Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Are these two bottles actually different tequilas? Or did Lost Lore just do two different labels with the same juice? I've had several people ask me that question and today we're going to find out. I've got the Lost Lore Hosta La Reyes collaboration Blanco and the Lost Lore Elvira Blanco. Both are made in non 1414. Both are 90 proof. Both are actually created by master distiller Sergio Cruz. But here's what's interesting. I reached out to Sergio and he sent me an actual product information for both, letting me know that these are two completely different tequilas. And I can tell you right now, these are different, they are not the same. But the bigger question is, can we actually taste the difference? And today we're going to find out. Now, first, I want to tell you about how these are made. Let's start with the Hostel Arayas, a special collaboration between Las Lore and Hasta La Reyes, an organization that supports immigrant communities. And if you know anything about Arturo Lamas and Sarah and the story behind Las Lor, you know that's important to his family and Mexican heritage as well. So think of this as a very meaningful collaboration. Now let's talk about what's inside this box. First off, it starts with 100% Blue Weber Agave grown in the highlands, cooked in a traditional stone oven. They're using the roller mill to extract the juice and from there it goes into stainless steel fermentation tanks. Now this is where it switches up. They're using a champagne yeast. That's really important because that makes the tequila taste different based on how it ferments. And they're using agave fibers in that fermentation which can actually influence that final flavor, potentially bring out more copt agave. Earthy vegetable characteristics after first and first fermentation. Then it's twice the sewing copper pots and bottled at 45 ABV and 90 proof. Now let's slide over to Elvira. I've got to say, this one's a pretty cool looking bottle. Obviously it's a collaboration with Elvira, the mistress of the dark. And I really appreciate how Lost Lore didn't just put Elvira on the label, they actually created a special edition. They actually worked with Sergio to create a different tequila. Let me tell you what Sergio actually told me about the technical production of this one. They started with Blue Ever agave in a 20 ton masonry oven for 29 hours. Then they let it rest for another 24 hours before sending it through the roller mill. Now here's where it got interesting for this one. Instead of using the champagne yeast like in this bottle, Sergio used a Norwegian farmhouse beer yeast called Kvike. Now, this yeast is pretty interesting because certain strains are known to produce fruity and citrus characteristics during fermentation, depending on how it's used. Now, Elvira, it ferments for seven full days. That's 168 hours. Insane. The steel tanks, unlike the hosta, Sergio removes the agave fibers. Fermentation. So let's think about that for a second. You've got a tequila fermented with champagne yeast and agave fibers and Norwegian beer yeast without fiber. So that is a significant difference in production. From there, Elvira is twice distilled in copper pot stills. Sergio makes separate heads, hearts and tails cuts during both distillation, and the hearts are collected at 110. Then he brings the tequila down to 90 proof using purified deep well water. It is then stabilized, passing through cellulose filters and then bottles. So you can see two completely different production methods. Two different tequilas, not just a different label. Okay, so let's dive into these and nose them and taste them and see if we can find the differences. So I'm going to start with the hosta. I really liked this one when I first got it. It's a little bit higher. ABV has a really good cooked agave nose. There's a really nice, like, roasted pineapple note. There's a citrus note to it, and. And a really a lot of, like, minerals and some white pepper. So now let's slide over to the Elvira. Okay, so the Elvira, the nose on this one is different. To me, it's a little bit different cooked agave, it's more of a green agave. It's a little lighter on the nose. That minerality is there. There's a fruity floral note that I don't pick up in the hosta. And I can't put my finger on what that floral note is or that fruity note. But it's. It's like a candied type note. Okay, let's do a taste comparison. I'm going to dive into the hosta first.
[00:03:49] Great tequila taste. Roasted pineapple, sweet potato, coca flavor. That citrus note is there. That minerality is really strong there. And then it goes into, like, a quick peppery finish. So this one has a much more cracked pepper heat in the finish that. That I don't get in a lot of regular L source. Let's dive into this one.
[00:04:11] Different mouthfeel as well. This one's a little creamier. This one's a little lighter. This one just feels like it has more oils in it from that agave. This one has a great cooked agave flavor. But again, that fruity, candied note, that floral citrus note is there.
[00:04:27] The finish doesn't have near the peppery bite that it has. It. It turns into just this really nice, sweet citrus note that just kind of lingers where the heat of this one is just all the pepper. So, you know, if I was going to compare these glasses, we'd be saying who's going to win between the Agave Social club and Drink with Wayne. But this isn't a competition. Both these guys are great and both these tequilas are fantastic. And I got to say, if I'm going to pick something about them, it's going to be the mouthfeel and the heat of the finish. And this one is going to be the sweeted candy, minerality, floral notes that I pick up in this one. So two completely different tequilas. I got to tell you, one thing I really appreciate about Lost Lore is they're experimenting. They're letting Sergio put some different things together. They don't just create a label and they don't just do single barrel releases or single special editions for because they want to. They're actually trying to create something really awesome. And in most cases, they're doing something very charitable behind these releases. I got to know from you if you love exploring agave spirits and you like different production methods, have you tried these two tequilas side by side? Let me know what you thought. Let me know if you thought they were the same tequila with a different label. I'm curious to see which one you preferred out of the two. I gotta say, I like both of them, but I like different aspects of each one. So thanks for watching. Cheers. Arturo, Sarah and Sergio, thanks for making great tequila. Appreciate you. Thanks. Have a great night.
