LCBO Food & Drink Early Summer 2018

Blanco Casamigos Tequila Blanco LCBO 386789, $59.95 Pink grapefruit and floral aromas plus a short, peppery finish make George Clooney’s unaged tequila a smooth, light winner. Reposado Espolon Tequila Reposado LCBO 324855, $39.70 An intense whiff of caramelized and roasted fruit flavours is sweet, warm and round in the mouth. Añejo Patron Añejo LCBO 34603, $101.95 Smooth vanilla flavours and sweet, aromatic floral scents are com- plemented by smoky, oaky barrel flavours from at least one year of wood-aging. Extra-Añejo Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia LCBO 488205, $179.95 With a whisky-like oaky scent, this mouth-watering aged tequila has salted-caramel and hot ginger notes Clarified Tequila Maestro Dobel Tequila LCBO 401307, $74.95 A blend of extra-añejo, añejo and reposado, double-filtered to re- move its colour: a very high-agave intensity tequila.

AGAVE IS AN AMARYLLIS Though it looks similar to a cactus, agave is part of the same plant family as lily and yucca.

styles and maturity Like whisky and rum, some tequila is aged in wooden barrels, for pale gold to deep amber colours and flavours ranging from vanilla and caramel to smoke and leather. In Mexico’s hot climate, ageing can be less than a year ( reposado , or rested), up to three years ( añejo , or aged) or more (extra-añejo ). Blanco (white) and plata (silver) are typically unaged, but colour is not always a sign of maturity: “clarified tequila” is a blend of flavourful aged spirits, filtered to remove the colour.     Similar to Scotch, highland and lowland tequilas, from two key regions of Jalisco, often have characteristic flavours: the low-lying Amatitán valley produces botanical, peppery tequila like El Jimador Tequila Reposado ( LCBO 460360, $33.85), a tequila that gin drinkers will love for its botanical-forward profile. The Los Altos highlands produce floral, fruity spirits like Tequila Tromba Reposado ( LCBO 360206, $59.95), a brand co-founded by a Torontonian, Eric Brass. Siempre, an- other Ontario-owned brand, is a highland-lowland hybrid tequila with smooth, balanced flavours.

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