Lazaro Gallardo, sometimes known as Master Gallardo, is a well known figure in the history of tequila. A native of Jalisco, Mexico, Master Gallardo is remembered for his refinement of the art of tequila, from breeding and harvesting to the notion of blending precisely varieties of tequila. All of this became known, eventually, as Seleccion Suave.

In the mid 1800s, The Master founded the Los Camichines Distillery. However, today he may be best known for a special recipe of his, a liqueur created especially to delight friends. This liqueur was known as Avagero and it is produced by the distillery he founded using the recipe he created to this very day.

I've been meaning to write this review since I returned from my travels. I first encountered Agavero in Mazatlan, where an interesting fellow living on the roof of a hotel I stayed at first gave me a taste. I encountered it twice more at my own initiative during my travels, and one last time upon my return, when my friend Frank went out of his way to acquire a bottle for the group's pleasure.

Agavero has a pretty unique look to it. An almost neon green hue and thick, syrupy texture make it seem a bit more like some goo you might see in a bad sci-fi/comedy. The flavor holds true, an especially sweet, tangy stuff that might pass for the cool-aid of alcohol if it weren't for the fact that it's also so damned good.

Agavero is made from only blue agave ten years or older in age. Two ages are made, the six month to a year reposado and the eighteen month anejo, both aged in white oak casks. These are then carefully blended, along with the essence of damiana flower, a native plant of the Jalisco area once reputed to have aphrodisiac properties.

I can't attest directly to that potential, but I will say that in my travels, whereever I introduced this spirit, I made friends quickly and easily. The flavor is, frankly, dangerous, since it is delicious enough and a low enough alcohol content to lure many drinkers, especially less experienced ones, into drinking too much, too fast. I have yet to find a person who will drink alcohol that doesn't derive some enjoyment from Agavero, and most heavy drinkers find it a pleasant change.

This may be in part because of my experiences, but to me, Agavero must ever remain a social drink. Its unique properties almost require sharing, most especially in instances of intimate celebration. I'd almost recommend that you purchase a bottle early, then hold onto it until the right moment presents itself. You won't regret it, and I don't suppose that any other person present will either.

Key Facts about Agavero :

Alcohol Content : 64 proof. Trust me, I debated adding liqueurs, but not for long.

Price : The problem with Agavero is that it isn't commonly imported. If you want a bottle, you're probably going to have to direct order it from Mexico. As a result, the price can change pretty extremely, depending on when and where you get it. I've recently seen it priced at between $35 and $45 a .750.

Notes : It may be a liqueur, but this is still a tequila based concept, and a sneaky one. You can easily get carried away.

Final Standing : Completely pissed.