El Relingo and Sergio Barajas

[MilesDavis]

I was at our local liquor store, perusing the tequila shelves, trying to decide between old favorites or maybe trying something new. I'm self employed adn times are a little tight for me right now, so I'm always trying to find something decent to drink, but doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Sadly, when it comes to sipping-grade tequila, there ain't much for under $48 that I particularly care for. I can rattle off plenty of over $50 tequilas that I just about everyone will agree are great. But I digress a little.
At any rate, I'm trying to make up my mind and I notice a Mexican man speaking in good English to one of the clerks. They are close to the tequila shelves, and I see that he has what appear to be some promotional materials in hand, and that he is talking tequila. HIS tequila.
I do have this bad habit of inviting myself into conversations about things I find interesting, and well, tequila is pretty interesting to me. The timing was apropos, as the clerk had to go and help another customer.
I get to talking with this guy, Sergio Barajas, and he comes off to me as a very nice and relatively humble man. He speaks of his family's agave farm in Jalisco, and how it took more than 10 years devolop, distill, get clearance to import, and then market a tequila in the US.
He was beaming with pride over that tequila, which he pointed out on the shelf, about midway up, and only $28. Now I'm thinking to myself "alright how good can a $28 blanco be?". He sees the look on my face, and asks what I like. I tell him Chamucos and Don Julio reposados. He says "you should try mine, it is very good." "We don't spend alot of money on the bottle, just what is inside." (Though he did point out the tamper proof cap, best one available). "Let me think on it." I say. We stand there for a few minutes making idle chat, talking tequila, and I give him directions to the best chinese joint in town. Just as he is going to leave, I go ahead and grab a bottle of is tequila. He gives me one of his business cards and tells me to email him with my comments, good or bad, he wants to know. Now how cool is that?

About the tequila. The brand is El Relingo, NOM 1486, and so far only a blanco is available at liquor stores in the US, but apparently restaurants can special order the others, a reposado, an anejo, and a mixto for cocktails.

"How is it?" You ask. Well, it's pretty damn good! I think it has a better nose than Patron Silver, which I bought mini bottle of for comparison. A little more agave and a little less alcohol smell. It's smooth, with a little agave bite, and maybe some pepper and citrus. The aftertaste is nice and pleasant, and sticks around for awhile. There is just the slightest hint of s'mores in the aftertaste, different and I can certainly get used to that. It may not be quite as refined as the Patron, but I like my tequila to have a little bite, and this one delivers that. It is, however, just as drinkable as the Patron silver and for $20 less for a bottle, it is a clear winner.

Taking a shot: Sammamish tequila hits shelves - Issaquah Reporter

BTW, I live about 3 hours drive south of Sammamish, WA.

[MrAgave]

I have had El Relingo up for almost a year, and I would agree, for the price it is pretty good.

Tequila Brands, Ratings and Reviews - TEQUILA.net

[SeattleJuan]

Actually the El Relingo Anejo and Reposado have been available in WA State stores for about 2 months, though per the usual state run store weirdness, have only a limited availability.

You can check here http://liq.wa.gov/services/brandresults.asp , though if you live 3 hours south of Sammamish that puts you in the Vancouver, WA area? so probably not very convenient for you to obtain.

As far as sippers for less than $50 in WA state, in my mind, there are quite a few available. It depends on your preferences of course, but the tequila available here has grown quite a bit in the last year or 2.

[MilesDavis]

Originally Posted by SeattleJuan

Actually the El Relingo Anejo and Reposado have been available in WA State stores for about 2 months, though per the usual state run store weirdness, have only a limited availability.

You can check here http://liq.wa.gov/services/brandresults.asp , though if you live 3 hours south of Sammamish that puts you in the Vancouver, WA area? so probably not very convenient for you to obtain.

As far as sippers for less than $50 in WA state, in my mind, there are quite a few available. It depends on your preferences of course, but the tequila available here has grown quite a bit in the last year or 2.

You're pretty close on the location, I'm in Kelso, about 30 min north of Vancouver.
I agree that there are some good sippers for under $50, but few under $40, and under $30, I can think of two, but I haven't tried them all yet.
Thanks for the link, I see that the repo is available in Everett and Bellevue. I have a friend up north, I'll have to give him my shopping list.

At only $32, I am definitely looking forward to trying the reposado.

[Piña]

I agree with Mr.A, I get their blanco here in LA for 28 bux and its a very decent sipper. I really like their anejo too. A very reasonably priced line in these tough times. I emailed with Sergio Barajas a few times, he is a very nice guy. I actually helped get El Relingo into Ramirez Liquor.

Have yet to try the reposado.

[MilesDavis]

That's just it, most tequilas under $40 have something about them that I don't like. Either they taste OK, but have poor bouqet, or they lack richness of flavor, or make me feel hungover with just 2-3 shots worth. The El Relingo is as satisfying as anything in the $45 range that I've tried so far, but for less than $30, it makes me a happy camper.

[Piña]

Now Im living in Portland Oregon for the year, and EL RElingo is one of the few tequilas available here... Im glad it made it into Oregon!

[MilesDavis]

Heck, you're only about 45 minutes away from me!

[ChavoCheque]

I had the opportunity to meet Sergio at the Great American Distillers Festival this year, and concur that he is a true gentleman. I also love this line of tequila top to bottom.

Piña (and others in the NW), I'm going to do an event with Relingo and Sergio sometime in the first half of 2011. Stay tuned!

[Piña]

Originally Posted by ChavoCheque

I had the opportunity to meet Sergio at the Great American Distillers Festival this year, and concur that he is a true gentleman. I also love this line of tequila top to bottom.

Piña (and others in the NW), I'm going to do an event with Relingo and Sergio sometime in the first half of 2011. Stay tuned!

sweet! Keep me posted..

FOr any TEquila lovers.. The below address is giving EL RElingo tasters this saturday:

Store 1199: Portland Center

2075 SW First Ave, Suite 1B
PORTLAND, OR 97201