Fifteen years after first meeting and dreaming of creating their own tequila, Steffin Oghene and Davide Segat, two best friends, have finally made that vision a reality with the launch of the limited edition Side Hustle Select Barrel Double Añejo. Although their careers took different paths, their long-standing dream came as a collaboration between their workplaces—Steffin is the vice president of El Tequileño, one of Mexico’s most respected Tequila makers, while Davide works as bar manager at NoMad hotel’s Side Hustle bar in London, known for its top-notch Mexican drinks and food.
The story started when the two friends worked across London’s most beloved tequila bars such as Green & Red Bar, as well as Cantina in Shoreditch. Since then, the pair have travelled to Mexico several times, meeting with tequila makers firsthand, accumulating knowledge, and bringing it back to London during a time when the spirit was scarce in Europe. Meant to intrigue even the most experienced tequila lovers, Side Hustle Select Barrel Double Añejo was made unique, but still versatile to match any cocktail.
The Craftsmanship of Side Hustle Select Barrel Double Añejo
Supervised under El Tequileño’s third-generation master distiller Jorge Antonio Salles, the preparation began with a blend of tequilas aged in two different types of wood. The first, American Oak barrels matured the spirit for eight months, while the other, añejo, was kept for 18 months in ex-bourbon barrels. Having aged this far, the blend then rested for an additional 19 months in new, medium char American Oak barrels.
What does it taste like? This technique enriched the tequila with notes of cooked agave and herbaceous flavours on the palate, adding aromatic layers of oak, vanilla, and dried red fruit—ending with a pleasant peppery finish. Made to educate people on tequila and Mexican culture, the duo specifically made the blend to be versatile, bridging the gap between different spirits and tequila styles. This is a tequila for 2024 – easy to drink, smooth as silk, great on its own and very versatile in cocktails. Serves that we tried it with included a Margarita-style cocktail with an extra infusion of oils from the limes and a shorter Old Fashioned style creation.
Inspired by El Tequileño’s original 1959 design, the bottle design features warm colours denoting the wood it aged in, while its gold accents highlight the spirit’s premium quality. Given the limited number of bottles produced, you can savour it in cocktails at Side Hustle, and purchase a select quantity for takeaway.
Side Hustle – one of the very best in London
Nestled in the former Bow Street Police Station, Side Hustle serves as central London’s very own neighbourhood bar. Managed by Liana Oster, Davide Segat and Marco Meloni, this place is ideal for socialising, drinking, and dining, their menu features traditional Latin American dishes made from British ingredients. Among their dishes are Caviar y Arepa Paisa, Smoked Chorizo Empanadas, Tetelas, and Lobster Tostadas. The cocktail programme brings the best Latin American flavours and traditions for Londoners to savour, alongside some British and European twists. They do have one cocktail that is SO special and is one of the very best whisky creations in London. The Fixer features Angel’s Envy, olive oil, maple, aquavit and a wicked white chocolate coating around the inside and outside of the glass. Genius.
Some of their tequila-based inventions include Paloma, featuring Patron Silver Tequila and Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, mixed with grapefruit, lime, and agave. Made from El Tequileño’s very own Reposado Tequila, Oaxacan Old Fashioned combines Del Maguey Chichicapa, agave, and pandan, resulting in a herbal, earthy, and subtly sweet cocktail. Also starring El Tequileño’s products, Batanga has a base of Tequila Blanco, complemented with Averna Amaro, Amarena, and housemade cola.
About El Tequileño
Founded in 1959 by the legendary tequila pioneer Don Jorge Antonio Salles, El Tequileño quickly became a Mexican icon that has been passing down “Mexico’s best kept secrets” through generations, ensuring the production of the finest quality tequila. With no other tequila brand ever produced there, the brands stands as the only producer at La Guarreña distillery, 51 Chiapas Tequila, Jalisco. Their portfolio includes Blanco, Reposado, Platinum, Reposado Gran Reserva, Añejo Gran Reserva, Cristalino, Still Strength Blanco, The Sassenach Select, Reposado Rare, and the brand’s first-ever Extra Añejo. In fact, if you’d like to make a drink at home, they even have a collection of tequila-based cocktail recipes that you can check out on their website.
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All imagery courtesy of Side Hustle NoMad and El Tequileño.