Don Ramon Platinum Tequila

Don Ramon Platinum is a tequila, and "platinum" is a name some brands use for a blanco or silver expression, meaning a spirit bottled unaged or rested only briefly. The listing doesn't give an ABV, a region, or a production method, so what follows describes what blancos typically do rather than a measured profile of this bottle. Expect the cleanest version of the agave: cooked-agave sweetness, black pepper, citrus peel, and a little green herbal edge. The finish is usually short and dry. With no cask contact, nothing sits between the spirit and the plant. That puts it at the start of the aging ladder. A reposado spends two months to a year in oak and picks up vanilla and a pale gold color. An añejo spends one to three years in oak and moves toward caramel and baking spice. An extra añejo is aged more than three years and drinks more like a brandy or whiskey. A platinum or blanco skips all of that, so it's the one to choose when you want agave to be the main flavor. That also makes it the most useful tequila for mixing, since it doesn't compete with citrus or soda. For cocktails, a blanco like this is the standard base for a Margarita. Shake it with fresh lime juice and orange liqueur, and use a salted rim only if you like one. It also suits a Paloma, built over ice with grapefruit soda and a squeeze of lime. For Ranch Water, pour it over plenty of ice in a tall glass, add lime juice, and top with a very dry sparkling water such as Topo Chico. The drink is mostly bubbles and lime, so the tequila's clean agave comes through. If you want to try it neat, pour a small measure into a caballito, a tall narrow tequila shot glass, or into a small rocks glass or a copita. Serve it at room temperature or slightly cool, and take your time. Chilling it mutes some of the aroma, so do that only if you prefer a softer, tighter sip. Lime wedges and a pinch of salt on the side work with a blanco's peppery, citrus-leaning character. The same character goes well with ceviche, grilled shrimp, fish tacos, and fresh salsa.