Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Have you ever had a tequila that's so limited you almost don't want to open it? Well, today I'm going to open two of them. On one side we've got the FTR special release Reposado. And on the other hand we have the legendary Pocamare Rosa reposado. Both incredibly hard to find. Both are made with purpose. And today we're going to talk about what makes them so special. And of course, we're going to see how they taste. If you've watched my channel any amount of time, you already know that Las Laura has become one of my favorite brands. Arturo and Sera Lamas have built something really special. And they're fortunate to have Sergio Cruz making their tequila at NOM14.
[00:00:31] Sergio has consistently produced some of the most fantastic tequila. And these bottles are great examples of what happens when you start with a quality tequila from the very beginning. Let's talk about the production a little bit first. Both these tequilas were made with mature blue Weber agaves from the highlands, cooked in traditional brick ovens before they're crushed with a roller mill. Fermentation takes place in open stainless steel tanks utilizing some champagne yeast and yes, they play some classical music during fermentation. From there, they're double distilled in copper pots. It's a production process that focuses on preserving character of agave. And if you know me, that's exactly what I'm always for. Now let's first start with this bottle here, the FTR bottle. Now, if you're a wrestling fan, you probably recognize FTR as one of the biggest tag teams in professional wrestling. But honestly, that's not what made this bottle catch my attention. This is a reposado bottled at 98 proof for 49% ABV. Right away you have my attention. Because I love higher proof tequilas and lost Ls high proof repo is one of my favorites of all time. After aging this in American whiskey barrels, they finished it with mesnera oak. Now, if you're not familiar with mesnera, it's a rare Jap that's usually reserved for high end Japanese whiskey. You almost never see it in tequila. The goal isn't to hide the agave, it's just to add another layer of complexity. Okay, let's put it in one of these glasses and start off with this one first. Been hitting this one a lot. I've already finished off one of the bottles that they had, so it's one that I continue to look for and continue to keep on a shelf on the nose you get cooked agave, you get a little bit of honey, vanilla, some cinnamon, that toasted oak. And there also is like a, I want to say coconut. And there's another wood character that I can't really put my thumb on to say what it is. So it must come from that mesnera. Let's dive into the taste. That's amazing. Coat agave leads the way all the time. You can taste that it's lost lors blanco, but the barrel layers in. Some cinnamon, some black pepper, there's some vanilla, there's a little bit of honey there. And there's a really neat oak note or barrel note. To me, there's almost the taste is like the smell of fresh cut wood. So like the sawdust of the fresh cut wood, I wouldn't be able to tell you that's a high proof. It drinks very easily. And the finish is long and a lot of flavor. Some really nice cocoa, Ravi, and very balanced. Now let's move over to this unicorn right here, the poca madre, and let's put this one in the glass here and we'll talk about it.
[00:02:47] So if you're looking for one of these, I know it's very difficult to find, I will tell you they are still available in the Indianapolis Indiana market. There's a couple of stores when this comes out that should still have them available. Community spirits on 38th street and also Eagle Creek on the Northwest side. And then Mars Hill Liquor stores on, on the Southwest side. They should still be available, so you definitely want to check that out. Indiana does not ship, so it's something you will have to buy in person. Now this is a 96 proof Rosa Reposado. First, it's aged in American white X whiskey barrels before it's finished in a French oak port X wine cask. Pork finishes gives us a beautiful rose gold color while adding a layer of flavor without taking away from the tequila itself. So let's jump into this completely different. First of all, the cooked agave is there, but there's much more minerality in the front end on the nose. That caramel, that vanilla is there, but those baking spices, that mineral minerality and a little bit of red fruit is really standing out. There's a nice sweetness and only from learning about port wines do I pick up some of that port type cast flavor. Let's dive into the taste of it. It's rich, sweet cooked agave. There's a little bit of caramel, some black pepper, some of those baking spices. But in this one, I pick up Something that's like a dark berry, like maybe more like plum maybe would be the taste, maybe even a touch of like a BlackBerry. Has a really nice mouth feel, really coats your mouth and there's a spiciness in the agave that hangs on for a long time in the finish of this. This is something that really different than I've had in many tequilas. I think that's why this is just so sought after now. It's bad comparison to drink these side by side because they're both amazing on their own. But here's what really surprises me about these bottles from many other limited releases. These aren't just collectibles. These are tequilas that do something to help other people. The FTR release gives back to the people who make tequila possible. A portion of every bottle helps provide personal protection equipment for those humidoras that work in the agave fields. If you've ever spent time in Jalisco and watched a humidora work, you know just how physically demanding this job is dangerous it is as well. So to see a brand and some celebrities step in and say we want to give back and help those men and women, it's pretty phenomenal. Pocahontre Story is even more personal. This release is created by five incredible women in the agave industry to honor Sarah Lamas, his mother who passed away from breast cancer. A portion of every bottle sold supports organizations in Jalisco that focus on breast cancer awareness, early detection and education for women. That's not just marketing. That's creating something meaningful that can really truly help you. That's one of the reasons I respect Arturo and Sarah so much. They are just making great tequila. They' using special releases to support people, families and communities in the way that goes far beyond what's in the bottle. If someone asked me which one to buy, my answer is going to be both of them. If you can find them. The FTR bottle is for person looking for something with a unique, different and incredible misnera influence. And the Poco Madre is the person who wants the finest Rosa Repo that I've had supporting an amazing cause. Either way, you're going to get an additive free tequila crafted by none other than Sergio Cruz at non 1414. And that's a pretty good place to start. If you love learning about Tequila and you want to get some great tequila information sent every single week, check out the Tequila Report. The Tequila Report is a free newsletter that 62,000 other people currently subscribe to. So if you don't, why not? It's free. You get some amazing information there. Go to the tequila report.com subscribe if you've ever had these bottles. Let me know down in the comments which one you like better and if you've never had the chance to try them. Hopefully this gives you a little more insight to why these became two of the most sought after Lost Floor releases ever made. If you're in Indiana, these are both available at a lot of places. DM me. I'll let you know where to go. Always. Thank you for watching. I hope you enjoyed this review. Hit the like subscribe button if you haven't already. Until next time. Cheers. I got to figure out which one I'm going to drink next. Have a great night everybody.
