Before attending La Hacienda’s Don Julio Tequila tasting, I always thought of tequila as the perfect drink for shots or margaritas. When doing shots you drink it as quickly as possible and end it with lime and salt and when enjoying it on a margarita, the syrup, lime and salt compliment the strong flavor of the agave.
If you think of tequila the way I do, continue reading to discover a new way to enjoy Mexico’s most emblematic drink! I’ll be sharing ways to slow the pace, recognize the flavor notes and pair this drink in a way that will leave you wanting more, instead of saying I don’t want to see tequila ever again after your hangover.
Don Julio Tequila
Made of blue agave, tequila ranks Number 3 in the Top 10 list of choice alcoholic drinks in America and its growing market goes beyond the Latin community, tequila is well known world wide.
There are many different tequilas, they are distinctive in color, flavor and aroma and it all depends of the añejamiento process, which is how long the tequila sits in the barrels.
La Hacienda Tequila Dinner Menu
White tequilas are fruity, light and slightly aromatic. They are perfect to make cocktails like Palomas, which consists of white tequila, lime flavored soda and garnished with lime. This a perfect drink for newbies because is refreshing and the tequila flavor is not overwhelming.
Don Julio tequila Paloma
Then we tried the reposado, a tequila that sits in the barrel for at least 12 months, this has a characteristic light amber color and the taste notes start to showcase oaky flavors. Reposado is a fantastic pairing for seafood, this time we enjoyed it with camarones Culiacan; bacon wrapped shrimp, with a chipotle salsa glaze and rajas con crema.
The main course showcased a perfectly cooked bone in barbacoa the res, that literally melted in your mouth. Tender, juicy, smoky beef prepared on banana leafs to conserve the flavor. The perfect tequila for this dish is a bold Anejo, darker in color, with a deeper oaky flavor and a bolder after taste, made to enjoyed sip by sip.
Barbacoa de res
And finally dessert, this is in my books of the best desserts I have ever had. Passion fruit ice cream with mango custard, layered over a graham crust, garnished with white chocolate and a pineapple compote, paired with Don Julio 1942 reserva tequila, a limited edition tequila in honor of Don Julio’s 60th anniversary.
Dessert
This was an amazing experience and a great way to learn more about tequila, specially when a Tequila Goddess is hosting dinner and shares all her knowledge with you! A perfect night, with great food and an even better conversation, I can’t wait to attend the next tequila event.
Katie Schnurr, Tequila Goddess at La Hacienda