Big Taste in a skinny bottle
Written: Jul 10 '00 (Updated Oct 04 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: High-end flavor, cool bottles
Cons: VERY pricey - distribution problems.
The Bottom Line: If you can get it, it's great. But don't say anything bad about them...
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| martytdx's Full Review: Porfidio Anejo Tequila |
BIG NOTE: Please see the updates at the bottom of this review about Porfidio!!!
When I worked in a bar in Boulder, CO, they were known for two things - a great deck, and A LOT of tequilas. When I left, we had 18 different types and Cuervo Gold was about 2nd from the bottom of the list.
We had the distributors come in often to try to get us to buy new tequilas, and most of the time we would pass - we had a bunch that we could trust, and weren't necessarily in the market for more.
But the funny bottle of Porfidio caught our owner's (and prime tequila drinker's) eye, and he decided to try the stuff. Our first purchase was 1 bottle each of the Gold and Silver versions of the tequila.
The Gold was good, full of flavor and with almost a whiskey-like character to it. It has a good color and is relatively smooth despite the character it has. The Silver, on the other hand, was smooooooth, sliding down your throat like quicksilver. It had a much more subdued taste and very little aftertaste, but still enough kick to remind you that you were indeed drinking firewater.
After a couple afternoons of 'testing' these bottles, we soon became full-time purchasers of the product. The distributor obviously saw an opportunity, because we were soon presented with two more choices: A triple-distilled plata and a single-barrel anejo.
The triple-distilled had an eye-catching fading-blue bottle that helped make it a customer favorite. Being triple-distilled, although it was a stronger than the gold & silver, the flavor was just as smooth, if not a bit smoother than either. There was, however, more flavor than in the normal silver.
The single-barrel was the motherlode, however. This tequila was not holding back, being much more flavorful and having an obviously stronger kick. The golden color was far better than the normal gold, and the whiskey-like undertones were fuller. The tequila flavor itself was also present in vibrant detail. This was not a shooter tequila, this was one to be placed in a larger glass and sipped over a length of time. Oh, and the bottle comes with a cool glass cactus in the bottom (another selling point for the bar...)
These tequilas are a bit pricey (when you can get them, they range from $50 - $500 a bottle; Plata is usually around $75) and are definitely NOT for the typical college crowd. The gold and silver are good for the novices and beginning tequila drinkers who are trying to get beyond well tequilas and more common tequilas as Cuervo. The Plata and Anejo are intended for the more discerning tastes, as well. Their flavors are more complex and, as I said earlier, lend themselves to sipping more than throwing back. AND THESE ARE NOT MARGERITA TEQUILAS. That's what the lesser Gold tequilas are for.
Porfidio is often hard to find, however. If you can find it, expect to pay a little more than usual. But when you do, sit back and enjoy what a little time and effort can produce in a fine tequila.
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1/17/02 UPDATE::
Say it isn't so! I just learned that Porfidio has been banned from selling in the U.S. because their tequilas aren't pure! More specifically, they have been charged that their tequilas aren't made with 100% blue agave, as advertised but with 50% cane sugar (somewhat like rum!).
Because of this and other charges, the Mexican government has forbidden this 'tequila' to be sold. I thought it had a whiskey-like character; little did I know that was because it was actually made like whiskey!
I'm deeply saddened to learn of this news ... I truly loved this tequila. But to the reader, NOW you know the REST of the story... SEE NOTE AT BOTTOM
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UPDATE 11/10/02:
I just received an email from the manufacturers of Porfidio that I thought I would share:
DEAR "MARTYTDX":
I HAVE READ WITH GREAT INTEREST YOUR ARTICLE "BIG TASTE IN A SKINNY BOTTLE UPDATED JANUARY 17, 2002.
IN THE ABOVE CITED ARTICLE, YOU MENTION TWO MATTERS, WHICH ARE FACTUALLY INCORRECT.
ALLEGATION 1.
