Who’s Your Octo-Daddy?

Tonight, I am pleased to announce that I’ve become a proud new father.

I always wanted to be a parent.  Now, I can spend every waking day with my special little darling.  I’ll even obsess over this treasure at night, and rejoice when it keeps me awake.

My “baby” weighs 6 pounds, 4 ounces.  We’re unsure of its sex at the moment.  But we do know the baby is black.

This baby appears to have origins in Mexico.  There are at least three other brothers and sisters already in the family.

We have agreed to call our new bundle of joy — “Azunia”

Isn’t that a pretty name?  Sounds like flower petals.  Actually, more like a blue agave.

This beauty will be known as “Azunia Tequila.”

Here’s Azunia’s brothers and sisters.  We are uncertain as to which is what.

But they are each special in their own way.  I know a parent shouldn’t have favorites, but I have to admit some sentimental attachment to my new little bundle of love.  It must be a “she.”  Isn’t she beautiful?

Read more about AZUNIA TEQUILA here.

Tonight, Marieta and I attended a special tequila tasting and dinner here in Las Vegas.  The food, service, and accompaniments were awesome.  We enjoyed an exotic five-course meal, each paired with an assortment of tequilas served in different forms.

The appetizer pairing included three frozen margaritas as a sort of mini-tasting — flavored with mango, strawberry, and prickly pear.  Table service included freshly made guacamole and salsa.

Next, we enjoyed three different shots of tequila, all served straight up.  This is the happy family of bottles seen in the second photo.  That was served with tuna ceviche.

After that, we enjoyed a traditional margarita on the rocks, which was the simplest refreshment on the menu.  That was brought out along with two delicious lobster tortillas, served with cabbage salad, and wrapped with lettuce.

Just as we were getting full (and a bit tipsy), the main course came out which was six brazed lamb chops, along with a side salad.  This course was accompanied by two more margaritas — the first a mango silver tequila on the rocks, and then another orange-flavored concoction with a hint of sliced red pepper that almost had me worshipping the bartender.

We weren’t done yet.

Dessert consisted of caramel flan and traditional Mexican wedding cookies, which wouldn’t be complete without a raspberry margarita (each drink was about 2/3rds the size of a regular cocktail).  This was fabulous.

Finally, since we were special, the presenter offered us the “baby,” which is the black-boxed tequila, which is aged two full years in old Jack Daniels wood barrels.  By law, bourbon barrels can’t be used more than once, so the remainder is shipped to wineries, rum, and tequila factories — including Azunia in central Mexico.   The glass was lipped with cinnamon sugar, which was caramelized, then filled with the tinted tequila, which runs about $95 a bottle.

So, what did I learn tonight?  Well, a few things actually:

—  From now on, instead of calling for a premium tequila from one of the well-known makers, instead try and sample something newer and smaller — something you may have never heard of.  Chance are, the authenticity of production is far superior in the smaller distillery, and you will get more taste for the buck.  The well-known tequilas are vast corporate entities that have lost their charm and do everything to mass-produce and cut costs.  DON’T ORDER THESE EVER AGAIN!  Instead, support small businesses and try something new.  Chances are, you’ll love it.  I sure did.

—  Azunia is one of many small makers of tequila in an area west of Guadalajara (Mexico).  The production field consists of a few acres, a small building, an administrative office, and workers who produce about eight days per month.  All of the profits go back into the community as it is locally owned and operated.  The guide told us that when she visited the production facility, another family came up to her and thanked her for promoting Azunia, as the family made the labels that are stuck onto the bottles.  “You selling this tequila in America puts food on our table,” she told our guide.  A pretty moving story that makes you want to drink and support this product.

— I don’t like babies much.  But this is one infant I can love as my own.

When it comes to tequila, I intend to produce more offspring.  Who knows — maybe, I’ll even turn into the Octo-dad.