The ARTA of Tequila
In honor of National Tequila day I celebrate all tequilas! Their nuances and personalities make the world a savory and surprising place to imbibe. I was supposed to post this on Monday, but as fate would have it, we stopped by Rosepepper Cantina (http://www.rosepepper.com) in East Nashville to enjoy some of our favorite flavors in one of our favorite places. While Ben and Anastasio took exceptional care of us at the bar, we met the lovely and talented Gentry from Lipman Bros. distributors (http://www.lipmanbrothers.com), working her magic. She graciously offered us a complimentary tequila and as they say: “El resto es historia.”
This National Tequila day was spent with a particular tequila that caught my attention quite by accident - (several months ago) - and deserves more recognition than a simple mention. ARTA. Art brought to life in the form of a bottle. The exterior and contents are both notable and exceptional. The triangular bottle features the Dia de los Meurtos skull because “heritage runs deep.” The Blue Weber agave is harvested by a single-family owner located in the Jalisco region of Mexico, neighboring the town of “Tequila” itself.
Crafting a tequila is no small feat. If done well it can change your world - or better yet the world of others. Small batch tequila seems to be a new philanthropic platform for innovative entrepreneurs. Once you know you love tequila the possibilities seem endless. ARTA professes a mission beginning with the statement: “…tequila could be both steeped in tradition and rooted in rebellion.”
It is through this very mantra that ARTA has created a new face for philanthropy. The award-winning bottle creates the “outside the box” experience at first glance. It is as distinctive as the artists ARTA sponsors. The “ARTA Artist Series” - a program that highlights maestros who’s visionary approach to their art form is unique and unprecedented - features the micro-paintings of Joseph Martinez (https://vimeo.com/104985527) and masterful tattoos of Sandi Calistro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZDspvFV5uo). The company partners with music festivals and extreme athletes as well, establishing ARTA as the well-rounded tequila of life’s adventures. It surprises and surpasses expectations in all forms. So what makes ARTA tick?
The timeless belief that all things good are learned and re-crafted - tradition meets change - change is good. Always strive to achieve. ARTA (http://www.artatequila.com) is a small batch, single estate, tequila company based in Denver, CO President, Randy Pierce emulates the quintessential disfrute exuberante de la vida of a master tequila aficionado. His passion for tequila is ever present both in the presentation of ARTA and the collaborative efforts of the company to live ARTA as more than a brand. It is a lifestyle. It is a family. History in the constant making.
As I raise the glass of ARTA reposado the scent is that of sugary lemon, reminiscent of rock candy and honey. Tequila, like wine, needs to breathe and it has its own unique quirk - it needs to open up on your palate as well - the first sip is never the true indicator of the drink. This is why shooting will never give you a sense of whether you truly enjoy a tequila. If the consumer does not take the time to actually taste it even the best tequila may seem harsh to their palate. Mixing in the lime and salt combo only masks and adds a bitter taste to the process. Which brings us to the ART(A)…
The truth of the tequila generally comes out with the third sip. Smelling or lightly licking an orange slice between sips will open up your senses and compliment the complexities of the spirit. Once you reach the third taste you can usually tell where a tequila is going, where it comes from and the possibilities it presents.
ARTA’s reposado is aged a surprising 11 months - as opposed to the required 2 months - if it were aged more it would make its way into the Añjeo category. It is both light in color and body for a reposado, but do not let the color fool you. This is a tequila drinker’s spirit. It is smoky and multi-layered, citrus forward with a pleasing warmth - no burn - with a surprising mint tingle on the front of the tongue - making it a craft to be reckoned with. The second sip is creamy and slightly sweet with notes of pumpkin and a hint of spice. Within the third sip all these flavors come together blending beautifully in a smooth collaboration and again the lingering taste of mint. From heritage to harvest to hand-picked and poured - from aging to actuality - from barrel to bottle to brand - slow roasted, well rested, fermented with fruit yeast and never any pesticides, ARTA brings to the table a tequila of world-awareness and celebration.
Happy National Tequila (Every) Day!
