My love for the writer and actor Danny McBride knows nearly no limits. The creator of Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals, Righteous Gemstones, and other comedy classics took a swing at tequila with Don Gato, named after a fictitious cat-loving luchador.
The brand’s slogan, “Made good for cool times,” tells you right away they aren’t taking themselves too seriously with this project. However, “made good” is a mixed bag here, as the production decisions for Don Gato are a tad contradictory.
On one hand, it presents itself as additive-free, and partially made with a tahona. On the other hand, it’s partially made with a diffuser. Combining these two is like having a pet rabbit and keeping it in a cage with a velociraptor.
It’s made at Grupo Solave (NOM 1607), home of 818 Tequila, which also falls into that velociraptor category. But Grupo Solave is also now making the pretty solid Señora Leona, and Laelia. So my confusion is now complete.
Let's just see what it gives in the glass:
Aroma: Light and clean. Fresh cotton sheets. Peppermint. Citrus. Very crisp.
Flavor: Light mouthfeel. Herbaceous, lemongrass, and black pepper.
Finish: Short finish with lingering sharp, bitter notes that leave a less-than-optimal last impression.
Overall, this tequila is better than I expected it to be, and may be the best I’ve had that uses a diffuser. Perfectly acceptable for batch cocktails, although, given the number of quality options in the $30-$40 range today, it would be difficult to recommend as a sipper.
NOM | 1607 |
|---|---|
Agave | Jalisco (Los Valles) |
Cooking | Stone or brick ovens and boiling tank |
Extraction | Tahona and diffuser |
Water | Deep well water |
Fermentation | Open-air wood tanks and closed stainless steel tanks |
Still | Copper pot |
Age | — |
ABV | 40% |
