Dos Artes Limited Scull Reserv

Dos Artes Limited Scull Reserv is a tequila whose listing gives no age statement, ABV or tasting notes. The "Reserv" in the name suggests a barrel-aged expression, but the details here don't say whether it is a reposado, añejo or something else. The notes below describe what that style of tequila usually does, not a measured profile of this bottle. Check the label for the aging class and proof before you plan around it. Tequila made from blue Weber agave generally shows cooked-agave sweetness, a vegetal or peppery edge and some citrus. Time in oak changes that balance. A blanco stays closest to the plant, with bright pepper and citrus peel. A reposado, rested roughly two months to a year, picks up light vanilla and a rounder body. An añejo, aged one to three years, moves toward caramel, toasted oak and dried fruit. An extra añejo, aged over three years, is deeper and drier, and is usually more of a sipping spirit than a mixer. If this bottle is in the aged range, expect that kind of vanilla and oak layered over the agave. Don't expect the sharp, grassy snap of an unaged silver. The name points to a limited, collectible-style bottle, which is usually a reason to pour it neat. Use a caballito or a small tulip-shaped glass, serve it at room temperature, and take small sips so the oak and agave come through. A single large ice cube in a rocks glass opens it up slowly and softens the alcohol without diluting it quickly. Chilling it in the freezer tends to mute the aromatics, so skip that if the flavor is the point. Orange slices and a little sal de gusano or plain sea salt on the side suit aged tequila better than lime and a lick of salt. If you mix with it, keep the drinks simple so the barrel character stays audible. A Margarita made with fresh lime and a small amount of agave syrup or orange liqueur works well with a rested tequila, and a salted half-rim is optional. A Paloma, with grapefruit soda, lime and a pinch of salt over ice in a highball glass, is a good option for a lighter pour. Ranch Water (tequila, lime and sparkling mineral water) is best saved for a blanco, because soda flattens the oak notes of an aged bottle.