This Father’s Day, surprise the father figure in your life with the exquisite taste of Tequila Herradura. Distilled at Casa Herradura in Amatitán, Jalisco, this premium tequila is aged to perfection to give off the rich flavor and aroma that can be savored with each sip.

Tequila Herradura comes in different carefully-selected finishes. Any selection will make the perfect gift this Father’s Day. Below, however, are two Father’s Day gift ideas featuringSelección Suprema, an ultra-premium tequila, and the Añejo Sazerac cocktail.

For the father who appreciates an indulgent gift:

Sometimes there’s only one way to really show your appreciation: with a splurge! Herradura’s ultra-premium extra-añejo sipping tequila, Selección Suprema, is the high-end, high quality, highest grade tequila your father has been waiting for. Herradura’s Selección Suprema is available nationwide. SRP: $350 – 750 ml bottle.

For the father who appreciates a thoughtful gift:

Now that you’re an adult, a little extra effort is expected of you. Cherish your father on his special day by preparing Herradura’s Añejo Sazerac cocktail for him. This gentleman’s cocktail is true elegance in a glass, as it pairs well with cigars.

It’s almost summertime and the sippin’ is easy! Below is a recipe for the Honey Sour cocktail created exclusively by Partida Bartender Ambassador Jacques Bezuidenhout. This cocktail is so good, you should have it for dessert.

Preparation Time

• 5 minutes

What You Need

• 2 oz Partida Reposado
• 1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 oz Honey Syrup (equal parts honey with water)
• Egg White

Make It

1. Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
2. Garnish with zest of an orange peel – discard when used. Enjoy!

*The consumption of raw or under-cooked eggs, meat, poultry, seafood or shellfish may increase your risk of food borne illness.

Tequila Herradura

Crafted by Master Distiller Maria Teresa Lara, Casa Herradura uses the finest blue agave, traditional production methods and a proprietary fermentation from naturally occurring wild yeast to create a tequila of unparalleled quality.  The tequila is then rested in medium-char American oak casks for eleven months and then transferred to hand-selected vintage port casks from the renowned Duoro Valley in Portugal for an additional two months of aging.  The double-maturation process accentuates the notes of cooked agave, increases complexity and delivers a nose of dried fruit and ripe plum infused with hints of cinnamon, caramel and chocolate.

“Colección de la Casa is part of our longstanding exploration to innovate within the category and it fills a niche for tequila aficionados looking for something truly unique,” said Ann Stickler, Vice President and Managing Director of Tequilas, Brown-Forman. “We are able to pioneer new ways of making small batch tequilas and experiment with concepts that complement our traditional production process because of our heritage and expertise in crafting the finest tequilas for over 140 years.”

“The first of our innovative barrel finish concepts, Port Cask Finish, complements Tequila Herradura Reposado’s award-winning taste profile while adding a new dimension of flavor. The result is a perfectly balanced blend and a new style of tequila,” said Tequila Herradura’s Master Distiller Maria Teresa Lara.

This is the newest offering in a legacy of innovation.  Casa Herradura has been handcrafting the world’s finest tequilas for over 140 years.  Credited with inventing the reposado expression in 1974 and the extra añejo expression in 1995, Casa Herradura continues to push the boundaries of tequila, while balancing a respect for traditional processes.

Colección de la Casa-Port Cask Finish will be available at fine wine and spirits stores in April. A limited quantity will be available in Mexico. Each 750 ml. Only 2,000 cases are available with a suggested retail price of $89.99.

Tasting Notes for Herradura Colección de la Casa, Reserva 2012 Port Cask Finished Reposado

Color: Amber with shades of rose and copper

Aroma: An enticing balance of sophisticated smoky notes, warm tobacco, dried fruit, and a hint of spice.

Taste: The distinctive taste of oak aged agave complimented by hints of rich port, plum, and pepper.

Finish: Finishes smooth with the familiar taste of Herradura tequila and with undertones of dark chocolate.

The tequila itself is luxury embodied (sans the mega billionaire trio) due to being made with 100% Blue Weber Agave in Jalisco, which creates a smooth caramel flavor. The Blanco is distilled in copper stills and aged for two months in steel containers giving a pure velvety taste you won’t find in most tequila’s distilled in wood barrels.. The Resposo (dark tequila), is distilled in white oak barrels reserved for whiskey creating a hint of flavor made for elite tastebuds. The overall tequila’s from Casamingo’s are made in limited batches numbered, dated and signed by Gerber & Clooney.

Frank, Dean Sammy and the boys would be proud. Suits are overcoming swagger and real drinks are being made by real men. George Clooney has conquered acting, directing, producing and now his favorite drink. Rande Gerber owns an empire and has conquered….Cindy Crawford. That alone deserves recognition.

