The highlight of our
trip to Tahoe was sledding with Lyla. A close second, though, was Riaz introducing me to Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia. Quite simply, the best tequila I've ever had.
For the most part, I haven't been able to drink tequila since Senior Dinner at my fraternity house back in 1989. In a spectacular display of binge drinking and general irresponsibility, each senior picks a bottle of booze and calls up underclassmen to do shots until the bottle is gone. If you're going to drink half a bottle of booze, why not tequila, right? Cuervo 1800 was my weapon of choice.
Side Note #1: Lyla, Adrian - Do as I say, not as I do.
Side Note #2: See the formative years of the Multiply management team in the photo to the right. Michael and Peter were the first two guys I called up to do shots with me, and it seems like they've been making me pay for it ever since. :-)
I realize that having a "tequila incident" makes me about as unique as being right-handed or having brown hair. Seems like just about everyone has had one. The point is that for longest time I couldn't even bear to be near an open bottle of tequila, let alone drink some. That tequila smell would instantly trigger the gag reflex. All of you right-handed brunettes know exactly what I'm talking about.
With the passage of time and the advent of premium tequilas like Herradura and Patron, I've been able to stomach the (very) occasional shot. The notion of actually sipping tequila though was still utterly repulsive.
Nearly twenty years on, I can finally welcome tequila back into my life. Reserva is so smooth that it's a pleasure to sip straight up. No mixers. No rocks. It has many of the qualities that have caused me to explore whiskey (bourbon, specifically) in recent years. Its got a smokey caramel flavor, but it goes down much smoother than whiskey.
I haven't had any other ultra-premium tequilas yet, but so far Reserva is in a class of its own. For as good as Herradura Reposado is, by comparison its a lot closer to that old school bottle of Cuervo Gold than it is to Reserva. Do your self a favor and pick up a bottle. It runs between $80 and $100, but it's worth every penny.
Now if you'll excuse me, tequila and I have to make up for lost time!
