If you haven’t been to La Loma lately, now is a good time head back. This 35-year-old Highlands institution has the patio ready for summer, and there is a new spirit at the bar worth a sip. La Loma now serves barrel-aged tequila that has been aged in-house.

Just two months ago, La Loma hoisted a huge barrel above the bar and filled it with 144 bottles of Don Julio Reposado Tequila. Every day in the barrel is another day of aging for this already fine spirit. What comes out of the tap is pure gold. According to Deanna Price, Sales and Marketing Manager, it was quite the accomplishment to get the barrel above the bar.

“It was interesting watching the installation [of the barrel],” she says. “We didn’t want to make any major changes to the bar, and we weren’t completely sure it would fit.” The barrel is prominently displayed where everyone in the bar can see it.

Price says the barrel is 60-gallon American Charred White Oak and it’s also a virgin, meaning no other spirit has been aged in it. The bar keeps 30 gallons of Don Julio inside it. The result, considering the short time it has been in the barrel, is amazing. The scent is smoky from the barrel and has a subtle golden color from the wood. The taste is oaky smooth with a buttery mouthfeel. The tequila simply disseminates on the tongue while the aroma slowly permeates the sinuses with smokiness.

“It is an ever-evolving tequila as the flavors and color of the wood are imparted very quickly into the spirit,” says Price. “As we pour in new, young reposado, the flavors will again evolve as they age and mellow in the wood continuously.”

A shot from this special barrel is $13, but you can also get the barrel tequila put in a Coin Margarita for $11. The Coin has hints of both lemon and lime and sips easily because of the smoothness of the barrel-aged tequila. The Coin is neither sweet nor sour, but right down the middle. That’s because the bar uses a special house-made margarita mix that uses cane sugar instead of High Fructose Corn Syrup. The Coin Margarita pairs perfectly with the restaurant’s Chile Con Queso Dip featuring Anaheim chiles, achiote, jalapenos, and roma tomatoes. La Loma’s queso is surprisingly light with just a hint of the peppers. It’s a subtle heat that the Coin will tame easily.

The bar offers 18 different tequila brands with a silver, an anejo, and a reposado of each brand. That’s 54 different tequilas for the math impaired. Guests can order a flight to try several. Flights of silver, anejo, and reposado bottles of El Caballero and Casamigos tequilas are $22 while the Los Reposados flight featuring Dos, Corralejo, and El Tesoro reposado tequilas is $23. 

Enjoy La Loma’s extra-long happy hour in the bar or on the patio from 2 to 6 PM, Monday through Saturday. Happy hour features two Tacos Dorados for $4, a Quesadilla for $3.50, and that fabulous Chile Con Queso for $3. House wines are $5, well drinks are $4, and drafts are only $3. Also for happy hour, La Loma’s popular Margarita De La Casa with Sauza Blue Reposado is $5.50 for 12 oz. and $8.50 for 24 oz. (frozen or on the rocks) or enjoy the La Loma Margarita, which is the house marg with a shot of Hornitos Reposado, for $6.50. The Margarita Fresca, also with Hornitos, is only $6 during happy hour. 

La Loma, 2527 W 26th Ave.; 303-433-8300

Photos by Carrie Dow