It’s not everyday that we come across a brand as unique as Bruvado Beer. With Bruvado you don’t get the usual six pack but instead you get a five pack with a bottle of either Bruvado Tequila or Bruvado Premium Bourbon. Bruvado Imports is the very first company to ever put out patented products which combine upscale beers with top-shelf liquors in one package €“ a cool party-in-the box concept so you can enjoy your drinks in a new and fun way.

Here’s the official story:

Bruvado Imports is located in Santa Cruz, California, a balmy locale nestled between beachy Southern California and freewheeling San Francisco. This cultural cross pollination€”the chill vibe of surf culture meeting that endearingly quirky Bay Area spirit€”inspires this company of libational visionaries.  How else do you explain the Chaser Packs?! Who else would have the nerve to challenge industry conventions?!

Bruvado brings you the first ever Chaser Pack. It€™s a patented innovation that pairs upscale beers with top-shelf liquors€”you get five beers and five shots. It€™s a convenience and value driven package that€™s portable and affordable. The Bruvado Tequila Chaser Pack fuels the fiesta with 5 premium Mexican lagers grouped with a bottle containing 5 shots of 100% Agave tequila. This shebang comes complete with shot glasses. The Bruvado Bourbon Chaser Pack pairs Bruvado€™s distinct 5 Mexican lagers with a bottle containing 5 shots of the finest 4 year Oak Barrel Aged Kentucky Bourbon.

You can also enjoy these beverages by themselves. Bruvado€™s discriminating party palette ensures its products are merely enhanced when paired up because the company’s first priority is stand-alone quality.

Here’s Our Story: Bruvado Mexican beer has a great taste that is as flavorful as it is smooth to the tastebuds. It is my thinking that Bruvado beer serves as a chaser for their tequila/bourbon. But this isn’t just your average run of the mill beer drinking experience. This is seriously the good stuff. Top shelf kind of beverage for drinkers with some really great taste!

Take a case to the next party or sporting event you’re attending and let the fun begin. They are so considerate that the carton comes the tequila/bourbon comes with three “cute” shot glasses with little black cats on the bottom of them.

I’m not usually a fan of tequila but Bruvado got it right. Follow them on Twitter at @Bruvado_Imports and follow us on Twitter @Fastlanemag

Remember. If you drink, don’t drive!

I had been invited to attend the Mariposa Agave Nectar Liqueur launch event which was being held at a really swanky type hotel in West Hollywood (The Petit Ermitage Hotel). Not being much of a Tequila drinker I was hoping that it would at least be really good tequila. Well wasn’t I just in for a huge surprise!

@DaveStylus the entertainer who doubles as our music and nightlife editor from Mix966FM and I headed off to West Hollywood for this tasting and arrived at the Petit Ermitage hotel which oddly enough looked like nothing more than an apartment building but is in fact a great way to camouflage a luxury suite hotel. We were let up to the private rooftop club which is really great as well.

But I digress. The first sampling of Mariposa Agave Nectar Liqueur was straight up or neat as they say. Needless to say I was hesitant as I anticipated the typical harshness of the typical tequila brands I’ve had over the years. Surprised me that there was absolutely no need for a chaser of any kind. This was very much like a dessert Tequila. It was sweet yet not too sweet, and the tequila taste was more palatable than any I’d had before.

As we learned shortly after tasting during the presentation that Mariposia Agave Nectar is not a Tequila at all. It is a liqueur which is entirely different from your tequilas. See I can be taught something new.  The only thing Mariposa shares with Tequila is that both come from the same plant. Cousins maybe? Probably more like 2nd cousins. The base spirits that Mariposa is blended with are vodka and tequila. So it’s still in the family!

The second sampling was with a cube of ice in the glass. This had the benefit of opening up the agave flavor a bit more. I have no idea how it works but it did change the flavor, and kind of broke it up into something that really allowed all the other flavors to come out a nd play a bit more.

The great thing about Mariposa is that it will fit well with anything that you’re mixing. It’s got a golden hue, and on smelling it you find subtle hints of roasted piña and grapefruit. The primary scent is rose and gardenia. To the taste, you’ll get some orange blossom honey, pomme fruit, and the subtle flavor of juniper berry. Mariposa Agave Nectar Liqueur has a viscous flavor that rocks your taste buds to the core with a flavor explosion but it’s somehow still soft, with a dry finish.

Mariposa is 30% alcohol by volume and retails for right around $25.00 for a 750ml, and is one flavorful way to get hammered. Try mixing it with whiskey and wow! It’s designed to bring out your creative ideas and the creative ideas of mixologists everywhere.

I’ve included one of the recipes from the mojitos we enjoyed at the event.

Mariposa Mojito:

1 oz Mariposa
1 oz Silver Rum
.5 oz Lemon juice
.5 oz Lime juice
2 Springs of mint
4 oz Soda water

Combine all ingredients in shaker and shake vigorously, pour into Collins glass with ice, top with soda water.

