We Texans love our margaritas, but there is so much more to drinking — and appreciating — tequila. Tuesday night, Casa Herradura Global Tequila Ambassador Ruben Aceves welcomed about 150 Dallas drinking enthusiasts to a Tequila Appreciation Society Social at 3015 at Trinity Groves, where he led a fun and informative discussion about the finer points of this Mexican elixir.
To get the party started, bartenders shook up margaritas (2 oz. Herradura silver tequila, 1 oz. Cointreau, 3/4 oz. lime juice, 1/2 oz. agave nectar) for guests while they noshed on chicken tostadas, pulled pork tostones, Southwestern shrimp ceviche, Mexican corn shooters, and chorizo and poblano empanadas. Once settled into their seats — and instructed to save those glasses of tequila for later – Aceves launched into his presentation, which began with a story about the alcohol's origins.
A proper education is nothing without a demonstration, so Aceves brought along a skilled jimador, who, much to the delight of onlookers, hacked into an agave plant before their very eyes to show them how the harvesting is done. Then Aceves invited them up to check out the flesh of the plant for themselves before sending them back to their seats, where three varieties of tequila awaited for tasting: silver, reposado and añejo.
Everyone started with the silver before moving onto the reposado, a category Herradura created in 1974. The tasting ended with the añejo, aged 25 months, with notes of chocolate, banana and spice. As the most complex of the three, Aceves noted it was an excellent after-dinner sipping tequila.
As the tasting wrapped up, and Aceves answered guests' burning questions, servers came around again with sweet bites from the 3015 kitchen, including churros and Mexican chocolate brownies. The best part about this class — aside from the fact that everyone got to drink during it — is that all ticket proceeds benefited Cafe Momentum.
About 150 Dallas drinkers came to the Herradura tequila tasting.
The sleek bar at the new Plano location.Photo courtesy of Gloria's.