If you are bored of craft gin (we’re not quite sure how that would be possible) or would simply like to try something new (far more likely) over the summer months, how about tequila? Below are three cocktail recipes using imported Altos tequila made from blue weber agave, hand-picked in Los Altos de Jalisco (the highlands of Jalisco) in Mexico.
5 facts about tequila
1. One bottle of Altos tequila takes an average of 9 years to make (this comes down to harvesting of the agave plant which happens between 6-8 years)
2.Tequila has a controlled appellation of origin. This means that Tequila is only allowed to be produced in Mexico (in specific 5 states of Mexico – Nayarit, Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacan)
3. There are five categories of tequila – blanco, gold, reposado, anejo, extra anejo. South Africans often confuse a reposado tequila for a gold tequila. Gold tequila is a silver tequila with colouring and flavors added. A reposado tequila is the entry level aged tequila which is aged for between 2-12 months.
4. A blanco tequila is the purest form of tequila available, as one is not allowed to add anything to it according to Mexican law. As soon as one gets to the other categories (gold, reposado, anejo, extra anejo) one is allowed to add 1% or less of final product in additives.
5. Consuming tequila with lime and salt is a western practice, and is not done in Mexico.
By Chris Meissner, House of Tequila brand ambassador Pernod Ricard South Africa
Recipes
1. The Crafted Paloma
Ingredients
· Altos Plata 2 parts
· Fresh pink grapefruit juice 2 parts
· Lemon juice 1 part
· Agave syrup ½ part
· Pinch of salt
Directions:
Frost the glass rim with salt and crushed pink peppercorns. Pour all the ingredients except the grapefruit juice into the glass. Mix using the Altos molinillo to dissolve the agave syrup. Fill the glass with ice and finish with the pink grapefruit juice. Garnish with half slice of pink grapefruit.
2. Jasmine Tea Margarita
Ingredients
· Altos Plata 2 parts
· Lime juice 1 parts
· Agave syrup 2 spoons
· Chilled jasmine tea 2 ½ parts
Directions
Build all ingredients in jam-jar glass over ice and stir. Garnish with a lime twist and jasmine flower.
3. Bloody Maria
Ingredients
· Altos Plata (or reposado) 2 parts
· Lemon juice ½ part
· Tomato juice 5 parts
· Worcestershire sauce 3 dashes
· Hot sauce 4 dashes
· Pinch of salt
· Pinch of pepper
Directions
Add all of the Bloody Maria ingredients to a shaker and stir to combine. Fill each cup full of ice and add the mix on top and stir. Add a fresh lime wedge and serve!
Altos tequila is available for R289 at Makro.
