Taking place every year on May 5th, Cinco De Mayo is an annual celebration that commemorates the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over the French empire at the Battle of Puebla. Cinco De Mayo may be a national holiday in Mexico, but one need not have Mexican heritage to celebrate the spirit of the holiday. In fact, there is no shortage of things to do, places to go, or new products to check out when May 5th rolls around.
On behalf of A Global Lifestyle, here is a look at six different adult beverage brands you should be considering for the sake of maximum enjoyment:
1) Tequila Corralejo
As one of the few tequilas produced in Guanajuato, Mexico, Corralejo’s deep roots and production methods are unique within the tequila industry. Made from only the finest local agave, Tequila Corralejo’s flavor is rich, natural, and unsurpassed in terms of both quality and personality. The tall, colorful bottles are inspired by the brand’s slogan: Those With Pride Stand Tall. Corralejo 1821 Extra Añejo 1821 is a specific offering from the award-winning brand. Its agave is slow cooked in stone clay ovens for 27 hours, then rested for 12 hours before going to the mill to be double distilled in copper pot stills. Ultimately, 1821 was aged for 36 months to yield a tequila with impeccably-smooth flavor.
2) Los Arango Tequila
Los Arango Tequila is an artisanal, hand-crafted, ultra-premium offering. Named in honor of José Doroteo Arango — also known as Pancho Villa — the famous revolutionary leader and one of the greatest heroes of the Mexican Revolution, Los Arango is made from 100% blue agave through a slow, double-distillation process. The Los Arango Reposado Tequila was released last May and offers a silky smooth taste with notes of herbs and cooked agave.
3) Pelotón De La Muerte
Pelotón De La Muerte is a “semi-dry” mezcal with a touch of smoke on the finish, ideal both for sipping or being used in a cocktail. The label of Pelotón De La Muerte — which means “Brigade of Death” — was the flag used by the insurgents during the Mexican Revolution who called themselves “the squadron of death for the suffering Hidalgo.” The squad tried to enact revenge for the death of the founding father of Mexico’s independence, priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Pelotón De La Muerte has notes of kiwi fruit, lemon zest, dried peppercorn, agave, and soft smoke, and it comes from the same company as Mezcales De Leyenda.
4) Tequila Avión
Tequila Avión is produced in a self-sustaining and single-sourced manner. Avión agave comes exclusively from ranches located in Jesús María, where agave with a rich, deep flavor grows. This brand is not just famous for being included on the show Entourage, it was also voted “World’s Best Tasting Tequila” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Recommended for gift purposes is the Avión Reserva 44, aged 44 months. This particular spirit is created from a single source–rare Weber Blue agave aged in petite wooden casks until the deep rich flavors are revealed. Notes of warm vanilla and spice are present, while the tequila is hand-filled into a crystal bottle and individually penned with each unique batch and bottle number.
5) Rekorderlig Cider
For those seeking a more fruit-centric offering than tequila, Rekorderlig — pronounced “Re-KORD-er-lig” — may do the trick. A Swedish premium hard cider created and imported from Vimmerby, Sweden, Rekorderlig uses a blend of fruit and water from Europe’s most accredited spring. The Strawberry-Lime beverage offers a refreshing blend of 100% European apples, pears, strawberries, and lime zest. The sweet and tangy brew is currently available on draft in California, Florida, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts, and will be launching nationally this summer. Whether served over ice or stirred into a cocktail, Rekorderlig is a not your usual beverage suspect.
6) Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye
Last year, the Jack Daniels distillery took a big risk in launching Jack Daniels Tennessee Rye. Featuring a grain bill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley, JD’s popular new offering comes at 90 proof. It features accents of caramel and dry baking spice in each sip. It is currently offered in 50mL, 750mL and one-liter sized bottles. The 750mL bottle has a suggested retail price under $30. And if you want more from Jack Daniels than spirits, check out the new Jack Daniel’s Around The Barrel podcast.
