Peligroso Tequila is a smooth spirit. Credit: Peligroso Tequila
Peligroso Tequila is a smooth but powerful spirit. For many, the mention of tequila conjures images of Old Mexico, the barren desert and rattlesnakes. Peligroso — Spanish for dangerous — offers a nod to that wild image with its name and the rattlesnake logo, but you have only to take a sip to dispel any bad myths you’ve heard about tequila.
Peligroso is an over-proof tequila with 42% alcohol by volume (most tequila is 40% abv.), or 80-proof tequila. It is made of 100% Weber Blue Agave Tequila grown on a private estate in Jalisco, Mexico then smoked in a traditional brick oven.
The company is the vision of two diving and surfing buddies who wanted to bottle the beauty and the wild side of Mexico. After recently tasting Peligroso Tequila, I found it to reflect the Mexico I love as well — the wild coast and rugged mountains, diverse people with incredible stories, and food with a connection to the land and a touch of spice.
There are three varieties of Peligroso Tequila: Silver 42, Reposado 42 and Añejo 42. I tasted the Silver and the Añejo.
The Silver 42 is a white tequila (often called Blanco) that is bottled in a crystal clear flint glass. Silver 42 has a lovely floral aroma and a crisp taste that almost has a hint of citrus. It is nice for sipping, but ideal to enhance the rich agave flavors in tequila-based cocktails. Sells for $44.99 for 750 ml size. Also available in 350 ml and a new 50 ml size, which just happens to be TSA-approved for that 1-quart bag.
The Reposado 42, which I did not taste, is aged in white oak whiskey barrels from Tennessee for 6 to 8 months. It is bottled in a rustic finished glass. Sells for $44.99 for the 750 ml, also available in 350 ml and 50 ml.
My favorite is the Añejo 42, an aged tequila that rests 12 to 18 months in white oak whiskey barrels. The bottle itself presents that “peligroso” vibe with its sleek, satin black glass finish. The Añejo 42 has a deep, smoky aroma that is a precursor for the tastes of nuts and a bit of butterscotch with the zing that you only get from oak whiskey barrels. The tequila has a beautiful caramel color and is ideal for sipping. It is also the perfect addition to a cup of coffee on a cool evening. Sells for $59.99 for 750 ml and also available in both the 350 and 50 ml sizes.
Each bottle of Peligroso Tequila is corked and numbered by hand and comes with a metal rattlesnake charm.
Peligroso’s Bloody Maria Credit: Peligroso Tequila
If you want to sample some of the Peligroso tequila in a cocktail — make sure you sip a bit of it first — below are a few recipes courtesy of Peligroso Tequila.
Peligroso Sparkler (Susan’s Favorite) 1.5 oz Peligroso Silver .5 oz Agave Nectar (find this at your grocery store, usually in the sugar aisle) Fresh squeezed lime Pour into a champagne flute and fill with champagne Cranberry Margarita 2 oz Peligroso Silver .5 oz Cointreau 1/2 fresh squeezed lime 4 oz 100% cranberry juice Mix, serve over the rocks. Garnish with cranberries Peligroso Cafe 1 shot Peligroso Silver 1/2 oz Kahlua® 4 oz fresh brewed coffee Hot Manzana 1 shot Peligroso Reposada or Añejo Hot apple cider to fill your mug Garnish with a cinnamon stick Mexican Martini Shot of Peligroso, chilled Splash of Tabasco® sauce Serve shaken and poured into a martini glass Spiced Bloody Maria 3 oz Peligroso Silver or Reposada 1.5 cups tomato juice 2 TBLS fresh lime juice 1 tsp horseradish 1 tsp Worcestershire 1/2 tsp hot sauceFor more information about Peligroso Tequila and to see where you can purchase it, visit online at www.peligrosotequila.com.
