at least 1 year (often 2 to 3 years). The smooth, elegant, and complex flavor of the best añejos is often compared to that of fine cognacs. My tasting partner really enjoyed the variety of anejos there. To be honest, they just didn’t sit well on my taste buds so I limited my tastings to the 30+ reposados that were there!

I really enjoyed learning about the entire tequila making process and was very surprised to find out that both of my favorite tequilas are from Phoenix-based companies! Every time I go for Happy Hour now I make sure to ask for Senor Rio and Cruz tequilas ~ I find it is the best way to make sure my favorite watering hole has the best tequila. I even wandered through my favorite place on earth (Costco!) and was stoked to see Cruz tequilas there! Support and shop local whenever possible! Cheers to great tequilas by Senor Rio and Cruz!!