Act of Treason Blue Weber Agave Spirit. Please don't call it Tequila!

Look we know Tequila can only come from Mexico the same way we know Champagne can come from France... but you do need to get your paws on the next best thing which is Act of Treason Blue Weber Aussie Agave spirit, made from 600,000 Blue Weber plants thriving in the Queensland Dry Tropics in the back of the Whitsundays, in terroir that cheekily mirrors Mexico’s Jalisco, albeit flanked by eucalypts and kangaroos rather than cacti and mariachi.

Just like the famous Mexican cactus juice that has had many of us cactus on the floor of a dive bar, the agave is harvested whole, cooked, crushed and allowed to ferment before being triple distilled. Now you might be asking is this named after a blue coloured circular charcoal bbq? Nope, nothing to do with the famous BBQ mob. Its the type of agave plant being harvested to make this nectar of the Aztec and Mayan gods

At first open, you catch a whiff of sweet tropical heat with hints of honeydew and wild cane and some subtle smoke playing second fiddle. It's like snagging sunrise steam off a morning campfire after a night of brining sugarcane. Taste wise, the initial wave is honeyed and smooth, verging on polished then with a sly kiss of earthy agave that doesn't scream Mexico! but murmurs it amicably. No barrel aged funk, no alcohol burn. Just a clean, almost clinical clarity. Eucalypt flecked minerality tickles your gums with a whisper of white pepper with a lingering aftertaste that is crisp, dappled with dry vanilla and a light ash note.

The label says “not tequila”which is an important legal fiction thanks to Mexico’s protected designation of origin. But behind the punning name, there’s some runs on the board here. It scooped “World’s Best Specialty Spirit” at the World Drinks Awards. A spirit that battles nomenclature while quietly winning hearts.

You want Mexican tequila? Go chase Blue Weber in Jalisco. But if you fancy something a tad more untethered, with a sunburnt Australian accent and a whisper of innovation then this is your ticket. It’s not trying to hide its roots, but it’s certainly not bragging about them either.

If it was to have a weakness or a point for improvement, it lacks a bit of the barrels complexity so it might not satisfy those chasing añejo drama.

Pour it neat, make a Picasso or a margarita. Just don’t try to call it tequila, unless you like rules. Act of Treason isn't faking, it’s forking the rulebook. An Aussie agave rebellion that sips smooth, holds its own and leaves you quietly impressed. Pair it with a lime wedge and better than basic salt rim. Santé.

RRP $95 from their website or in some small independent stores

https://www.actoftreason.com.au/

Qld | Tropics | 700ml | 40% ABV