TASTING: Mezcales in Toronto, September 13, 2009

 The Time and Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009  5:30 – 8:30 PM

The Event: the 2009 Industry Night sponsored by the Consulate General of Mexico in Toronto and Itercambi Inc. It as a celebration of "Mezcales, Moles, & Frijoles".

The Venue: Reposado Tequila Bar, Ossington.

The Target Audience: wine writers and lifestyle publications and supporters of Mexican Industry.

The Availability/Catalogue: most of the six Mezcales are not available in Ontario.

The Quote/Background: we got to enjoy three different Mexican moles and five different types of Frijoles, plus some other delicacies (grasshoppers and cheese) brought in by the Consulate for the event. Sergio Ynurrigarro, Mezcal Sommelier, chef, and President of the Pro-Mezcal Association, conducted the informal tasting.

The Mexcales: all were 100% algave

 

**** Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Mistique Chromium, 40% ABV, smokey with a smooth finish, little alcohol taste.

-Maria Potatorum Mexcal de Oaxaca, 46% ABV, about $65 – touch of smoke

 

***1/2 Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Los Arango Tequila Reposado, 35%, smoke and smooth, +47316 LCBO

-Don Mateo de la Sierra Doble Destilado de Agave, 48% ABV

-Oro Raicilla El Real, 36% ABV

 

*** Three Stars (85 – 87 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Jaral de Berrio Mezcal, +47464, $36.10, 36% ABV, but a hot alcoholic finish.

 

The Food: we had prickly pear butter, lots of tortilla chips, chicken and beef moles, plaintains, exotic cow beans – all under the enchanting silverlace vine on the back patio.

The Downside: it got crowded really fast, and proceedings were slow to get underway. We left halfway through, but we did get to some open bottles to taste the remaining three mescals.

The Upside: unusual to celebrate Mexico in Toronto – the Consulate needs to do more of this.

The Contact Person: intercambi@intercambi.com

The Marketing Effectiveness (numerical grade): 84.

Chimo!  www.deantudor.com