No need to travel to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California to taste great tequila. Cabo Wabo tequila is available here in sunny Old Town, San Diego. For the month of December, Cabo Wabo will be our tequila of the Month. Cabo Wabo is flavorful tequila that is produced in Arandas, Jalisco by Destiladora San Nicolas (NOM, 1440).

Currently Cabo Wabo is produced in 4 styles: blanco, reposado, añejo and extra añejo. Its blanco is crystal-clear with a fresh floral bouquet. It has spicy lime notes with full agave flavors. The reposado is rested for 4-6 months in American oak casks. It has a bold peppery flavor and hints of fruit that linger on the palate briefly, followed by a long, spicy finish. If you prefer something a little bit richer try the añejo is a perfect fit. It is aged for 14 months in American Oak barrels that give it a full vanilla caramel nose with honey and chocolate flavors.

If you really want to treat yourself and be a tequila king/queen Cabo Uno, extra añejo will satisfy your sophisticated palate. Aged for 38 months in charred American oak. This small batch tequila uses only the ripest agaves and the heart of the distillation process. It has herb and tropical fruit aroma with, chocolate caramel and roasted coffee flavors.

These tequilas are sold at Café Coyote for: $ 7.50 (blanco), $ 9.00 (reposado) $ 11.00 (añejo) and $30.00 (Cabo Uno, Extra Anejo). You can try these tequilas neat or in a margarita. If you want any of these tequilas in a margarita it will only cost $ 1.95 more. I recommend that you sip the extra añejo to discover its unique complexity of aromas and flavors.

Salud!

Mario

June 17, 2010

The new margaritas have arrived just in time for summer!  Tequila aficionados, “De Fortitude” is here to stay. De Fortitude is one of the best margaritas you will ever taste. This margarita is made with Fortaleza blanco. Fortaleza is a hand crafted, artisan and stone milled 100% agave tequila produced by the one and only Guillermo Erickson Sauza. Guillermo is a fifth generation family member that has conserved his great, great grandfather’s traditional techniques to produce tequila like no other. De Fortitude Margarita is carefully balanced with Cointreau, sweet and sour and fresh limejuice. If you are tequila purest, try Fortaleza neat, at room temperature to appreciate its aromatic qualities and complex flavors.

Other new tasty margaritas on the menu are the Antiguo Gold and the Cabo-Rita. The Antiguo Gold Margarita is made with Antiguo añejo tequila that has been aged in American Oak for 1 year. This tequila is part of Casa Herradura and was originally exclusively crafted for friends and family of the Hacienda. We blend this exceptional tequila with French orange liqueur, sweet and sour, and a splash of fresh orange juice to combine a flavorful and refreshing drink.

The Cabo-Rita will captivate you with its Cabo Wabo 100 percent silver tequila. This tequila is produced in the Arnadas, Jalisco. Arandas is located in the romote highlands of Jalisco. Agaves grown in the highland are known for having high sugar brix levels. Its climate, rich red soil and altitude are perfect for agave cultivation. If you are ever in Los Altos de Jalisco, get your hands dirty, smell the earth and put a handful of red soil in your hands to experience nature’s richness.

Tasting Notes Tequila Paring

Fortaleza Blanco: Crystal clear with intense baked agave nose and buttery complexity. Its flavor parallels its aromatics but has an earthy and citrus balance with a sweet and smooth finish.

El Llano Reposado: Intense golden color, its 4-6 months resting in used bourbon barrels gives it a sweet and semi oaky aroma with traces of vanilla. It conserves a bold taste but finishes off sweet with lingering agave, mango, peach, and caramel.

Herrdura Añejo: Its bright copper highlight is the result of aging for two years in oak. It has a medium, agave resemblance with toasted oak and nutty aromatics with flavors of dried fruit, oak and creamy finish.

Don’t hesitate; the time is now!  Father’s day is June 20th. When was the last time you saw your old man? Treat him to some great food and nice sipping tequila. Just remember the good times you had as a child and cherish every moment that you spend with your family.

Salud!!

Mario Marquez

Tequila Ambassador

Café Coyote, Old Town

Dear Coyote Café Patrons,

Recently the tequila industry has gotten so large that there are more than 1000 brands that compete in the market. Along with tequilas, other agave-based spirits have joined the competition. It is sometimes hard to distinguish these agave spirits from tequila due to their packaging and marketing advertisements. I have seen labels that use words such as “beyond tequila.” This type of wording can be confusing because it might lead consumers to think they are buying tequila when they are not.  Also, there are some brands that are thought of as high quality tequilas, but along the way lost their legal tequila title. Some of these known brands are back on the shelves as “agave spirits.”

Don’t be fooled! If you are looking for authentic tequila, the following information will help you know that what you are drinking is indeed tequila. Look at the label on the bottle. Is the word Tequila printed on the label? The label should say “Product of Mexico” or “Hecho en Mexico.” Does the label include the initials CRT?  These stand for Consejo Regulador del Tequia (Tequila Regulatory Council). Is there a NOM number on the label? The NOM is a number assigned to each distillery and helps track which distillery produced the brand.

If you want a tequila that is 100 % agave, make sure that the label says 100% Agave or 100% Puro de Agave. If the word Tequila is printed on the label but does not say 100 % Agave, you are buying tequila that consists of 51% agave and 49% other sugars. This category of spirits is generally known as “mixto” tequila.

As a consumer, you have the right to know what you are purchasing and drinking. Café Coyote invites you to learn more about the history, process and folklore of tequila. Visit us any day of the week, especially for our famous Tequila Thursdays, to have a great dining and educational experience.

This months Cabo Wabo tequila specials:

Blanco $7.50 Reposada $9.00 Anejo $11.00 Uno $30.00 Make it a Margarita for $1!

Salud!

Mario Marquez

Tequila Ambassador

Café Coyote