In the Spirit

El Bandido Yankee Reposado

By Al Davis

I’ve become something of a tequila aficionado, having sampled many brands and expressions: blancos, reposados, añejos, organic and additive-free varieties, and even some infused tequilas.

Some have been good, some awful and a few truly outstanding. Recently, while browsing at one of my favorite liquor stores, I noticed a shelf tag: “USA Wine Trader Exclusive Single Barrel Selection.” Above it was a tequila I’d never seen before: “El Bandido Yankee Reposado.”

The bottle featured a hand-signed label with “HOF 2013” on it. The store owner, Vishal, explained that he’d visited the distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, and selected this particular barrel for an exclusive store release. A single-barrel tequila isn’t blended with other barrels, resulting in a unique flavor profile and a limited run of about 250 bottles.

Vishal also told me that the release event featured two of the brand’s founders: former Green Bay Packers safety Jim Bob Morris and Chris Chelios, the NHL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Blackhawks star. A little research revealed that they helped create the brand with a focus on traditional, additive-free tequila production.

After bringing a bottle home and tasting it, I was sold. It’s one of the best tequilas I’ve had, whether enjoyed neat or on the rocks. In my opinion, a tequila this good deserves to be sipped, not hidden in a margarita. I even brought a couple of bottles to the Quad Region Retreat in June to share with my Men’s Club brothers—some who already appreciate tequila, and perhaps a few future converts!

In the Spirit thanks Brian Frisch of the Northern New Jersey Region for this month’s suggestion.

Al Davis is a HaD’Var contributor.