Juice from agave is a misunderstood spirit

Juice from agave is a misunderstood spirit

Article by:  Ted Glennon / Special to the I-T – The San Diego Union Tribune.

Originally published March 2, 2011 at 11:39 a.m., updated March 2, 2011 at 11:39 a.m.

People often ask me to name the best things I’ve ever had to drink. What’s the most soul-saving sip I’ve ever had? They expect me to rattle off a cult cabernet from Napa or an esoteric 12-syllable German wine, but I might reply: “Fortaleza Tequila is in my top five.”

The look of confusion that usually follows invites a discussion (and, hopefully, a tasting) of one of the world’s greatest and most misunderstood beverages.

The story of tequila is a rich epic. According to legend, thousands of years ago, lightning struck a mature agave, and a curious native wandered over, tasted the exposed roasted heart of the plant and had one hell of an idea …

Tequila’s clichéd image as the companion to collegiate debauchery doesn’t help my argument that great tequila should be considered within the pantheon of best-spirits-ever, such as XO cognac or single malt Scotch.

Source: San Diego Union Tribune – Read the complete article here.
http://www.union-tribune.org/news/2011/mar/02/juice-from-agave-is-a-misunderstood-spirit/