agave spirit flights
Ámbar Restaurante is excited to introduce the agave spirit flight program. Throughout the year, our knowledgeable team will select a limited-time menu of four tastings from our vast collection to allow you to learn more about their origin and variety.
Just as grapes are used to make wine, agave is the plant from which agave spirits are distilled. Agaves can be classified into six categories: tequila, mezcal, raicilla, Bacanora, pulque and Sotol.
Each month or so, we'll sample different spirits from specific regions or varietals such as Oaxaca, Chihuahua, Guerrero, San Luis Potosi etc., each highlighting unique flavors and aromas found only there.
women-owned best tequilas and mezcales
Casa Dragones Blanco - Tequila - San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato - Bertha González Nieves
aroma: fresh and herbaceous with notes of grapefruit and green apple
taste: unique balance of semi-sweet notes of agave warmed by hints of pepper and cloves followed by a Crisp, light finish with hints of almonds and a bright aftertaste
La Gritona Reposado - Tequila - Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco - Melly Barajas
aroma: light on sweetness and retains the aroma and true essence of the cooked agave; caramelized fruit, ginger and pepper
taste: herbaceous, with agave notes that have not been “whiskified” by the barreling process
Real Minero Barril - Mezcal - Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca - Graciela Angeles
aroma:
taste:
Yola - Mezcal - San Juan del Río, Oaxaca - Yola Jimenez
aroma: striking flavors of peppered citrus that give way to a soothing, smoky finish; hints of roasted agave, citrus, and fresh herbs on the nose
taste: a smooth, creamy texture with flavors of cooked agave, vanilla, and a touch of caramel; Earthy undertones, along with mild peppery and herbal notes
$50
best mezcal agaves
el jolgorio espadín
produced by Casa Cortés in Oaxaca, Mexico; 100% Espadín; 47% ABV (ABV may vary batch to batch)
Cooked in a horno (conical earthen oven), Milled using horse-driven stone tahona or small mechanical grinder with ax & wooden mallet
Naturally fermented in open-air wooden tanks (tinas) and Distilled using traditional copper pot stills
Not just any Espadín mezcal, every batch released under the El Jolgorio label is wildly unique, a bottle to be coveted. Sourced from numerous renowned mezcaleros from the Casa Cortés stable and beyond, any Espadín from the brand must be rested in glass (“madurado en vidrio”) for a minimum of 3 years before bottling. That’s just a starting place; some batches have been resting glass and tote for nearly two decades before the family selected them for release.
mal de amor tobalá
produced by the Hernández brothers in santiago, Oaxaca; 100% tobalá; 45% ABV
double distilled in 250 liter copper pot stills
produced by Maestro Mezcalero Armando Hernandez and his brother Alvaro, 3rd generation Maestro Mezcaleros, in Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca. They grew up making mezcal with their father, learning the techniques handed down from their grandfather. They double distill all their mezcal in 250 liter copper pot stills. Mal de amor tobalá is a smoky, sweet, and fiery spirit that boasts a beautiful deep red color. the nose is full of raisins, cinnamon, and vanilla, and the palate is smooth and fruity with a slightly smoky finish.
banhez cuishe
produced by maestro tequilero luis pacheco in la noria, Oaxaca; 100% cuishe; 47% ABV
EARTHEN WOOD-FIRE OVENS LINED WITH BRICK AND STONE, TAHONAS PULLED BY HORSES, fermented with natural yeasts for 5-6 days, and small-batch distillation in copper pots.
It is an incredibly easy-to-sip mezcal with all the tropical fruitiness, acidic dryness, and herbaceous notes that this agave is typically known for.
