We have enjoyed wine and beer pairings before, but never had a dinner paired with tequila. So when we were invited by Tres Generaciones to dine at Toloache for a special tequila pairing and presentation, we were eager to expand our tequila knowledge beyond those long ago college days' shots.
We started off with a Guacamole Trio:
Frutas: This was a fruity guacamole with avocado, pomegranate, mango, apple, vidalia onions, peach, habanero, and Thai basil. This was mild with a fresh taste.
Traditional: This was a very mild and slightly salty traditional guacamole with avocado, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and serrano.
Rojo: This was a nice, spicy guacamole with avocado, chipotle, tomatoes, red onions, and queso fresco. We really enjoyed the subtle smokiness and spiciness in this brown-colored guacamole.
A close-up of the frutas guacamole. Though purists would disagree, we actually liked the fruit (that were both sweet and tart) in this guacamole.
Jaime Salas, Tres Generaciones' National Tequila Ambassador, led us through sniffing, swirling, and appreciating each of the three tequilas.
Our tequila tastings (we sipped them from right to left):
Right: Tres Generaciones Plata: This was lightest in color (essentially clear) and tasted spicy and peppery with a noticeable heat from the alcohol. It was clean and relatively smooth. This tequila is triple-distilled.
Middle: Tres Generaciones Reposado: Gold in color, this tequila is triple-distilled and then rested in American oak barrels for at least four months. We could smell a plesant white oak aroma that made this tequila smell (and taste) softer than the Plata. It had a slight caramel (Jaime mentioned "bananas") and spiciness.
Left: Tres Generaciones Añejo: This would be appreciated by Scotch and whiskey lovers. This is the same tequlia but aged for more than 12 months and up to 3 years in oak bourbon barrels. It's has a high quality and smooth, round taste with a pleasant oak nose and a lingering finish.
This is a close-up of the Plata - crystal clear in color.
To pair with our appetizer course, we enjoyed the bright pink Granada Fizz. Pomegranate, champagne, and Plata tequila make a nice, light, bubbly, and refreshing drink.
Taquitos de Cangrejo: This was fantastic! Two crispy taquitos were filled with sweet crab salad, habaneros, sweet onion, and topped with Thai basil. They were held up on the plate with a jicama paste that tasted sweet, like chestnut.
These Bandera cocktails were a tribute to the Mexican flag. Though it had beet puree in it, the beets were very subtle. The drink was sweet, sour, and fresh with a kick.
Carnitas de Pato: Our entree course was a duck confit carnitas on a duck egg with requeson (ricotta-like cheese) huarache, and covered with fig mole. The duck was tender and this earthy dish was nicely paired with the beet cocktail.
Tres Generaciones Añejo cocktail tasted like summer. It smelled citrusy and tasted like lemonade with a kick. The agave syrup sweetened the Añejo and made it very easy to drink.
Crepas de Cajeta: The dessert was a cake of caramelized milk crepes, Tres Generaciones Añejo caramel sauce, and banana ice cream.
We loved the soft, light milk crepes (reminded us of the tasty French dessert, mille crepes). We thought that the crepes were nice on its own and didn't need the overpowering taste of the banana ice cream.
Overall, we had a pleasant dinner and learned a lot about fine tequila. We learned that the flavor of these three tequilas (all based on the same ingredient: 100% blue agave) resulted from different preparations. We also gained appreciation for the tequila as a sipping drink as well as its versatility in cocktails.
Toloache is located at 251 W 50th St (btwn Bdwy and 8th Aves) in NYC.
Tres Generaciones portfolio of tequilas can be found in liquor stores throughout the world.
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