.. just a few of our favorite agave things. |
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This Week: Derby Day, Cinco de Mayo are just ahead - many drink options to be thinking about! Or, if you're not into any of the occasions.. just what to enjoy with blue skies and warm temps. Oh, and Mother's Day? Can't say we didn't remind you. We have all you need to gift Mom and great things to open for her on the day.
Nikola has the rundown on tequila and mezcal. A little 101 for you, if you will. Following up with.. Cinco de Mayo cocktails beyond the standard Margarita. But first, what about Derby Day? If you're not into the Julep, mix up a Oaks Lily, the "other" official drink of the Derby weekend that almost no one knows about.
We hope everyone has been able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather and warmer temps. Keep masking up and sanitizing. We'll see you for all of your beverage needs.
Cheers,
The Team at NL Wine & Spirits
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Before we get into Agave...
The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby will be happening on May 1, 2021. A weekend filled with beautiful horses, mint juleps, bourbon, glorious headwear, and even more amazing fascinators. With all the Kentucky history what does one do if they don’t enjoy bourbon?
Enjoy the “other” official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby: the Oaks Lily. The Oaks Lily was created to be featured at the Kentucky Oaks, the race featured the day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Oaks Lily is a delicious cocktail for those derby fans that don’t enjoy bourbon!
The Oaks Lily:
· 1 ½ ounces Vodka
· ½ ounce orange liqueur
· ½ ounce lemon juice
· ½ ounce simple syrup
· 3 ounces cranberry juice
· Garnish with a lemon wedge
Add all ingredients to a highball glass filled with ice, stir gently, and serve.
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Ok, So Now.. Agave Spirits!
Learn something new today: a 101 on Tequila + Mezcal.
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Many people say they don't like tequila because of bad experiences in the past. But it doesn’t need to be that way any longer. The tequilas and mezcals on our shelves today are not the spirits you were drinking back in the day. They have grown up.
The Basics
Both spirits are produced from the agave plant. Mezcal may be produced using any of fifty varieties of agave, while tequila may only be produced using Blue Weber Agave. Due to the popularity of tequila the process has been industrialized significantly.
Tequila is produced in five Mexican states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacan, and Tamaulipas. In order to be called mezcal, the spirit must be made in one of nine Mexican states: Durango, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.
The biggest difference between tequila and mezcal is the production method. Tequila is produced using agave plants that have been steamed, it is then distilled in either pot stills or column stills. After distillation tequila is either bottled immediately or aged in barrels. Mezcal, however, is produced by roasting the agave plants. The roasting process over charcoal or wood produces the smoky flavor present in most mezcals. The juice extracted after roasting is distilled in copper pot stills or more traditionally in clay pot stills. The result is a smokier, often more complex spirit.
Highland vs. Lowland Tequila
In Jalisco, where the vast majority of tequila is produced, there is a difference experienced between tequila produced from lowland agave and tequila produced using highland agave. Lowland tequila is generally regarded as herbal and vegetal. While highland tequila is much sweeter, often featuring more citrus notes.
However, there is no need to take our word for it, North Loop offers over 75 tequilas and over 40 mezcals (so far) for you to explore on your journey. Just ask us for a recommendation next time you stop in the shop. Oh, and Mexican wine - we have that too!
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PSA: You don't have to drink Margaritas on Cinco de Mayo.
You want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo .... but you don't like Margaritas (Side Note: a well-made Margarita is a amazing cocktail). Don't worry, I have your back. Here a couple of Tequila and Mezcal cocktails to expand your horizon and your palate on Tequila Day!
Mezcal Old Fashioned: This cocktail is a nice smokey sipper that will make any whiskey drinker happy. To start, we are using Mal Bien Mezcal Felix Ramirez which has an earthy smokey flavor that is going to lay down the backbone of this cocktail. Next, we are adding La Gritona Tequila Reposado. It will chip in an oaky, toasted almond flavor that mellows out the Mezcal so it doesn't overpower the cocktail. To add sweetness we will be adding Tres Agaves Agave Nectar. One of the most important ingredients for Old Fashioneds is what bitters you choose. Bitters are the spice rack for your cocktails. (I will sometimes use multiple bitters in my Old Fashioneds.) For this cocktail you can't go wrong with Bittercube Corazon Bitters. They are going to add notes of chocolate, coffee and a hint of hot chili pepper. (I'm making myself thirsty!)
Tequila Negroni: This again is another take on a classic. First up, we use Pasote Reposado Tequila.. fruit forward with roasted agave and a hint of vanilla. Next, we are scrapping the Campari and going with a Mexican bitter, Granada-Vallet (It's better than Campari, don't tell anyone!!!!!) which is a bitter pomegranate liqueuer. It is intensely herbal with a bright orange peel essence. After that, we add Cocchi Vermouth Di Torino which is an amazing vermouth that has dried fruit notes with orange zest and a bit of cocoa. Again, bitters are super important. We are going with Bittercube Orange Bitters to mimic the Granada Vallet and tie the whole cocktail together.
