Tequila. Not the “lick sip suck” spirit you ram down your throat in successive shots attempting to get hammered. But the kind you sip in appreciation before or after a meal.
A visit to El Topo Mexican at Bondi Junction inevitably ends at the bar which stocks one of the largest tequila and mezcal selections in Sydney. All the tequilas are made of 100% agave and the drinks menu offers tastings and tequila flights.
Brett Harris, Bar Manager at El Topo, sits us down for a tasting of some of the Añejo (aged) tequilas.
L-R: Siete Leguas Añejo, Arette Unique Extra Añejo & Ocho Tequila Añejo, D’Antaño Extra Añejo Tequila
Casa Siete Leguas has been operating since 1952 and produces a typical highland tequila. Siete Leguas Añejo (38% ABV) is spicy on the nose, with a sweet oaky vanilla character and a long and lingering finish. Leave it in the glass for a little while and the spirit opens up on the nose. At $14 a shot, it makes a good entry price point for a smooth, aged tequila.
Arette Unique Extra Añejo (40% ABV) is made in limited production and is named after a Mexican racehorse. More floral on the nose with a touch of ethanol, it has an oaky agave flavour with floral notes of hibiscus. Perfumed, smooth, it makes a good after dinner sipping tequila.
From Tequila Ocho comes the Single Estate Tequila Ocho Añejo 2008 (40% ABV), a highland vintage tequila which highlights terroir. Ocho are one of the first producers to offer vintage tequila sourced from particular agave fields. Spicy on the nose and on the palate with hints of caramel, this is a complex spirit with a degree of heat.
Brett Harris, Bar Manager
Leaving the best till last, Siete Leguas D’Antaño Extra Añejo Tequila is a special treat. Ultra-smooth, with a great balance of oak, spice and agave, this luxury spirit is like a nectar. It has no ethanol on the palate, and finishes long and lingering.
Next on taste is a mezcal flight. But that is best left to the next visit.
El Topo
http://www.eltopo.com.au/
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