Sipping at Salud Tequila Lounge

Sipping at Salud Tequila Lounge

A few weeks ago, I was at Salud Tequila Lounge to experience several tequila flights with the-manifiestly-masculine-though-clearly-in-touch-with-his-feminine-side GWiv.

Talking to the friendly and extraordinarily informative bar tenders, we had a kick-off sip of Casa Noble, an añejo that my scribbles on the take-home menu remind me had notes of citrus and woody warmth from spending five years in oak.

After that, we downshifted to blancos, which Bartender Thayne pointed out is the correct level for comparing the agave intensity of different tequilas: reposados and (to a greater extent) añejos are refined to the point that the flavors of the plant become increasingly diminished and subservient to the influence of the cask and other artifacts of the craft.

We had a number of small pours, and very differing perceptions: e.g., the El Mayor hit me with flowery lavender while GWiv winced that it was too salty (there's a joke there somewhere).

A flight of reposados included Corralejo (fruity), Espolon (my favorite: it had some depth, which I don’t find in many tequilas) and Gran Centenario (a regular at many bars, it didn’t strike me as special, particularly in the company of the other beverages we had that night, but it’s a good tequila).

For one of our final pours, we had Siete Lenguas (Seven Leagues), named after the Pancho Villa’s horse, and the subject of a tune of the same name, which you can hear accompanied here by visuals of Villa and his revolution as seen through a Hollywood lens during El Centauro del Norte's brief flirtation with Norteamericano media: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcwA9EbHNVA

With food, the Siete Leguas proved a good accompaniment, packing pepper and spice that was able to stand up to Mexican influenced grub, which merited a resounding MEH! Lobster tacos were one of the more expensive items on the menu, but they were basically just the meat in a tortilla with some avocado; one of the least imaginative preparations you could imagine; the carne asada had none of the tasty fat and meaty verve that you'd take for granted at a corner taqueria but not here at three times the price.

Though there is a huge and attractive dining room in back, this is more a place to drink up than to chow down. In the words of GWiv, the “food is as good as it has to be,” which when you have a range of tequilas this rich and vast, need not be all that great (though it couldn’t hurt).

Still, if you want to drink and learn about and then drink some more tequila, Salud is a very good choice.

Salud Tequila Lounge
1471 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 235-5577

They also have tasty food.

leek wrote:They also have tasty food.

Leek,

I'd mildly disagree, the food at Salud is ok, but seems designed for the crowd of young adults more interested in mingling than dining. For example, Tilapia fish tacos. Large filets were out of proportion to the doubled up corn tortillas, rajas could have been interesting if not for the fact the peppers were underdone, an out of balance dish relying on more is more to appeal. Another dish that missed the mark was Chile Relleno, poblano was undercooked, zucchini in filling was undercooked and if the menu had not said chicken there is no way in hell I could have ever guessed the protein. I could go on, but, as Hammond said in his post, I thought the food was just as good as it has to be.

While I was underwhelmed by the food, I thought the tequila selection, service and, once he realized Hammond and I were serious about tequilla tasting, exceptional. Bartender Thayne displayed an impressive depth and wealth of knowledge. Tequila wise, I found Gran Centenario, which Hammond is (almost) dismissive of, the most interesting tequila of the evening. Not so much for aroma/flavor, but its oddly weighty, thick, viscous feel on the tongue. Gran Centenario's specific density seems somehow off in an interesting fashion.

Our evening of Tequila reinforced my preference for the mid ground of reposado, I typically find blanco sharp, sometimes harsh, and anejo smooth to the point of distraction. Our evening reinforced my appreciation of Hammonds company as well, there are few better with which to spend an evening drinking than David 'The Hat' Hammond.

Enjoy,
Gary

I think I have found the perfect place to go after the Burrito crawl. Not far from the final destination or where I will be parking my truck.

Can anyone give me an idea of the price scope for the servings of tequila? are we talking $10 and up depending on choice?

thanks for any info

www.saludlounge.com

jimswside wrote:I think I have found the perfect place to go after the Burrito crawl. Not far from the final destination or where I will be parking my truck.

Can anyone give me an idea of the price scope for the servings of tequila? are we talking $10 and up depending on choice?

thanks for any info

http://www.saludlounge.com

Jim,

I suspect that you would run as fast and far as possible upon entering Salud on a Saturday evening. Maybe it's called a tequila bar, but it's primarily a pickup joint for pretty, scantily clad 22 year olds. Then again, what time will you be getting there? I think my schedule might be free

Kenny

Kennyz wrote:
Jim,

I suspect that you would run as fast and far as possible upon entering Salud on a Saturday evening. Maybe it's called a tequila bar, but it's primarily a pickup joint for pretty, scantily clad 22 year olds. Then again, what time will you be getting there? I think my schedule might be free

Kenny

maybe around 7:00,

thanks for the heads up, sounds interesting(although I will most likely stick out like a sore thumb, me being old and all. )

I had an enjoyable, although short visit to Salud on Saturday. I got there about 7:30, and the bar was standing room only. I checked out their comprehensive, and impressive tequila menu, and started with a serving of Tres Generaciones blanco. Nice way to start, and still look at the menu. I then proceded to order a serving of Don Julio 1942 anejo, this is my favorite tequila, I live the subtle flavors. Last serving was right up there in my book with the 1942, it was aserving of Orzo Azul Reposado, very nice vanill notes at the end, and a very nice tequila. I easily could have stayed a few more hours, but I didnt want to drop a couple hundred dollars there. The 3 servings of tequila ran about $40.

The crowd was subdues, not what I expected after Kenny's description of what crowd to expect..(kind of disappointed...)

all in all a nice place, I wouldnt eat there most likely but I would go again for some before or after dinner drinks.

jimswside wrote:The crowd was subdues, not what I expected after Kenny's description of what crowd to expect..(kind of disappointed...)

Jim,

A dear friend of my wife celebrates his birthday at Salud every year, which means I end up going for an hour or so once a year on a Fri or Sat. My observation of the crowd dovetails with Kenny's, lots of dress for weekend fun young women and the young men who love them.

Food is no great shakes, but the tequila collection is impressive.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:

jimswside wrote:The crowd was subdues, not what I expected after Kenny's description of what crowd to expect..(kind of disappointed...)

Jim,

A dear friend of my wife celebrates his birthday at Salud every year, which means I end up going for an hour or so once a year on a Fri or Sat. My observation of the crowd dovetails with Kenny's, lots of dress for weekend fun young women and the young men who love them.

Food is no great shakes, but the tequila collection is impressive.

Enjoy,
Gary

I must have took off before the fun started.

The food isn't bad, though. It's better than it has to be.