Australia isn’t just dabbling in Mexican-inspired spirits: it’s building a compelling category of its own.
Mike Bennie
Agave spirits from Australian distillers pay homage to Mexico’s famed tequila and mezcal production and culture – they work with the same plant material, namely Agave americana and Agave tequilana – but have a distinctly Antipodean edge, thanks to the trialling of different roasting methods, use of wild fermentations and hybrid distillation techniques.
This results in flavour profiles that swing between the expected herbaceous, saline and citrus-driven and smokier notes with a distinctly warm earthy edge.
A wave of pre-packaged, agave-based cocktails is also gaining real traction here. Australia isn’t just dabbling in agave spirit: it’s building a compelling category of its own.
Three Australian agave spirits to try
Black Snake Distillery Pechuga ($129) – Distilled with fruits, nuts, botanicals and poultry meat. Here, kangaroo meat plays a role to create a compelling, smoky and spicy, mezcal-like offering from Narrabri, NSW.
Beudi Blanco ($99) – A blend of Queensland and Mexican agave, distilled in Australia. Crystal-clear, bright and herbaceous in style, it delivers hallmark crisp pear, jalapeno and cut-grass characters. Made for margaritas.
Act of Treason Reposado ($95) – Matured in old, Australian whisky barrels, this is a potent offering, showing a mesh of woody, sweet spices with zesty citrus, green capsicum and alpine herbs. Sip on the rocks.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
