DRINK

MSN.com has a series of really good articles I think are worth taking a look at:

• 5 overrated Cocktails
• 10 things your Bartender won't tell you
• 5 Cocktails that deserve a comeback
• 8 tips for learning what you like and ordering it right

Solid.

Gintastic! That was my first thought when I took my first sip of G'vine gin, the first-ever Gin made from grape spirit in the Cognac region of France. The grape spirit comes from a rare green grapevine flower that exists for only a short time before maturing into grape berries.

The perfume-like floral aroma makes it's presence known but is not overpowering - and the botanicals in G'vine gin (ginger root, liquorice, green cardamom, cassia bark, coriander, juniper berries, cubeb berries, nutmeg and lime) result in a very pleasant, spicy and somewhat "sweetish" flavor.

G'vine is a small-batch gem, and it shows - definitely another fine gin for people who think they don't like gin. G'vine retails between $35 - $40. This is one gintastic gin that you should enjoy neat, or in simple cocktails that will allow the characteristics of the gin to shine through.

Welcome to the first of Recap Sundays - a recap of grandiose posts from other blogs in the Mixosphere.

• Do you know how to craft the perfect pear cocktail? You could win a thousand dollars and have your creation featured in Imbibe Magazine! [cocktailnerd]
• The stork dropped off Baby Bamboo last Weds, but that didn't stop Dr. Bamboo from taking part in Mixology Mondays ... [Dr. Bamboo]
• I've told your before, it never pays to piss off your Bartender ... [Explore the Pour]
• The Bible Flask ... [Intoxicated Zodiac]
• The Original Aviation ... [Oh Gosh!]
• One of the greatest cocktails ever created ...[Art of Drink]
• Margaritas with a splash of mayo? [The Cocktail Chronicles]
• Natalie heads off to London [The Liquid Muse]

I'd like to introduce you to an important and extremely versatile product from Partida Tequila, Partida agave nectar (at least in my humble opinion). I received a sample a short while ago along with their tequilas - but I purposely delayed writing about the nectar because I felt it deserved a seperate post.

Partida agave nectar is a blue agave based organic, natural fructose sweetener. It's sweeter than sugar and also has a reported lower glycemic index rating than sugar, honey or maple syrup. The glycemic index rating of agave nectar is 11, sugar's is 100. That's 1/10th the glycemic index of sugar!

Partida nectar is water soluble, which means that it will dissolve instantly in drinks and mixes well with other ingredients in cocktails. Sometimes I can't be bothered to make simple syrup, it's nice to have an alternative readily available, especially a healthier one. There's no aftertaste from the nectar because it's all natural.

So we have an all natural product, with a lower glycemic index rating than sugar and which also tastes sweeter than honey? Diabetics and non-diabetics alike rejoice!

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Unlike other tequilas which barely, but legally pass for tequila (51% agave based, the rest 49% sugarcane), Partida Tequila uses 100% pure blue agave - tequila does not get any more authentic and purer than this. Plus, if the accolades that Partida has been racking up recently is any indication, we're not the only ones who think so.

The Partida estate, deep in the heart of Mexico's historic Tequila region, produces four distinctive tequilas: Blanco, Reposado, Anejo and Elegante.

Blanco (Not Aged)

Clear and brilliant with a silvery hue. Clean and crisp, this one packs a punch, peppery with a lingering aftertaste. Excellent for use in margaritas.

Reposado (Aged 6 months)

Light amber color, smooth, rich taste with a hint of sweetness.  Full bodied with a very light aftertaste, pleasant finish. Excellent for use in cocktails.

Anejo (Aged 18 months)

This is the one folks. Very smooth, in fact it was hard to believe I was still drinking tequila. This is fine cognac or single malt whiskey territory. Hardly any aftertaste whatsoever. Very smooth, rich. Enjoy neat, but the Anejo will make a very good Reposado tequila cocktail even better.

Elegante (Aged 36 months)

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to sample the Elegante, the good people at Partida only sent the Blanco, Reposado, Anejo & Agave nectar for review. If the excellence of the Anejo is anything to go by, I'm sure the Elegante will be a knockout. This is the best spirit in their stable and I hear a bottle retails somewhere around $350.
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This brings us to our last base liquor in the series. To recap, we've looked at Gin, Rum, Brandy, Vodka & Whiskey (or whisky if you're Scottish).

Now let's discuss Tequila.

Tequila is distilled from the fermented juice of the Mezcal plant. The Mezcal plant must be grown within the limits of the state of Jalisco, Mexico or certain designated areas in Mexico - Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. In a nutshell, Tequila comes from Mexico. If the Mezcal plants are grown anywhere else, then it's bottled as Mezcal.

Mezcal is made from the blue agave plant, a monster that takes eight to 12 years to mature and yields a pineapple-type heart (the pina). The hearts are cooked in traditional brick ovens or modern autoclaves and then shredded or ground into a pulp and the juice distilled.
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