By Michael Lowe
What happens when two entities that share a common interest put their heads together? Wonderful things, that’s what.
As a longtime customer of Casa Mia Ristorante in Niagara Falls, Ont., I was already well aware of the establishment’s sense of community and willingness to step in to help worthy causes. The restaurant has hosted many events aimed at raising money for local charities. What I was not aware of was the level of involvement in charitable work taken on by well known tequila maker Patrón.
Casa Mia’s latest venture came about by a chance meeting between Casa Mia’s sommelier Laura Oberlein and Burt Stewart, VP of Sales for the Patrón Spirits Company. During this meeting, Stewart, himself living with type two diabetes, learned that Oberlein’s son, Ryan, suffers from juvenile diabetes.
Stewart proposed that the restaurant raise money from the sales of one of their premier bottles of tequila in support of diabetes research. The special bottle was their top-of-the-line Gran Patrón Burdeos, a 100% agave Añejo (aged) tequila that is matured in a combination of American and French oak barrels and finished in used Bordeaux wine barrels.
A 750ml bottle sells for between $600 and $700 US dollars. To put that into context, a single shot in a bar or restaurant, in cities like New York, can command as much as $75. Stewart told me that when he presented the bottle to Casa Mia he proposed that they “sell it for fifty bucks a shot and see what happens.”
Tequila has been enjoying a resurgence among spirits drinkers with high-end offerings taking a deserved place alongside single malt whisky or cognac as an after dinner indulgence. Little surprise then that patrons of Casa Mia lapped up this unique spirit with gusto.
Stewart, in town last week for a duty free trade show, was on hand at Casa Mia to help hand over a $1,000 cheque from the proceeds of sales of the tequila to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
A side benefit to this, my most recent visit to Casa Mia, is the chance to sample from the new Monday neighborhood nights menu and the new tapas menu. The tapas include four or five items priced at just $5 with selections from the Monday night menu going for $9 to $12. These options are a fine way to experience the traditional, classic, and gloriously simple dishes that are the hallmarks of
Casa Mia, at very modest prices.
The following day I learned just how deep Patrón Spirits Company’s charitable roots run.
Stewart showed me an enlightening video entitled Sixty Hands. The video takes you through the tequila production process in which sixty hands touch every bottle coming out of the facility. Instead of faceless, automated equipment handling the product, real people with smiling faces do the work.
Stewart explained that the concept of using automation to maximize profits is not something Patrón sees in the future. In fact, there are 1,300 people employed at the Hacienda del Patrón located in Jalisco, Mexico and the only automated step is the filling of the handmade bottles.
Patrón also supports many community based charitable organizations including Action Against Hunger, the “We Don’t Serve Teens” campaign and Waterkeeper Aliance. The company has also adopted a strict environmental policy embracing recycling and minimizing negative output from the production of their spirit. I came away from that meeting feeling a lot better about the notion of spending hard-earned money on Patrón products.
Besides their exquisite tequilas Patrón’s product portfolio includes a few other notable potables. Here is a selection of what I tasted. If not yet available at your local LCBO, I recommend you ask for them.
Ultimat Vodka (not yet available at LCBO) Approx. $40-$45 in U.S.
A premium vodka made from rye and wheat grain and potato. The result is a spirit with clean, fresh, neutral aromas. On the palate is where Ultimat shines. Light and noticeably sweet, round and full- bodied and very smooth with a lingering sweetness. Taste it neat for maximum enjoyment, or as a base for one of my fave cocktails, the classic vodka martini.
Pyrat XO Reserve Rum (not yet available at LCBO) Price in U.S. varies, N.Y. state approx. $30
Warm aromas of cinnamon, vibrant orange peel, and soft vanilla notes abound in this amber beauty. These elements, particularly the citrus, are mirrored on the palate creating an exquisite taste sensation with lingering molasses on the finish. The most distinctive rum I’ve tasted in years.
Patrón XO Cafe (LCBO 605048 | 750 ml bottle) $38.55
Both the nose and palate open with intense, rich coffee followed by sweet, earthy baked agave nectar. The marriage of the two is stunning throughout, even on the long finish. This stuff is coffee and dessert in a glass!
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