YOU ALLEGE THAT PORFIDIO HAS BEEN FORBIDDEN BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT
ANSWER 1:
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BAN WAS UPLIFTED BY THE MEXICAN HIGH COURTS IN JUNE, SINCE THIS ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURE WAS CONSIDERED QUOTE "ENTIRELY ILLEGAL AND UNTICONSTITUTIONAL". A 60 MILLION DOLLAR DAMAGE LAW SUIT IS IN PROCESS AGAINST THE ENVOLVED GOVERNMENT AGENCY (PROFECO) BASED ON THIS HIGH COURT RULING.
ALLEGATION 2:
YOU ALLEGE THAT PORFIDIO HAS BEEN CAUGHT CHEATING BY MAKING TEQUILA WHICH IS ASSUMED TO BE MADE FROM 100% BLUE AGAVE WITH 50% SUGAR CANE.
ANSWER 2:
THIS IS NOT ONLY INCORRECT, BUT ALSO HIGHLY DEFAMATORY. PORFIDIO HAS NEVER BEEN ACCUSED BY ANYONE, NEITHER GOVERNMENT NOR COMPETITORS, OF THIS OR SIMILAR CHARGES.
WHAT PORFIDIO HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ACCUSED OF BY THE JOSE CUERVO LABORATORY AND THE CRT IS OF SELLING ONE BOTTLE OF PORFIDIO AT 39.7% ALCOHOL INSTEAD OF THE LEGALLY REQUIRED 39.8%.
AS YOU MAY IMAGINE, THIS ACCUSATION HAS NOTHING TO WITH YOUR ABOVE COMMENT, NOT EVEN REMOTELY.
I WOULD HIGHLY APPRECIATE, IF COULD KINDLY INVESTIGATE THE FACTS BEFORE PUBLISHING AN ARTICLE AND ADJUST YOUR ARTICLE TO THE FACTS INSTEAD OF "HEAR-SAY".
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
YOURS SINCERELY,
DAVID CANO
DESTILERIA PORFIDIO SA DE CV
www.tequilaporfidio.com
In my defense, I DID do the research, including reading several articles which all said the same thing. I'm glad to hear that the articles had some misinformation in them, because I truly liked this tequila.
Just thought I should let you know the "New Truth"
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UPDATE 10/2/03:
I went back to see what I can find on Porfidio. According their website, it is not currently available for distribution within the U.S. However, I DID find it available from several online retailers.
Additionally, I found the following article from the CRT (the 'legal authority' of tequila, as it were) dated 1/17/03:
www.embamex.co.uk/press/2003/gbr0012003.htm (no longer available, due to legal recourse by Porfidio)
In it, it states that the proprietor of Porfidio had been arrested for forging documents for export of his tequila. Not such good news. However, in counter point, the 8/1/03 article in Suave-Agave (www.suave-agave.com/articles/article4.html), states that the production is back on and that the accusations WERE false.
I don't know the final outcome yet, but since you can buy the tequila online now, I'm assuming that Porfidio has won their case.
Other recent articles you might be interested in:
Post on a tequila site, from the owner of Porfidio (Oct. 2002):
www.tequilaaficionado.com/article.php?sid=177
A Forbes article from May, 2002.
www.forbes.com/fyi/2002/0513/033.html
Several reviews by 4-1-1:
Porfidio Plata
Porfidio Anejo
[• update 10-4-04 •]
I received a comment from "Porfidio" about the articles I mention above, and the charges I leveled. In my comments section, they state that the charges against them have been found false in court and that thus resulted in them being in full production again. Although I can't find any articles to support this, as I stated in my update 1 year ago, they are available online, so I have to guess that there is truth to the statement.
In short, I'm glad they're back because it was a fantastic tequila, although I doubt I would shell out as much money as they are asking these days.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
martytdx
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Member: Marty
Location: New Jersey
Reviews written: 481
Trusted by: 180 members
About Me:
Doing what I can to try new places, restaurants, books and beers.
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