Lucky me – I got the Bitten invite to a Komos tequila tasting at Amathus, Oxford’s new wine and spirits shop on the High Street.  

It was partly a good chance to nose around our eagerly anticipated branch of Amathus, a retailer with multiple locations in London, Brighton and Bath. More importantly, good tasting events are fun, social and educational, as well as being a little bit boozy. It’s a combination I can’t resist. I’d describe myself as more tequila-curious than tequila-expert, so I took a more knowledgeable friend with me, and we both had a blast.

Our experience started with a warm welcome by Yann from Komos and Iona from Amathus, which set the tone for the friendly, interactive evening that followed. They handed us glasses of champagne, which was a bit surprising to get before the tequila, though I don’t ever think bubbly is a bad choice for a social event.  We were swiftly led through to a cosy room in the back of the shop, which had one large central table surrounded by the shelves and shelves of premium bottles. It’s a great set up for this type of event, and I gather that they plan to hold different tastings there every month or so.

When the other 10 guests had all arrived, Yann kicked things off with a short presentation about the rapidly growing tequila market and about Mexican luxury brand Komos, founded in 2019. With ample French charm, he took us through the company’s whole production process: from growing the Blue Weber agave in Jalisco, Mexico, to the roasting of the ‘piñas’, the fermentation and distillation, and then the aging in barrels. I was quickly smitten, and not just by the exceptionally stylish bottles of the finished product on display in front of us.

Time to taste.

The experience involved a curated flight of four tequilas, each one accompanied by some background information and flavour notes presented by Yann. The actual tasting process is simple: they pour the tequila, you observe the colour of the tequila, you swirl and sniff the tequila, and then you sip and savour the tequila.  Repeat.  It is all served neat – no mixers or cocktails – to better appreciate every nuance of the different flavour profiles. Of course you can ask questions and share your opinion, but simply sitting and sipping is just fine as well.

We started with an Anejo Cristallino, aged for one year in French oak wine barrels, charcoal filtered, and crystal clear. It was pleasantly vanilla scented and lightly caramel flavoured. At least, that’s my take – taste is beautifully subjective, so you’d have to try it to see what you think! We next moved through three other Komos offerings. There was a peachy Reposada Rosa, and then an amber Anejo Reserva (aged for 12 months). This third option was my favourite: a tequila with lots of warmth, sweet chocolate notes and a caramel undertone. It was dangerously easy to drink. And finally, there was a robustly opulent Extra Anejo, aged for 3 years and almost too much.

Food pairings were provided for all of these, some of which I found really intriguing. 

For example, sweet prunes were gorgeous with the Reserva, while liquorice didn’t quite work for me. Pineapple went particularly well with the delicate flavour of the crystal-clear tequila, and Manchego cheese with the Extra Anejo was inspired. It was certainly fun to try the various options, some playful, that Yann and James (the Oxford store manager) had put together to tempt us, including juicy olives, caramels, and biscotti.

And that’s more or less it: a successful evening all around. In addition to the tequila, I appreciated the friendly, expert staff, the relaxed atmosphere, and the interaction with the other guests. We certainly got chattier as time passed and the tequila flowed. It was also an opportunity to briefly experience the world of luxury tequila, which comes with some eye-watering prices. Being able to taste before you buy is a real bonus.

Amathus
116-117 High St, Oxford OX1 4BZ

Bitten were invited as guests, all views are our own