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Savoring Tequila
Savoring Tequilawritten by William Neidig
An interview with Denver’s Tequila expert Paco Lara, owner of Aztec Sol on 32nd and Vallejo, without a doubt the only bar in the state with the largest and best selection of tequila.
Cinco de Mayo has become in my opinion, the largest excuse in the country to party, get drunk and cruise around town yelling Viva Mexico. It is NOT Mexican Independence Day! Oh well, ignorance is bliss, now back to the story. So I figured, why not do a feature on something really Mexican, Tequila! Unfortunately, to get good Tequila in Denver is like finding a needle in a haystack. Luckily, that haystack is nearby on the north side. I called upon Denver’s Tequila expert Paco Lara, owner of Aztec Sol on 32nd and Vallejo, without a doubt the only bar in the state with the largest and best selection of tequila.
Tequila dates back to the indigenous peoples of Mexico including the Aztecs and in 1530 the Spaniards documented the fermentation of agave juice and produced Tequila. Now keep in mind, Mexico owns all patents and trademarks involved with Tequila. It cannot legally be produced in any other country. La Norma Oficial Mexicana Tequila, the official Mexican Tequila law, was established in 1949 dictating everything from what plant is to be used to how to distill and process it correctly. Tequila is the byproduct of Mezcal and gets its name from the Nahuatl word for volcano (due to the fertile volcanic soil in which the maguey plants grow). Tequila is not Mexican moonshine, it is not made from a cactus, does not have a worm, and one of my personal Hollywood favorites, was not only consumed by peasants and trigger happy bandidos who would take a nap under a cactus. GET REAL! On a positive side, Tequila is appreciated world wide just as much as a fine wine, and is priced accordingly also. So here it is the search for the best Tequila.
Ajuaa! – How many varieties of tequila does Aztec Sol offer?
PL – 262. By mid summer we will have 350 brands. Some are rare to come by in the U.S. and others are simply unavailable.
Ajuaa! – What is the difference?
PL – Aside from the brands, some are Blanco or “silver,” others, reposado and the rest, añejo or aged! The main difference is the taste.
Ajuaa! – Which one is the best for a shot?
PL – It definitely depends on the person. They may prefer strong tasting Tequila or they might prefer a smooth one.
Ajuaa! – What about for sipping?
PL – Again, it depends on the person. Cristero is very smooth. Quita Penas is a great reposado; Agavero is by far a favorite due to its sweetness.
Ajuaa! – What about for a mixed drink?
PL – Any one!!! By far the cheapest is the best just so you don’t ruin good, expensive Tequila. Personally, all Tequila should be sipped! It’s like getting an excellent cognac and adding soda. You will ruin it.
Ajuaa! – What makes good Tequila?
PL – Smoothness and flavor
Ajuaa! – What about Cuervo? Is it as good as it is made out to be?
PL – It is popular because of excellent marketing strategies. However, some Cuervo products are better than Patron. For instance, Tradicional, Reserva de la Familia, are among the best Cuervo products.
Ajuaa! – Why?
PL – Because they went back to the original form of making Tequila.
Ajuaa! – What about Sauza?
PL – Which one? They offer some really good ones. Cristero, Tres Generaciones and Hornitos are among their top brands.
Ajuua! – What is the most expensive Tequila you have?
PL – Agave Tequilera and Emiliano Zapata 1921. The bottle if you could even find one (besides here) costs $3,200.00. If I were to sell shots, each would go for about $300. They are not even produced for distribution. They have become collector’s items.
Ajuaa! – Does Aztec Sol have a drink that no other place in Denver has?
PL – The Cantarito! It’s a mixed drink served in a clay jarro or “pot” that we import directly from Jalisco, Mexico. The drink is prepared here and is very refreshing.
(Look for the coupon in this edition of Ajuaa! and take it to Aztec Sol for your free shot)