Zircon Azul Anejo Tequila Review

Zircon Azul Anejo tequila is made from the Weber Blue Agave in Arandes district in the state Jalisco, Mexico. It is triple distilled then aged in once used oak whiskey barrels for three years. Anjeo Tequila is only required to age one year, so this technically makes it an "Extra Anejo.” 

Zircon Azul is an Oregon based company with headquarters based in Douglas County working directly with the Jaime family in Jalisco that has been growing quality Agave for other suppliers like Hera Dura, Patron, and others for many years.

Zircon Azul Anejo Tequila

 Zircon Azul Anejo’s nose is butterscotch, clove, black pepper, smoke, and a touch of oak. The aromas are nice and complex. The oak is noticeable but nicely balanced.

This Anejo is light with soft, sweet roasted agave combined with black pepper. The midpalate adds caramel, ginger, and a touch of oak to the mix. The finish is peppery and sweet, medium, light, and ends clean.

This tequila should, of course, be consumed neat or over ice. Zircon Azul Anejo is smooth and easy and reminds you its extra time spent in oak, but in a subtle get to know you kind of way. Zircon Azul Anejo’s structure and flavors define a good Anejo Tequila while keeping it approachable for both novice and expert Añejo drinkers.

ZirconAzulTequila.com

The Liquorist

2017 TOAST - Oregon Distillers Guild

The 2017 Oregon Distillers Guild show TOAST, was full of great food and a great drink.  34 distilleries, 5 companies selling cocktail related ingredients and 5 top notch restaurants made sampling a fun and exciting venture.

I was very excited to see plenty of herbal entries such Stone Barn Brandyworks Nocini, Rolling River Aquavit, and Thomas and Sons Fernet and Alpine Liqueur.

Restaurants

Boke Bowl

Proletariat Butchery / Elkhorn Farm and Forge

Smokehouse Tavern

Verdigris Restaurant

The Waiting Room

Non Distillers

Sage and Sea Farms (drinking vinegar) 

Improper Goods (Bitter Housewife and Raft Syrups)

Portland Soda Works

Bradley's Tonics

Interrobang Vermouth

Distillers 

4 Spirits Distillery

Aria 

Backdrop Distilling

Big Bottom Distilling

Bull Run Distilling Co.

Clear Creek Distillery

Crater Lake Spirits

Crescendo Organic Spirits

Double Circle Spirits

Drink Think representing several distilleries

Eastside Distilling

Elixir Craft Spirits

Flooded Fox Den Distillery

Heritage Distilling Co.

Hood River Distillers

House Spirits Distillery

Indio Spirits

Intrepid Distilling

JVR Spirits

McMenamins

New Basin Distilling Co.

New Deal Distillery

Oregon Spirit Distillers

Pilot House Distilling

Ransom Spirits

Rogue Spirits

Rolling River Spirits

Sinister Distilling Co. 

Stein Distillery

Stone Barn Brandyworks

Swallowtail Spirits

Thomas & Sons Distillery

Vinn Distillery

Walter Collective

Industrial Row Dystopia Vodka Review

Most grain to bottle distilleries lately have been focused on distilling whiskey, which has had a huge resurgence in the US and worldwide spirits market.  However, I was surprised to find a local company here in Portland that is focused solely on making vodka.  As you may or may not know, the vast majority of all vodka brands produced in this country, which includes most “craft” vodkas, are made from corn-based neutral grain spirits produced in huge industrial distilleries and shipped in tanker trucks.

Industrial Row Dystopia Vodka is made grain to bottle from soft winter wheat and rye from local and very well know Bobs Red Mill.  It is single distilled through a double column copper pot still named Clausius, after Rudolf Clausius who came up with the mathematical representation of the second law of thermodynamics.

The vodka has a nose that is lightly sweet, hints of peeled banana and orange blossom. Velvety smooth texture, flavors hints of melon and multigrain bread, with light heat and dryness on the finish. A single ice cube for a minute makes this vodka smooth as silk.

Industrial Row has a fine product in their Dystopia Vodka.  The single distillation is remarkably smooth and yet still retains character from its local grain source.  Vodka is generally a flavorless spirit, so be prepared, Dystopia Vodka is lightly sweet, unique and enjoyable.

The Liquorist Blog