el samaritano mexicano
produced by Maestro Mezcalero Don Ambrosio Martinez Blas in santiago matatlán, oaxaca; 100% mexicano; 45% ABV
cooked in an underground oven for 4 days, crushed by a horse-drawn tahona, fermented in wooden vats, and double-distilled in copper pots
produced by Don Ambrosio, 5th generation Mezcalero, who has been making mezcal since 1993 using the knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation. Don Ambrosio set out to create his own brand of mezcal at his palenque, which was handed down to him by his father, in Santiago Matatlan, the "Capital Mundial del Mezcal." this mezcal is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
$53
best extra añejos
ocho
aroma: Dried fruits like raisins and peach, dark chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla, cooked agave, toffee and fresh oak
taste: Cooked agave, roasted coffee, nuts, orange peel, hints of black pepper, cherries and oak
corralejo 1821
aroma: A rich bouquet that combines the sweetness of cooked agave with the invigorating spice of cinnamon, pepper, and clove; smoky notes with the woody and herbal fragrances, with complex hints of coffee, walnut, apple, and green pineapple
taste: symphony of flavors starts with smoked and woody notes, unveiling initial impressions of walnut, almond, vanilla, and cooked agave; delicate aftertaste of citrus, herbs, smooth floral, chocolate, and spicy notes, including cinnamon and pepper
don fulano imperial
aroma: sweetness from caramel, toffee and chocolate-covered fruit that is balanced by the freshness of menthol
taste: Sweet brown spices, cloves, nutmeg and pepper are abundant in this expression
el tesoro
aroma: a hint of coffee along cinnamon, butter and notes of caramel
taste: a balanced blend of coffee, dark chocolate, dry fruits, and roasted almonds
$98
icons - highlands & lowlands
7 leguas 7 décadas - blanco - highlands
aroma: unique features of cooked agave, fresh mint, and fennel; mineral rich earth with a hint of citrus
taste: full cooked agave followed by fresh flavors of a garden full of herbs and white flowers, buttery mouthfeel backed with notes of citrus and pepper
lost lore - añejo - highlands
aroma: Cooked Agave flavor with sweet notes of oak and vanilla
taste: cooked agave, minerals, cinnamon, and vanilla
loco ámbar - reposado - lowlands
aroma: notes of fresh agave, green pepper and basil perfectly balanced with spices, such as, cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves, and fruity notes of cooked agave, citrus, and apples
taste: silky sweet balance of fruitiness and caramels with a subtle bitterness and mineral expressions reminiscent of the terroir
código 1530 - añejo - lowlands
aroma: sweet notes of vanilla, butterscotch, oak, and caramel
taste: a smooth and delicate taste of cooked agave with vanilla and caramel notes
$79
best tequila fuertes
don fulano blanco fuerte
aroma: Yellow apple and cooked, mature agave round out this expression and make it soft and smooth despite its higher proof; Grassines from volcanic well water shows in this pure and ethereal tequila
taste: Profoundly aromatic with floral glimmers of jasmin and orange blossom; This overproof tequila fully shows its complex terroir, high minerality and wet cement
G4 108 high proof
aroma: Cooked Agave flavor with Black Pepper, Minerals, Cinnamon, Alcohol, and subtle Pineapple or Mint
taste: cooked agave, minerals, citrus, cinnamon, black pepper, oak, and mint
Fortaleza Blanco Still Strength
aroma: fruit, baked fully-ripened agave, green olive, and earth are invitingly present
taste: accents of butter, olive, earth, black pepper, and vegetal qualities in the flavor are enhanced because it comes straight from our small copper pot still, without adding water prior to bottling
cascahuín plata 48
aroma: very strong fragrances of cooked agave, pepper, and fresh herbs; Then, aromas of cardamom, walnut, coffee, honey, and butter
taste: flavors of mint and fresh herbs, with a pleasant combination of bitterness and sweetness that spreads through the mouth, characteristic of cooked agave, leaving a lasting impression; As you finish, you can taste honey and natural fruits, leaving a sweet and oily finish
$50
best new tequilas
el viejito plata 50
aroma: cooked agave, citrus, white pepper, and herbal notes
taste: buttery notes complement the fruitiness and sweetness of the cooked agave
lalo blanco high proof
aroma: fresh and vibrant, with notes of citrus, light pepper, and sweet agave
taste: cooked agave notes with delicate floral hints, and a peppery finish complemented by a distinctive minerality
alma de jaguar - añejo
aroma: sweet barrel notes, vanilla, cinnamon, and caramel
taste: banana, vanilla, cooked agave, and oak
cierto extra añejo
aroma: refined notes of caramel, cherries, and dark chocolate
taste: sweet notes of cooked agave, oak, chocolate, and caramel
$65
celebrity tequila flights
Ámbar is proud to introduce Celebrity Tequila Flights as an exciting extension of the agave spirit flights program. We are currently featuring two tequila collections Flecha Azul and Codigo 1530.
Flecha Azul tequila flight
owners-partners american actor mark Wahlberg, Mexican PGA golfer Abraham Ancer, and Mexican entrepreneur Aron Marquez
Flecha Azul tequila is Made with blue weber agave, flèche Azul tequila piñas are cooked in brick ovens to protect its rich and sweet flavors.
cristalino
aged for 18 months in ex-bourbon American oak barrels. notes of dark chocolate, vanilla and oak.
reposado
aged for 6 months in ex-bourbon american oak barrels. notes of brown spices with a sweet finish.
añejo
aged for 18 months in ex-bourbon american oak barrels. notes of vanilla with a sweet finish.
extra añejo
aged for 36 months in ex-bourbon american oak barrels. notes of creamy butterscotch, oak and vanilla.
$65
Codigo 1530 tequila flight
co-owned by country music star george strait
Codigo 1530 tequila is made without added sweeteners or colors, and the brand uses 3x the average amount of agave for a smooth tequila experience.
blanco
unrested, never touches a barrel to appreciate the rich flavor of agave. notes of earthiness and citrus with a sweet finish.
reposado
aged for six months in napa valley Cabernet french oak wine barrels. notes of vanilla, toasted caramel, sweet agave and cocoa powder
rosa
starts with the purity of the blanco tequila, then rested in uncharred napa valley cabernet french white oak barrels.aged for 24-28 months in barrels first used to age bourbon. notes of bright agave and cabernet
añejo
aged for 18 months in napa valley Cabernet french oak wine barrels. notes of fruit, vanilla, oak and spice.