Thirsty Thursday-Don Julio Farm to Shaker Dinner

When you hear the word tequila, what do you think about?  shots, shots, shots, shots....right? 

Thanks to Don Julio for inviting my husband and I for dinner.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

The word Don kinda translates to the word Sir.  But it is a title in Hispanic culture that is earned not just given.  Don Julio Gonzalez's passion is what created this tequila.  It has now become the high end, best of the best, to locals and around the world. 

We were invited to come and experience Don Julio's tequila.  Yes, I said experience.  Not a dance club passing out shots but a behind the scenes learning experience about what makes Don Julio tequila great!

From left to right-

Blanco-

Color:           Clear
Nose:            Crisp agave aromas blended with hints of citrus notes - lemon, lime and grapefruit
Taste:            Light, sweet, agave flavor
Finish:          Clean and dry with a touch of black pepper and grassy undertones
Best Served: Mixed drink

Reposado-

Color:           Straw-like color
Nose:            An inviting aroma of mellow lemon citrus notes and spice layers with touches of ripe stone fruit
Taste:            Incredibly soft and elegant hints of dark chocolate, vanilla and light cinnamon
Finish:          Silky, warm finish with an essence of dried fruit, nuts and a touch of caramel apple
Best Served: Neat

Añejo-

Color:            Light amber
Nose:             A fresh blend of lime, grapefruit and mandarin citrus aromas with a rich touch of caramel
Taste:            Full-bodied and complex with expressions of cooked agave, wild honey and oak-infused butterscotch
Finish:          Bright and lightly spiced finish with the essence of wild honey
Best Served: On the rocks

70-

Color:	Clear
Nose:	Crisp with traditional hints of Añejo
Taste:	Smooth in character with highlights of vanilla, honey and toasted oak
Finish:	Lingering hints of oak followed by a clean, warm finish
Best Served:	On the rocks

After we learned a little more about the different types of Don Julio tequilas, dinner was served.  Each entrée was paired up with a drink for the tasting.

We got a behind the scenes with the Chef Jean-Philippe Gaston before dinner even started.  We learned about the local ingredients and flavor that were to be used for our dinner.

Tequila Don Julio Agua Chile paired with Abejita

 Tequila Don Julio Asado de Churrasco y Chimichurri paired with Añejo Martinez

Brigadeiros y Platanos Calados paired with Tequila Don Julio 1942

The food was very delicious.  The drinks were good too.  The pairings, I would not have ever tried.  When I thought of tequila, I thought of shots not tasty cocktails like I was served.  Great creations by Mixologist Omar Villacencio.  Before dinner, Omar demonstrated how to create El Macho, El Diablo, and La Ultima Palabra (The Last Word).

My favorite drink of the night was the Abejita.  It was sweet and tasty.  I could drink this all night.  Even my husband liked it.  His favorite drink of the night was El Macho.  It was a beautiful creation. 

It was a night of delicious food, tasty drinks, and a great time along with good company.  Salud!