Tequila is booming – at least according to a Spirits Business article here – and I’m enjoying the rise of this tasty distilled Mexican beverage.
Especially when it appears in my local Lidl.
Lidl keeps abreast of drinks trends & their own label spirits range is worth exploring – so much so they won Icons Of Whisky Own Brand Supermarket of the year at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards!
Impressive!
So how does their Azteca Tequila Blanco fare?
A welcome earthy agave nose.
Smooth & oily mouthfeel.
The rich agave notes return on the rear with a soft dry peppery spice livening up this very well balanced tequila.
Pot Still is a term used to denote the use of malted and unmalted barley in the mash – which is usually an Irish whiskey speciality.
However here was an American interpretation of a pot still. Or was it?
I was fortunate enough to have come across this whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Awards 2016.
Having tasted this fine offering – I’m not surprised by the award & heartily cheer it’s success.
From a blog of mine back in October 2016 entitled ‘Irish Rye‘ these were my thoughts.
The Emerald release from Ransom Spirits of Oregon was far more approachable however and much more pertinent to the Irish Whiskey brand.
Made using barley, oats and rye to an 1865 Irish Whiskey recipe uncovered by some research this stunning whiskey is satisfyingly smooth yet rich in mouthfeel coupled with a delightfully long rye spice finish.
Emerald to me have captured the PAST of Irish Whiskey in a bottle of the PRESENT.
When you know Brian Nation and his colleagues are poring over old Jameson recipes from the early 1800’s that included rye and oats – as well as currently growing rye in the fields around Enniscorthy – then couldn’t this be a representation of the FUTURE of Irish Whiskey?
Later in the evening some whiskey friends from America were sharing a bottle of Emerald American Whiskey.
The Emerald c/othewhiskeynut
Well I say American Whiskey as that’s where it was produced and matured.
But the recipe is based on an 1865 Irish Whiskey recorded for posterity by a British excise agent and includes both malted and unmalted barley along with some oats & rye.
It tasted divine.
Nice to see the World Whiskies Awards 18 pick up on a winner of mine from 2016.
As the World Whiskies Awards have a category for label design – I feel it worthy to comment – regardless if the content remains the same – which I believe it is.
The proud ram of Sheep Dip – the very emblem that sparked my initial attraction – is now more muted.
Meanwhile the pig for Pig’s Nose has taken on a rather snooty posture – very reminiscent of George Orwell’s Animal Farm character Napoleon.
There’s a current world leader that also has Napoleonic tendencies.
Doublespeak, fake news & vanity.
I’d recommend a re-read of Animal Farm – along with a bottle of Sheep Dip.
The combination of an enjoyable whisky together with a very prescient book is just what the doctor ordered.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 