As the weather starts (hopefully) to warm up here in the city, there’s only one thing on our minds: Margaritas! While it’s still only March, visions of salt-rimmed glasses filled with tequila, triple sec and lime are already slowly but surely dancing in our heads. And what better tequila to mix them with than Cazadores Reposado? Made from 100% Blue agave, this tequila has just enough age on it to please on its own or in one of our favorite cocktails.

The history of tequila dates back to the 1500’s, when the Aztecs, living in a small city that was later named Tequila, created a fermented beverage from the native agave plant which they called octli (later known as pulque). While this was not what we know today as tequila, the Spaniards arrived in Mexico in 1521 and started distilling agave to create the first indigenous North American spirit.

Tequila is made in the state of Jalisco, which is located in the central western area of Mexico. There are two main areas of production, known as the Highlands and the Lowlands. The agaves from the Highlands generally produce a sweeter flavor, whereas Lowland agaves are more herbaceous. The process of transforming agave into tequila is labor intensive and a bit lengthy — and all done by hand, with the help of  “jimadores”, also known as harvesters. These men very carefully hand-harvest the agave which can be difficult considering that the heart of the plant, known as the “pina” can weigh more than 50lbs. The pinas are then shredded, pressed and put into vats of either steel or wood for fermentation. After a double distillation, you get a clear tequila — the first style available: silver or blanco tequila is aged for a maximum of 2 months, but often it’s not aged at all. Reposado tequila spends anywhere from 2 months to one year aging in new or used oak barrels of any size. Añejo spends a minimum of one, but no more than 3 years in small barrels, while last but not least, extra añejo spends at least 3 years aging.

Cazadores, is a reposado-style tequila, spending over 2 months in new, small American oak barrels. The use of new oak allows the raw flavor of the wood a good amount of influence in the resulting flavor of the spirit. The company was created by Senor Jose Maria, a farmer himself, who spent years dreaming of creating a tequila from his own agaves. He started producing his own tequila based on a secret recipe which he went so far as to hide from his own family. At first it was only made and sold locally until demand started growing. In 1973, a new distillery was built and he began distributing it throughout all of Mexico and then the world. It is now the fifth highest-selling tequila in the world.

Smooth with subtle oaky and pepper notes, this is a rich tequila that goes down nicely on its own, but also makes an excellent margarita — even if it’s not quite warm enought to drink one outdoors yet, let Cazadores momentarily transport you to a sunny beach in Mexico and simply enjoy the flavor of this beautiful tequila.

Cazadores Reposado Tequila
$37

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.