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Mezcal Old Fashioned
1 oz Mal Bien Felix Ramirez Mezcal
1 oz La Gritona Tequila Reposado
.5 oz Tres Agaves Agave Nectar
2-3 dashes of Bittercube Corazon Bitters
Instructions: In a mixing glass add all ingredients. Add ice, Stir briefly to dilute to taste. Strain into rocks glass over ice. Garnish with orange peel. Enjoy
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Tequila Negroni
1.5 oz Pasote Reposado Tequila
1 oz Granada-Vallet
1 oz Cocchi Vermouth di Torino
1 dash of Bittercube Orange Bitters
Instructions: Add all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add ice, Stir briefly to dilute to taste. Strain into rocks glass over ice. Garnish with orange peel.
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Staff Picks: What to Drink This Week
Things our staff thinks you should drink.
2014 Domaine Des Baumard 'Clos du Papillon' Savennieres $49.99
Ah yes, springtime in Minnesota. Hail one day and 80 degrees the next. When the weather changes so drastically, it makes it hard for me to decide what I want to drink. Do I want something hefty that goes with comfort food? Or do I want something bright and refreshing? This is when I reach for a bottle of wine that can do both- Savennieres. Savennieres is a tiny appellation in the Loire Valley that consists of less than 360 acres of vines, all Chenin Blanc. Unlike Vouvray or Montlouis Sur Loire, where the Chenin Blanc is primarily grown on limestone and clay soils, the soils of Savennieres are schist-based. This results in more mineral-driven character. I found this bottle of Clos du Papillon to be quite lush with bruised Golden Delicious apple and Anjour pear notes, but also brightly acidic and saline. Wet rocks, green olives, and bitter almond offer a balanced finish, making this a wine easily enjoyed with a rich bowl of risotto, lobster and scallop dishes, as well as a crunchy spring salad with chevre and toasted pistachios.
-Claire
Pax 'Buddha's Dharma', Chenin Blanc, Mendocino - $32.99
If you're unfamiliar with Pax Mahle's wine or the myriad of amazing vintners that ply their trade at his facilities (Martha Stoumen, Jolie Laide, Monte Rio Cellars, Jaime Motley, Carlo Mondavi) then you are sorely missing out on some incredible juice. The bottle is 100% Chenin Blanc, coming from the Buddha's Dharma vineyard which is dry farmed without chemicals at the base of Enlightenment Mountain in gravelly volcanic soils. This Chenin has flavors and aromas of white peach, honeycomb and citrus blossom. This white is crisp and bright with bright acidity, fresh fruit and a seamlessness that is very indicative of the 2020 vintage.
-Nick Z.
2020 Maison Philippe Viallet Rosé Vin de Savoie - $17.99
For over 50 years the Viallet family have been making wines in the Savoie (Sav-Wah) region of eastern France, which is located in the French Alps. For decades, wines from the Savoie were simply "apres-ski" wines, cheap and chuggable, served in the chalet with cheese fondue. The Viallet family meant to change all that and have made great strides in elevating the wines from the area and this 100% Gamay rose is no exception. Alpine wines are usually high acid, low alcohol and obscure grapes grown on steep mountainside slopes and I haven't met one I didn't enjoy. This rose is all bright red fruit, spices and a crisp mineral finish. Pair with Alpine style cheese, charcuterie, even spicy curry! I will most definitely be sipping it with the warm weather and sunshine this weekend.
-Angie
Bichi Listan Tecate, Mexico - $36.99
Bichi is a bit of an anomaly in the burgeoning world of Mexican wine. Valle de Gaudelupe and the upper Baja peninsula was recognized as fertil wine growing territory early on by the spanish and while many current producers are favoring a sleek modern approach to wine making, the folks at Bichi have opted for extremely old plantings of regionally significant grapes, biodynamic dry farming and very minimal intervention in wine making. The Listan utilizes mission grape, a favorite of Spanish settlers. These 100 year old grapes are made in a fresh and spicy style with plenty of personality.
-David
2019 Juan Gil 'Shania' White Wine, Jumilla, Spain (3L Box) - $22.99
I know I'm looking forward to summer in Minnesota! When the season turns to sunshine, heat, and longer days, I like to keep a 3 liter box of wine in my refrigerator for a "go to" glass on my deck, in the evening. But, not just any boxed wine will do! There are a lot of really insipid, one-note boxed wines out there. Shania, from the famous bodegas of Juan Gil in Southeastern Spain, is not one of them. It is fleshy but with fresh and bright floral aromas and succulent apple and melon on the palate. Farmed with organic practices, this is very refreshing Grenache Blanc and matches well with a crisp summer salad. And this is $23 for 4 bottles worth of wine (under $5.50 a bottle) that will last you 6 weeks in the fridge once opened. A great value for a delicious summer white. Enjoy....often!
-Patrick
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Some of Our Favorite Visitors This Week.
Furry friends are the best kinds of friends.
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Cheers everyone!
-The Team at North Loop Wine & Spirits
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