There is a new tequila in town. Well, in Texas to be exact, and it is starting to make some tasty waves. The new company, Davis Spirits Company, is based in Austin and recently launched a new line of premium tequilas called Playa Real. It has been on the shelves since January 2018.  

Their initial offering includes three 100-percent blue agave tequilas that are 80-proof, triple-distilled, and infused with natural fruit: the Silver, a mandarin-infused, and a pineapple-infused. Proof is in the pudding, as they say, as all three flavors recently won medals in the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

Although we have seen flavored tequilas before, these are the first of such high caliber. “Our focus is on quality,” explained co-owner Matt Davis. “We have a high-quality base with an overtone of flavors. I think our infused tequilas are very balanced with not too much fruit flavor and not too much tequila flavor. Others have too much fruit or way too much spice or a tequila that isn’t a good quality.” 

Matt and his partner, Arturo Vargas, are on the cutting edge of what looks to be a new trend in tequila. Regardless of whether you prefer beer, wine, or spirits, consumers are becoming more educated, and therefore discerning. “They want more options. Everything’s becoming more artisanal, across the whole spectrum,” Matt said. “We saw vodka go through this, and then flavored bourbons came out. Bourbon has been the number one growing spirit for the past couple of years because of +(cinnamon-flavored) Fireball.”

Exploring Tequila and Mezcal

According to Matt, tequila has been growing steadily and organically, and he hopes to be ahead of the curve as the demand for more tequila flavors takes hold. We have certainly seen the popularity of high-quality mezcals take off, a product Matt is already eagerly exploring. 

Tequila is technically a mezcal; however, tequila is made from just a single type of agave plant (the agave tequilana, or blue agave). Additionally, similar to champagne, tequila can only be produced in certain parts of Mexico, primarily Jalisco, as well as small areas in four other states. There are also differences in production. Mezcal is often made by baking the agave in the ground over coals, which is where it gets its smoky flavor. For years mezcal was considered the poor man’s tequila, but that stigma has shifted in the world of craft cocktails. 

“We are looking to launch a mezcal,” Matt shared. “We get to have so much fun exploring new things with our master distiller and tequila chemist.” Like all tequilas, Playa Real is produced in Jalisco, although the company is headquartered in Austin. He and his partner are also developing a Reposada and Anejo tequila. They are so dedicated to perfecting their spirits that they are aging the tequilas longer than normal. Expect the Reposada to be released by the end of 2018 and the Anejo sometime in 2019.  

The Inception

It might be hard not to get a little envious when you hear how Playa Real came to fruition. Before Matt was married with kids, he would take surf trips to Baha, Mexico. It wa there that he first wet his whistle with some tequilas made in vats naturally infused with local fruits. 

“The flavored tequilas were unbelievable. After working in the liquor industry for over a decade, I knew I wanted to do it. I helped so many brands. I wanted to bottle it up and take it back,” he recalled.

At first just a passion project, the infusions were so well received that his wife, Kendra Scott (owner of the Kendra Scott fashion jewelry brand), encouraged him to move forward with the vision. As fate would have it, he then ran into Arturo, an old college friend he had worked with at Heineken. “He said he was thinking of starting a tequila company, so I took him through it and decided to bring him on. He’s from Monterrey, Mexico, and it’s been great having him down there [in Jalisco]. He speaks the language and makes sure everything we’re doing is truly authentic, how the locals would do it. It’s just ironic we used to office together. Who would have thought ten years later we’d be working together and have our own tequila?” he said. 

Pineapple was one of the first infusions Matt was enamored with, but he also enjoyed the mango and jalapeño. Even Matt was surprised when the focus group responded as well as they did to the mandarin flavor, but it was an instant winner, along with the pineapple. 

“They’re both very versatile,” he noted. “Some nights I come home from work and make it straight on the rocks and sip on that for an hour. Sometimes we go out with friends and have a little more fun with shots of the mandarin tequila. The other day we made skinny jalapeño pineapple margaritas. Because of the flavor, we don’t have to use a lot of mixers. We used the pineapple tequila with a pinch of agave syrup, Waterloo sparkling water, a couple squeezes of lime, and a muddle of jalapeño. It’s incredible and low sugar, low calorie. You can have a few and not feel like your stomach’s going to explode.” 

Ready for a Shot? 

Matt and his partner are on a mission to educate the public about the amazing attributes of tequila. “Tequila has had a bad rap for so long because we weren’t drinking good quality tequila. You hear the stories… starting the night out with beer and having fun and then let’s take a tequila shot, then vodka and Red Bull. They’re mixing and that’s not good, and the one thing they point to is the shot of tequila. Our goal is to bring back the lost tequila drinkers and win over new tequila drinkers!” Matt said passionately. With his delicious natural fruit-infused tequila flavors, he is already impressing spirits lovers, not only in Texas but also in Colorado.

Texans can easily find Playa Real in Twin Liquors and Specs stores around Austin and independent liquor stores all over Texas. Matt encouraged his customers to check their website at playarealtequila.com for an updated list of locations, and if you cannot find it where you want, do not hesitate to make a special request of your favorite local liquor store. Matt said they are usually very accommodating. 

Recipes

Although you are probably already dreaming up ideas on how to incorporate these fun fruit fusions into your favorite cocktails, Matt and his team have come up with a few of their own that will have you wanting to lounge by the pool all day, cocktail in hand! 

The Northshore

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Playa Real Pineapple tequila
• ¾ ounces pineapple juice
• ½ ounces lime juice
• ½ ounces agave syrup
• ½ ounces Chareau (aloe liqueur)

Method:

• Shake and pour into a Collins glass on top of crushed ice.
• Garnish with pineapple leaves.

The Heartbreaker

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Playa Real Mandarin tequila
• 1 ounce lemon juice
• ¾ ounce Grenadine

Method:

• Shake and pour into a Collins glass on top of crushed ice.
• Top with prosecco.
• Garnish with a Luxardo cherry and orange wedge. 

Playa Margarita

Ingredients: 

• 2 ounces Playa Real Silver tequila
• ¾ ounce lime juice
• ¾ once orange juice

Method:

• Pour into a Collins glass.
• Top with Topo Chico.
• Garnish with lime and orange wedges. 

Real Naranjo

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Playa Real Mandarin tequila
• ½ ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup

Method:

• Pour into a Collins glass on top of crushed ice.
• Top with San Pellegrino Blood Orange soda. 
• Garnish with an orange wedge.