wes r. rated 1095d ago

Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018 - "Las Antenas"

94 SCORE

“top blanco. Not too much olive or too much mineral or sweet. Balanced, sipper. Long pleasant subtly perfumed aftertaste. I sip it just to chase the aftertaste. Nose had a touch of vanilla and yellow starburst underneath dominant white pepper. Can make a good cocktail, sure, but will also get lost in a complex one. ”

wes r. rated 1942d ago

Astral Tequila Blanco

85 SCORE

“46% abv Astral blanco, NOM 1137, blue label on clear glass bottle. Unassuming 'rustic' bottle contrasts the quality of juice within. Intriguing nose of brine, butter, agave. Big brawny peppery agave forward hits and tingles you, like biting into peppercorns, with a black pepper aftertaste. I like this, especially at the 35-45$ range.”

wes r. rated 4245d ago

Casa Noble Tequila Joven

95 SCORE

“first draft: chocolatey damp forest base with lingering vanilla, agave, and ample notes of pepper. this has been difficult for me to describe for a while, but i always look forward to sipping this one out of everything in my current selection (including other casa noble varietals). my mezcals are my only agave distillates that have a longer aftertaste. my favorite lowland expression”

wes r. rated 4253d ago

Tapatio Blanco

85 SCORE

“first draft: this blanco doesnt try to do too much. the flavors aren't too loud, but are tightly bundled together nicely. oily, agave, tart-citrusy, peppery, anise nuances on the finish. this is the blanco to beat. perhaps not the most inviting for first timers, just because of how agave-y and earthy it smells, but it has surprisingly little alcohol burn. the peppery cream soda finish lasts just under a minute. it is inexpensive enough to be the go-to blanco, and has a special place on my shelf. makes me want to try the 110 proof varietal even more. great stuff.”

wes r. rated 4259d ago

Siembra Azul Blanco

85 SCORE

“A very nice, easy to sip blanco. Great for blanco noobies and curious spirit drinkers, but for the price ($38), I feel a bit of remorse. for me, it doesn't fit the bill of an everyday taster. but don't get me wrong, it's one of the more refreshing blanco's i've had. aroma: sweet fruity agave.. faint vegetal musk... faintest touch of cinnamon... caraway seed... pepper to round it. i flair my nostrils for maximum air flow (lol). i can wear this. flavor: peppery. faint sweetness that i find from NOM 1414 (like, manana brand). medium mouthfeel, minimal alcohol sizzle. body: cooked agave, cooked sugar sweetness (as in, sweet with faint caramelization), citrus, bright fruit. what a pleasure. well crafted, mouthwatering finish: slightly sweet agave and citrus, not much pepper linger. slight creaminess. although this creaminess can be sensed for a good minute, it's very faint, and is where I am yearning for more in this tequila. on a side commentary, if there was a touch of salinity or brine to finish, this would be in my flask. unfortunately, it gets docked for value. hopefully i will stumble upon a cheaper price in the future. I do admire their purveyor's demeanor and purported strides to educate the public. see their website. The bottle is well thought out, simple, and stands out for being so. If it were around $30, i'd keep it restocked for myself. at 38$, I'll keep it on hand for special guests and occasions. ”

wes r. rated 4259d ago

Centinela Añejo (Tall Bottle)

90 SCORE

“aroma: fruit, oak, baileys liqueur, hint of alcohol. a real treat. compared to repo, more cinnamon, oak, sweetness. reminds me of don julio 1942 without the butterscotch, less caramel, and with more fruit. taste: slightly sweet, pepper, medium-thick mouthfeel, light alcohol sizzle body: it only gets better from here. in order of prevalence: cooked agave, dried dark fruits, oak, hints of vanilla and cinnamon. finish: oak, pepper, vanilla, touch of cinnamon, just enough bitterness to compliment. the oak and slight bitterness lingers for a minute... and then you taste a hint of dried vanilla pod... i.e., vanilla and dry earth. what a pleasant finish. honestly.. i enjoyed every step of the way, from smelling it to the aftertaste. it is very well crafted, and i will be looking for more before they are impossible to find. but if I were to nitpick and tune it to what i want to taste, i wish there was less wood and more citrus. but then again, i say that about most anejos and woody repos. this was the last bottle at all the bevmo's near me, and i consider myself lucky. nab it if you see it! tall round bottle with plastic cap.”

wes r. rated 4259d ago

Kirkland Signature Reposado

75 SCORE

“The description on the side of the bottle is pretty spot on: rested in white oak and ex-bourbon barrels. Aromas of pineapple and honey lead to vanilla and pepper on the palate. What it doesn't tell you is how weak the vanilla and honey are.. at least in contrast to the juice in the bottle I have. In fact, the three dominant things I notice in this tequila straight from bottle are pepper, pungent bitter oak, and pineapple pulp/core. aroma: agave, young pineapple core, pepper, hunt of bring, touch of oak taste: sweet, peppered, grilled fruit body: hints of pepper, agave, touch of honey. The oak becomes more apparent here, but it's not quite like most oak notes you find in tequila... it has a younger / pulpy character to it. a sharp but understated oak note. medium-thin mouthfeel. alcohol burn isn't offensive, but it's definitely there. let this one breathe. aftertaste: it's faint, and is the weakest part of this juice. sweet agave, pepper, hint of vanilla-citrus-honey, and a bitter oak that seems to dominate the other notes. this bitter oak is replaced by a sweetness... which may or may not just be my salivation. After letting this breathe in my wine glass for 30 minutes, I enjoyed it more. After an hour, I enjoyed it even more. After a night (~6 hours) loosely covered to prevent debris but allow air flow, it was even more well-rounded. The honey, vanilla, and agave come forward while the bitter oak is less prominent. Obviously the alcohol was very faint, and it had a thin mouthfeel. Unfortunately, the aftertaste was still short, but it was nicer. I was pleasantly surprised after letting it sit overnight. This breathing easily results in 5 to 10 more points overall, but the score you see is the score it gets without a night of breathing. 15$ for 750ml. I would aerate it and see how it contrasts. Makes really tastey margaritas straight from bottle (no aeration). Straight out of the bottle, I do like their anejo more as a sipper (the big oak in it makes it a fine cola mixer), and I do want to try their silver to see if I like it or this repo better. ”

wes r. rated 4262d ago

Herencia Mexicana Blanco

83 SCORE

“I have revisited this blanco multiple times over the years, and quite enjoy this with grapefruit. The price hiked as well, and do miss when it was more of a bargain. distinctly green but buttery. i didnt like this one at all in the beginning. i practically gave it away at a party. thought it smelled of game-y sweat. i guess i couldnt accept how tequila could be like this. it's not rough, but it's just unique compared to more straightforward blancos. interesting character. the alcohol heat is retrained. it is only towards the bottom of the bottle that i realize this is a quality blanco with a distinct buttery and slightly astringent (glue? cement?) character. it is one of my most distinctive blancos, despite my loss for a good word to describe the taste. palate is citric. it's a bit acquired, and persists after mixing in palomas - fantastic palomas at that. my gripe is that the finish isn't very long, but is pleasant with mild burn. bitter and citric, like grapefruit pith, and earthy. NOM 1580. do recommend you at least try it. im eager to taste their aged varieties. ”