La Posta unveils new brand of premium tequila

About the exclusive tequila

Name: La Posta de Mesilla Herradura Private Reserve Double Barrel Reposado

Available: Shots, shot flights, margaritas, by the bottle

Where: La Posta de Mesilla, 2410 Calle de San Albino

When: Restaurant open daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to  9 p.m. Sunday. 

How much? Prices vary

Info: 575-524-3524, laposta-de-mesilla.com

La Posta unveils new brand of premium tequila

By S. Derrickson Moore

dmoore@lcsun-news.com

MESILLA — Could we become a tequila tourism mecca?

La Posta, long celebrated for its food, history and adobe ambiance, now has its very own tequila. More than 225 tequila aficionados gathered for a June 27 launch and tasting party for La Posta de Mesilla Herradura Private Reserve Double Barrel Reposado at the historic restaurant, just off the Mesilla Plaza.

“And we had over 50 people on a waiting list for the party,” said Tom Hutchinson who owns La Posta with his wife Jerean Camuñez Hutchinson. Her great-aunt, Katy Griggs Camuñez, founded the popular restaurant in 1939.

The couple decided to work with premium tequila makers Huerradura, in Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco, to formulate their own brand.

And it’s a big deal, said Clint Lanier of Las Cruces, author of “Bucket List Bars: Historic Saloons, Pubs, and Dives of America.” 

He thinks it’s the right spirit at the right time.

“It’s one of just two New Mexico restaurants to have their own tequila. The only other, El Pinto in Albuquerque, has a similar partnership with a tequila maker, and a similar building with a lot of history,” said Lanier, who feels La Posta’s ambiance is perfectly suited to take advantage of a new trend.

“The craft liquor culture has become as trendy as  wine and then beer has become. A lot of those people are now crossing into the spirits,” he said, adding that aficionados will gladly travel on quests for a unique Scotch ... or tequila.

Enthusiastic connoisseurs seemed to be in full-tilt questing mode and La Posta was ready, with a launch fiesta that included an ice sculpture, Borderland music, festive decor, spicy cuisine and wait staff in colorful Mexican outfits.

And, of course, the tequila, served up in margaritas, multi-colored flashing neon shot glasses and a tasting bar designed to educate everyone from neophytes to sophisticated wine connoisseurs about the basics of tequila sampling.

There are procedures as traditional as the familiar wine, cheese and crackers rituals.

“In Mexico, we’ve learned that they use vegetables to cleanse the pallet between shots of tequila, and we’re also offering our own sangria,” said Jerean Hutchinson, holding court near a pyramid of containers stocked with carrots, lime, jicama, cucumbers and celery.

The new tequila is “smooth,” tasters generally agreed.

“It’s very smooth. A little oaky. You can taste the barrel aging. I like it a lot,” said Steve Spotts of El Paso, whose wife Jacqueline, agreed.

So did David E. Ikard of Las Cruces: “It’s smooth as all get out.”

Marsha San Filippo of Las Cruces tried the new spirit in a specialty drink called the Lucky Horseshoe Margarita.

“It was very smooth mixed. I want to try it straight up,” San Filippo said.

“Ooo. That’s nice. Full of flavor. I can see myself sitting on the beach, just sipping this,” said Shakera Crawley, an El Paso native who works in Las Cruces. She tried both a shot of the new spirit straight, and another sample infused with pink peppercorns and pineapple, her personal favorite.

“It’s so innovative. I love the idea of the tequila, that you can give a bottle of tequila that’s from our area and send it all over the world,” said Irene Oliver Lewis of Las Cruces.

“It’s wonderful. Beautiful. Everyone is absolutely intrigued with this,” said Keila Harrington, a Chicago native who now lives in New Mexico.

“I think it would be better if it were chilled. I’m not generally into the reposados, but this is pretty good, with a little bit of bite,” pronounced Ron Farthing of Las Cruces.

“It’s delicious. I like tequila. It’s smooth and easier,” said Margy Papen of Las Cruces.

Those who missed their event will be able to experience their own tasting with a Herradura Lucky Flight, featuring three, half-ounce pours of Herradura agave tequilas, including La Posta’s signature new Double Barrel Reposado, served with the house Sangria and “an assorted garden of jicama, cucumber and carrots to savor and cleanse the palate.” 

The Hutchinsons hope their tequila, sold only at La Posta, will soon be available by the bottle. For information, call 575-524-3524 or visit online at laposta-de-mesilla.com.

S. Derrickson Moore may be reached at 575-541-5450. Follow her on Twitter @DerricksonMoore