BajaNomad

TEQUILA EXPO, 2013

Udo - 10-14-2013 at 01:22 PM

This year's Tequila Expo is now our 10th, and every year the organizers bring something different to the Expo.

The ONE THING that was different is that a company called Barajas Gallery
www.barajasgallery.com

was brought in for some MISSION STYLE furniture. They really had some gorgeous pieces, pricey, but gorgeous. They are located just down the street from the Expo @ the corner of 3rd and Avenida Revolución.

The Expo has gotten smaller every year, and this year was the smallest yet, with about 13 expositors. The food in the past was also somewhat to be admired, but this year, it looked like they just brought in some local taco stands and portable versions of some local restaurants.

We did get to taste a variety of tequilas, and did buy a bottle of "AMOR MIO" extra añejo. That was by far the best tasting of everything we tasted. The bottle was not cheap, or even inexpensive, but I put it up there with "HERENCIA HISTORICA" and "DON JULIO 1941".

We went on a Sunday this year because we wanted to try to get in on the last minute deals on the tequilas no one wanted to shlep back, and that we did. The discounts varied from $10-$50, US per bottle.

In future trips, we will go back to driving across on a Friday, spend the night at Poco Cielo, just below Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo, and drive back on Saturday morning. Makes for a more relaxing event.

On a scale of 1-10, this year gets a 5.

Some photos:

Jana and I at the Amor Mio tequila booth.


Here is one for the racing crowd:













Nothing exceptional about the food:

There was a cigar-maker there with demos:








Presentation was really good this year!


There was a tamarindo and tequila vendor there. They were having a brisk business:


One for the Dia De Los Muertos!




The Mission-style furniture was really cool, but not inexpensive:













This bar was the best!






The main boulevard (Revolución) looked deserted:

dasubergeek - 10-14-2013 at 02:34 PM

Looks smaller than last year. Due to vehicle issues I couldn't make it down. Next time check out that Volcán de Mi Tierra—it's US$6 a fifth and damn good for the price.

rts551 - 10-14-2013 at 03:00 PM

[img][/img]


Not many IN Baja have a Tequila named after their Pueblo!

aguachico - 10-14-2013 at 03:09 PM

That's cool. Calling Chelo to get the scoop

rts551 - 10-14-2013 at 03:14 PM

They have a web site. look it up.

here you go

http://www.abreojostequila.com/about/


[Edited on 10-14-2013 by rts551]

willardguy - 10-14-2013 at 03:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
They have a web site. look it up.

here you go

http://www.abreojostequila.com/about/


[Edited on 10-14-2013 by rts551]
their mango jalapeno margie is lookin pretty goooood!

rts551 - 10-14-2013 at 03:46 PM

yessss sir! For those that have facebook, Checkout all the Margies

https://www.facebook.com/AbreojosTequila

Rustico wine rack...Apisa Interiors

tripledigitken - 10-14-2013 at 03:53 PM

Udo,

I hadn't seen a wine rack like ours until you posted this. We got ours at the Rosarito store. I don't know if they are still in business, as we got ours in 1998. I took a photo of their card in case you wanted to investigate.





Hook - 10-14-2013 at 03:59 PM

Ah, cebras de Mexico are still indigenous to Ave. Revolucion, I see.

dasubergeek - 10-15-2013 at 01:31 PM

Those phone numbers in the card are old style. The Rosarito one would now be 01152 661 612-01-25.

Udo - 10-16-2013 at 07:09 AM

Thanks Ken.
I'm saving the two photos to my album for when we do the addition in BA...we'll then have the room for the wine rack.
Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Udo,

I hadn't seen a wine rack like ours until you posted this. We got ours at the Rosarito store. I don't know if they are still in business, as we got ours in 1998. I took a photo of their card in case you wanted to investigate.





Booze rack

bajaguy - 10-16-2013 at 07:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
Thanks Ken.
I'm saving the two photos to my album for when we do the addition in BA...we'll then have the room for the wine rack.


Quote:
Originally posted by tripledigitken
Udo,

I hadn't seen a wine rack like ours until you posted this. We got ours at the Rosarito store. I don't know if they are still in business, as we got ours in 1998. I took a photo of their card in case you wanted to investigate.










These and other wine/booze items made from wine barrels are available at a shop in Francisco Zarco in the Guadalupe valley.....a cool item is an ice chest/beverage cooler. Also saw a BBQ grill insert for a wine barrel.

bajaguy - 10-16-2013 at 07:16 AM

Udo......how much tequila were you able to bring back into the US???