And for all you calorie counters, here is a delicious summer recipe you can enjoy:

“The Butterfly Effect”

1 oz Mariposa (70 calories)
6 oz Fresca (1.75 calories)
lemon wedge (5 calories)

We’d love to hear what mixes you come up with for Mariposa Agave! Let us know by leaving a comment below. And don’t forget to go over and like Mariposa Liqueur on their Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter @FastLaneMag and if you have need of more ideas follow the Mariposa Liqueur resident mixologist Jared Schubert on Twitter @Jared_LouKY

Drive This! Entertainment, a hospitality development and management company based in Las Vegas, will open a new Tacos & Tequila (T&T) @tacosandtequila and Natural 9 Noodle Company this winter at Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa. @MorongoCasino

€œTacos & Tequila has become widely known for having the best Mexican food on the Las Vegas Strip,€ said Craig Gilbert, partner of Drive This! Entertainment. €œWe look forward to bringing the same great food to the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa; as well as a fresh, new Asian concept with Natural 9 Noodle Company.€

T&T is one-of-a-kind concept that will bring a fun, high-energy vibe and mouthwatering menu to guests of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa. Just steps away from the Oasis Pool, diners will enter an exotic world filled with vibrant colors and delicious aromas stemming from the authentic Mexican cuisine. The celebrated cuisine was crafted by renowned chef, Richard Sandoval, and T&T€™s Executive Chef, Saul Ortiz. Offering an unforgettable experience, visitors will delight in a menu featuring distinctive presentations of modern and traditional Mexican cuisine including classic carne asada, al pastor and alambre tacos.

The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will embody the cool modernism of Mexico City, as well as the traditional elements of Mexican beach style. Along with authentic Mexican fare, guests will enjoy a lively bar scene with an extensive selection of 100 percent blue agave tequilas and handcrafted specialty cocktails and margaritas such as the Spicy Lover, Blueberry Smash and T&T€™s signature top-shelf “fresh” margarita.

Bringing authentic Asian flavors from China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan the 4,000-square-foot, Natural 9 Noodle Company, will feature a menu of regional wok-fried and noodle cuisine. The vibrant eatery will serve Asian specialties such as stuffed crab claws, chow fun, bi bim bup, wonton soup and traditional dim sum including har gow, sui mai, pork buns and pot stickers.

The ambiance of Natural 9 Noodle Company will feature a clean and modern atmosphere with sleek white décor and wood accents. Guests will enter an all-natural element of rock, slate and sand with black accents and vibrant hues of red and orange.

We certainly look very forward to eating at this location and reporting back to you! If you get there before we do please don’t hesitate to let us know what your thoughts were!

From our friends over at Tequila Loca which is a very smooth and colorful brand we present the Tequila Loca Red Hot Saturday Mix: So tonight while you’re preparing your drink menu or in the hottest most exclusive clubs you can certainly request this drink!

1 cup ice

6 fluid ounces sweet and sour mix

3 fluid ounces Tequila Loca (red)
1 1/2 fluid ounces grenadine syrup
1 fluid ounce triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)

What are your favorite Tequila based drinks? Let us know below!

Karma Tequila, produced from 100% blue agave believes in Karma- the principle according to which each person is rewarded or punished according to that person’s deeds in life. The creators of Karma Tequila, Britney Huinker, Devin Semler, and Gary Eisenberger support the Kids Courage Foundation (http://kidscourage.org/) with a percentage of their proceeds, a charity close to their hearts.

Karma Tequila is produced in the highlands of Jalisco, a region referred to as the Napa Valley of Mexico and is recognized for having the richest volcanic soil and ideal climate. Each agave is hand picked and tested ensuring that only the ripest agave is used. Authentic brick ovens slowly cook the agave allowing all the flavors to be captured in every sip.

Karma€™s distillery is located the State of Jalisco, a region referred to as the Napa Valley of Mexico, and is family owned and operated utilizing traditional distilling methods that have been passed down from generation to generation for over 70 years. Karma Tequila is handmade in small batches through a triple distilled process ensuring a complete balance in taste and smoothness.

REVIEW:

I am not a big Tequila drinker per se’ and typically when I get to review Tequila I am hesitant to actually crack the bottle. Yes this was the case with Karma Tequila; after all it is Tequila. I often find Tequila to be very I don’t know how else to describe it beside gritty!

Karma Tequila however is pretty much like drinking flavored water, in that it is very smooth, and doesn’t tend to have the bad after taste that makes lime and salt unnecessary.

For our money we certainly give Karma Tequila the Green light! You should probably include it at your next party. It’s great in Margaritas as well, get hammered and don’t even taste it happening.

As always however, if you’re going to enjoy Karma Tequila or any other alcoholic beverage do so responsibly, and do not drive! A cab or motel room are vastly less expensive than a DUI!

Let us know your thoughts. And follow us on twitter @FastLaneMag