Okay, so I read a bunch of reviews, sifted through my ideas about oak aging and then went out and bought a bottle of Casa Noble Reposado. On Tequila sites, yes there are tequila sites, this Reposado is highly rated by both critics and drinkers. I chose Casa Noble Reposado because they do a curious thing; they age their Reposado for 364 days. One more day and it would be considered an Anejo. But, their Anejo, along with all of the other highly rated Anejos are aged in wood for two or more years. I figured this would put me in the oak aging sweet spot.
Reading around, the advice is that if you are using your tequila to make margaritas, unless you use high quality ingredients, you will not get the benefit.
But, if you do use high quality ingredients, they say you will get the benefit.
So, I used the Casa Noble Reposado to make margaritas. Or, technically, a margarita cocktail.
My ingredients were, Casa Noble Reposado, Grand Marnier, Agave Nectar, and fresh squeezed lime juice.
Oh my lord, this made the best tasting margarita cocktail I've ever had! My wife and our guests were also bowled over.
It was delicious, but I've had a lot of good tasting Margaritas. What made this superior, IMO, is that it was also more sophisticated, complex & interesting than any margarita I've ever had before.
So, this is not scientific. I did not buy a bunch of tequilas, sip each one in a taste off and rate them. I relied on a couple of tequila sites to do the ground work for me.
But, in a margarita with high quality ingredients, it tasted better than anything I've tasted before.
Of course, this may also be due to the fresh squeezed lime and agave' nectar. Most recipes suggest using a sweetener made of sugar melted in water called "simple syrup."
I used agave nectar because Tequila is also made from agave and I figured the flavors would intensify and compliment each other and that this would be better than a simple sugar sweetener. Agave nectar is interesting. On one hand, it is sweeter than sugar, so you can use less of it to get similar results and it also has a lower glycemic index, so it may be a healthier choice. Personally, I like the flavor and I use it instead of sugar or honey, which I find too sickly sweet. IMO, agave nectar mellower and rounder.
So, I don't know if Casa Noble Reposado is the best tequila, but I do know that I have found one killer margarita recipe and it includes Casa Noble Reposado.
So, I will be buying more Casa Noble.
And more Agave Nectar.
Highly recommended.
Reading around, the advice is that if you are using your tequila to make margaritas, unless you use high quality ingredients, you will not get the benefit.
But, if you do use high quality ingredients, they say you will get the benefit.
So, I used the Casa Noble Reposado to make margaritas. Or, technically, a margarita cocktail.
My ingredients were, Casa Noble Reposado, Grand Marnier, Agave Nectar, and fresh squeezed lime juice.
Oh my lord, this made the best tasting margarita cocktail I've ever had! My wife and our guests were also bowled over.
It was delicious, but I've had a lot of good tasting Margaritas. What made this superior, IMO, is that it was also more sophisticated, complex & interesting than any margarita I've ever had before.
So, this is not scientific. I did not buy a bunch of tequilas, sip each one in a taste off and rate them. I relied on a couple of tequila sites to do the ground work for me.
But, in a margarita with high quality ingredients, it tasted better than anything I've tasted before.
Of course, this may also be due to the fresh squeezed lime and agave' nectar. Most recipes suggest using a sweetener made of sugar melted in water called "simple syrup."
I used agave nectar because Tequila is also made from agave and I figured the flavors would intensify and compliment each other and that this would be better than a simple sugar sweetener. Agave nectar is interesting. On one hand, it is sweeter than sugar, so you can use less of it to get similar results and it also has a lower glycemic index, so it may be a healthier choice. Personally, I like the flavor and I use it instead of sugar or honey, which I find too sickly sweet. IMO, agave nectar mellower and rounder.
So, I don't know if Casa Noble Reposado is the best tequila, but I do know that I have found one killer margarita recipe and it includes Casa Noble Reposado.
So, I will be buying more Casa Noble.
And more Agave Nectar.
Highly recommended.