Casamigos Jalapeno Tequila

Casamigos Jalapeño is a 40% ABV flavored tequila from Los Altos in Jalisco, where the highland agave tends to run a little sweeter and fruitier than lowland fields. The brand pairs that agave base with jalapeño. Flavored tequilas like this usually put fresh green pepper and a gentle, lingering warmth up front, with the agave's sweetness underneath. Expect the heat to build at the back of the palate instead of hitting right away. The exact balance of vegetal pepper and heat is best judged from the first pour. The Blanco/Silver, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo tiers describe how long a tequila rests in oak. Blanco is unaged or rested only briefly, and Extra Añejo is aged at least three years. Barrel time adds vanilla, caramel and baking-spice notes and rounds off the edges, but it also covers up the bright, peppery character of the raw spirit. This bottle is a flavored expression, not an aged one, so it doesn't sit on that scale. Its flavor comes from the pepper, not from wood. Its profile is closest in spirit to a Blanco, and it makes sense to treat it that way, since oak would only compete with the jalapeño. Because the pepper heat is the point, this works better in a glass with other ingredients than as a slow sipper. Still, a small pour over a large rock in a rocks glass, or chilled in a caballito, is a fair way to find out how much spice you're dealing with. Chilling mutes the heat a little and keeps the vegetal notes crisp. In cocktails, the Margarita is the obvious route. Lime and a little orange liqueur sit well against the pepper, and a half rim of salt or Tajín suits it better than a full sugar-style rim. A Paloma works well too, since grapefruit soda or fresh grapefruit juice with lime and a pinch of salt gives the heat something bright to push against. For Ranch Water, pour over ice in a tall glass, add lime juice and top with sparkling mineral water. It is the lightest of the three, and the jalapeño comes through more clearly than the sweeter builds allow. In every case, start with the usual measure of tequila and adjust the lime or sweetener to taste, since the spice already supplies its own contrast. Food-wise, tacos al pastor, ceviche, grilled shrimp and fresh guacamole are natural matches.