BajaParrothead - 10-16-2013 at 11:37 AM

Has anyone tried the Don Julio 70? I like it much better than the DJ 1942 and it's about the half the price.

Hook - 10-16-2013 at 12:59 PM

I've had both.

They're kinda tough to compare as the filtering process removes a lot of the oak overtones in the 70. But I am not a fan of heavy oak in tequila, anyway. I prefer reposados, especially DJ Reposado, my favorite.

So, I like the 70 over the 1942. The 70 has hints of something like toasted vanilla that is pretty interesting. I was reluctant to try the 70 straight as it is, after all, a clear tequila and those are usually throat burners. But this is easily the nicest "blanco" I have ever had.

tripledigitken - 10-16-2013 at 01:41 PM

A couple of years ago we went to a Tequila Tasting and this was our favorite blanco...............


Hook - 10-16-2013 at 01:45 PM

Yeah, I have looked for Partida down here, as I love their reposado. But I think it is for export only. Great tequilas, though.

Udo - 10-16-2013 at 04:26 PM

I was sort of hesitant to tell the CBP, but when I showed them the SD DL, and we came across via "common carrier", i told them 7 bottles. They initially questioned the quantity, but then they read (as I told them to do) the common carrier clause, the ceded to my quantity without further questioning...it only took 5 minutes.





Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Udo......how much tequila were you able to bring back into the US???

Udo - 10-16-2013 at 04:29 PM

I am willing to try it, if I could find it here in the US.

p.s. I'm glad we have a common purpose in mind!
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaParrothead
Has anyone tried the Don Julio 70? I like it much better than the DJ 1942 and it's about the half the price.

Udo - 10-16-2013 at 04:43 PM

Yes, the export only thing works also for Patron and Cabo Wabo. You pay more for them in Mexico than you do in the US.
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Yeah, I have looked for Partida down here, as I love their reposado. But I think it is for export only. Great tequilas, though.

willardguy - 10-16-2013 at 04:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
I've had both.

They're kinda tough to compare as the filtering process removes a lot of the oak overtones in the 70. But I am not a fan of heavy oak in tequila, anyway. I prefer reposados, especially DJ Reposado, my favorite.

So, I like the 70 over the 1942. The 70 has hints of something like toasted vanilla that is pretty interesting. I was reluctant to try the 70 straight as it is, after all, a clear tequila and those are usually throat burners. But this is easily the nicest "blanco" I have ever had.
you know talking about the oak thing, I got on a extra anejo kick for awhile, and I like em, but some of em pick up so much flavor from the barrel its almost like drinking bourbon. these are middle shelf tequilas im talking about. anyone else found that to be true?

tripledigitken - 10-16-2013 at 05:19 PM

Yes. Some actually use recycled whiskey/bourbon casks.

BajaParrothead - 10-16-2013 at 11:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
I am willing to try it, if I could find it here in the US.

p.s. I'm glad we have a common purpose in mind!


Quote:
Originally posted by BajaParrothead
Has anyone tried the Don Julio 70? I like it much better than the DJ 1942 and it's about the half the price.


I have found it at BevMo and Total Wines and Spirits in the $70 range and the Duty Free at SJC for $60, but patience paid off. Picked up a bottle in Los Barriles for $525 pesos ($42 US), so I couldn't resist. Great stuff. Its an anejo that is filtered again after aging, so as Hook mentioned, no bitter or strong kick. Smoothest thing on my shelf out of 66 different bottles.

BajaParrothead - 10-16-2013 at 11:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
I've had both.

They're kinda tough to compare as the filtering process removes a lot of the oak overtones in the 70. But I am not a fan of heavy oak in tequila, anyway. I prefer reposados, especially DJ Reposado, my favorite.

So, I like the 70 over the 1942. The 70 has hints of something like toasted vanilla that is pretty interesting. I was reluctant to try the 70 straight as it is, after all, a clear tequila and those are usually throat burners. But this is easily the nicest "blanco" I have ever had.
you know talking about the oak thing, I got on a extra anejo kick for awhile, and I like em, but some of em pick up so much flavor from the barrel its almost like drinking bourbon. these are middle shelf tequilas im talking about. anyone else found that to be true?


The Asombroso Extra Anejo is actually really good, but nowhere worth the price. It normally goes for around $230 and after having the DJ 70, or Cuervo Reserva de la Familia for far less $$, I don't think I'll replace that one when it's gone.