K.W. Poole ©July 2017
In honor of National Tequila day I celebrate all tequilas! Their nuances and personalities make the world a savory and surprising place to imbibe. I was supposed to post this on Monday, but as fate would have it, we stopped by Rosepepper Cantina (http://www.rosepepper.com) in East Nashville to enjoy some of our favorite flavors in one of our favorite places. While Ben and Anastasio took exceptional care of us at the bar, we met the lovely and talented Gentry from Lipman Bros. distributors (http://www.lipmanbrothers.com), working her magic. She graciously offered us a complimentary tequila and as they say: “El resto es historia.”
This National Tequila day was spent with a particular tequila that caught my attention quite by accident - (several months ago) - and deserves more recognition than a simple mention. ARTA. Art brought to life in the form of a bottle. The exterior and contents are both notable and exceptional. The triangular bottle features the Dia de los Meurtos skull because “heritage runs deep.” The Blue Weber agave is harvested by a single-family owner located in the Jalisco region of Mexico, neighboring the town of “Tequila” itself.
Crafting a tequila is no small feat. If done well it can change your world - or better yet the world of others. Small batch tequila seems to be a new philanthropic platform for innovative entrepreneurs. Once you know you love tequila the possibilities seem endless. ARTA professes a mission beginning with the statement: “…tequila could be both steeped in tradition and rooted in rebellion.”
It is through this very mantra that ARTA has created a new face for philanthropy. The award-winning bottle creates the “outside the box” experience at first glance. It is as distinctive as the artists ARTA sponsors. The “ARTA Artist Series” - a program that highlights maestros who’s visionary approach to their art form is unique and unprecedented - features the micro-paintings of Joseph Martinez (https://vimeo.com/104985527) and masterful tattoos of Sandi Calistro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZDspvFV5uo). The company partners with music festivals and extreme athletes as well, establishing ARTA as the well-rounded tequila of life’s adventures. It surprises and surpasses expectations in all forms. So what makes ARTA tick?
The timeless belief that all things good are learned and re-crafted - tradition meets change - change is good. Always strive to achieve. ARTA (http://www.artatequila.com) is a small batch, single estate, tequila company based in Denver, CO President, Randy Pierce emulates the quintessential disfrute exuberante de la vida of a master tequila aficionado. His passion for tequila is ever present both in the presentation of ARTA and the collaborative efforts of the company to live ARTA as more than a brand. It is a lifestyle. It is a family. History in the constant making.
As I raise the glass of ARTA reposado the scent is that of sugary lemon, reminiscent of rock candy and honey. Tequila, like wine, needs to breathe and it has its own unique quirk - it needs to open up on your palate as well - the first sip is never the true indicator of the drink. This is why shooting will never give you a sense of whether you truly enjoy a tequila. If the consumer does not take the time to actually taste it even the best tequila may seem harsh to their palate. Mixing in the lime and salt combo only masks and adds a bitter taste to the process. Which brings us to the ART(A)…
The truth of the tequila generally comes out with the third sip. Smelling or lightly licking an orange slice between sips will open up your senses and compliment the complexities of the spirit. Once you reach the third taste you can usually tell where a tequila is going, where it comes from and the possibilities it presents.
ARTA’s reposado is aged a surprising 11 months - as opposed to the required 2 months - if it were aged more it would make its way into the Añjeo category. It is both light in color and body for a reposado, but do not let the color fool you. This is a tequila drinker’s spirit. It is smoky and multi-layered, citrus forward with a pleasing warmth - no burn - with a surprising mint tingle on the front of the tongue - making it a craft to be reckoned with. The second sip is creamy and slightly sweet with notes of pumpkin and a hint of spice. Within the third sip all these flavors come together blending beautifully in a smooth collaboration and again the lingering taste of mint. From heritage to harvest to hand-picked and poured - from aging to actuality - from barrel to bottle to brand - slow roasted, well rested, fermented with fruit yeast and never any pesticides, ARTA brings to the table a tequila of world-awareness and celebration.
Happy National Tequila (Every) Day!
K.W. Poole ©July 2017
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