by Chaiel Schaffel
So Tequila has a reputation for being the life of the party. More exotic than whiskey, sunnier than vodka, and stronger than beer, this spirit is top-notch for a summer get together. However, not all tequila is intended to be downed as a person’s tenth shot of the evening. The more high quality agave spirits are sipped by connoisseurs like fine wine or bourbon, and savored with care. The numerous rules surrounding the production of this exotic summer favorite are in place to protect the quality of the drink. Unfortunately, sometimes a bottle or two of an impostor spirit leaks through the cracks, and spills all over your taste-buds, leaving your head swimming with the taste of a cheap fake. For this reason, choosing the right tequila is a must. Luckily, the kind people of Wharf Wine & Spirits in Edgartown have handpicked a custom selection of fine tequilas to enjoy this summer, while avoiding the bitter taste of fake spirits.
Clase Azul Reposado is one of the finest tequilas that the state of Jalisco has to offer. The Agave cores, or piñas, are steamed for 72 hours in a traditional brick oven. Aged for a minimum of eight months in white oak barrels, no shortcuts are used to make the fine tequila. Appearance of this pride of the Jalisco Highlands is also of the highest quality. The spirit comes in a blueon- white ceramic decanter, hand-painted by Mexican artisans for two weeks before bottling. Delicately painted blue vines spill across the bottle, and line a real silver medallion in the shape of the Agave plant. The flavor of the spirit is soft on the palate, and has a silky and rich body. The aromas of this variety are woody and fruity, with hints of toffee and vanilla. The aroma is mirrored in the taste, with toffee, vanilla, and cooked agave being key notes. To further accentuate the differences between this and other tequilas, this fine spirit is typically imbibed from a glass flute. The drink is commonly enjoyed neat.
Every bottle of CASAMIGOS tequila comes to you prepared straight from the seat of luxury. With such notable names as George Clooney behind it, how could it not? Unparalleled smoothness and critical acclaim sit behind this brand, which is starting to make waves in the spirit world. The makers of CASAMIGOS are particularly proud of their product’s silky texture, which was slowly refined and developed over the course of years. The talk about this brand isn’t just celebrity hype; it won double gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition in the Resposado and Blanco categories. The drink was originally distilled with the intention of being enjoyed straight, without tequila or lime, and was never intended as a public release. True to form, this tequila should be savored neat, or in a simple cocktail.
Lunazul Tequila is the real deal. Produced by the same family in small batches for eight generations, Lunazul is truly the all-inone package. The spirit is produced on the Tierra de Agave distillery, and is grown, distilled, and bottled all in one place. The painstaking process of small-batch distillation is a slow cycle, overseen by seasoned professionals and the Master distiller. The motto and selling point of the brand is that it asks you to “sacrifice nothing,” such as flavor for value. The variety doesn’t hide behind expensive bottling or other marketing ploys. This is real, straight tequila; high quality, traditional, and smooth, all without the high prices of other tequilas. Just take another sip
