Daniel P. rated 1278d ago

El Tequileño Platino Blanco

86 SCORE

“Creamy agave, sawmill gravy loaded up with black pepper, hint of pine and lemon. Tastes “alive” like used saddle and horse sweat. Hint of champagne, nutmeg, cherries. Thick mouthfeel. Finished smooth, hot, and dry with a dusting of white pepper and medium duration. ”

Daniel P. rated 1279d ago

El Tesoro Tequila Reposado

92 SCORE

“Ancho chiles, movie popcorn butter, creamy roasted agave, limestone, pepper, hint of spicy alcohol ”

Daniel P. rated 1284d ago

ArteNOM Seleccion de 1414 Reposado

91 SCORE

“ArteNOM 1414: 41.2%, 27Bx, Lot ANREP 2201. (Repo). A- tiny bit of gold, almost clear N- agave surrounded by an accompaniment of floral, mineral, fruity, hint of spice. Just so earthy. The core is earth and agave T- bittersweet cantaloupe, brown sugar, candied yams, slightly bitter pears F- crème brûlée, flan, pepper, ripe pear Reaction- really opens up to something special when allowed to rest. The finish was stellar. ”

Daniel P. rated 1284d ago

Ocho Tequila Reposado

95 SCORE

“2022 La Cañada. Chocolate, roasted nuts, watermelons, strawberry shortcake. Indescribable, really. There’s flavors in here I didn’t know existed…a good swallow produced a sublime ambrosia with heat and spice. Finishes for a long time. Don’t sleep on Ocho’s repos. ”

Daniel P. rated 1291d ago

Ocho Tequila Plata

93 SCORE

“ 1st glass- Zesty earth, minerals, agave. Subtle spice warms the back of the throat like a slow fire. This expands into a deep, rich, buttery complexity and spreads across the palate resolving into a subtle minty coolness. I have enjoyed Ocho for several years in a very medium way until now. For whatever reason, El Nacimiento is the one that makes it easy to see why Ocho is rated so highly. 2nd glass- Sweet warmth hitting the lips- confectioners sugar and cooked agave, very smooth and pleasant. Melts in your mouth into gooey gobs (like agave flavored cookie dough) an indescribably sumptuous taste/mouth feel. This transforms into a brief savory explosion that resolves into a complex, balanced bouquet of spices, pepper, and heat. Short, dry finish that cries for a repeat; lingering nutmeg and agave. ”

Daniel P. rated 1295d ago

Volcan de Mi Tierra Blanco

90 SCORE

“Rested 15 min in glass: Peppermint, minerals, citrus zest, sweet cooked agave, pepper, olives, fruit. Clean and spicy with a long, hot finish. Don’t sleep on this one, I don’t feel like it gets the love it deserves. Not rested: cement, grass/wood, alcohol, vegetal, black pepper, brine. Unimpressive. You’ve got to let this one rest or it’s a total bust. ”

Daniel P. rated 1297d ago

Pueblo Viejo Reposado

86 SCORE

“Sweetness and alcohol on the nose but the sweetness grabs your attention, a floral note in there too. Spice and pepper in the mouth, some sugar. Love this one for $20. ”

Daniel P. rated 1297d ago

Pueblo Viejo Blanco

85 SCORE

“Fruit, herbs, agave. Very very very decent to sip on. Went from Ocho añejo to this when the Ocho ran out. Decent sweetness and finishes well. ”

Daniel P. rated 1299d ago

1800 Silver

60 SCORE

“ Almost no character at all. It’s not foul though. I didn’t get any distinct notes besides alcohol but it was far from offensive or intrusive. Some sweetness up front. No finish at all. Then tried in a hand made margarita which I enjoyed. ”

Daniel P. rated 1299d ago

Pasote Añejo

87 SCORE

“1584. Not as much character as maybe Ocho or El Tesoro anejo expressions but maybe that’s its strength. The notes it does have stand out and are well done. I’m talking cinnamon and an almost apple pie like sweetness. Has a nice cooked pears/vegetal thing happening as well. ”

Daniel P. rated 1299d ago

Pasote Blanco

91 SCORE

“Dunno what they changed but this one had the minerality and the sweetness. Edged out G4 for me as to be preferred. ”

Daniel P. rated 1305d ago

Tequila G4 Blanco

91 SCORE

“First bottle seemed like high minerality compared to 2nd. This time around it’s balanced. Very clean. ”

Daniel P. rated 1305d ago

El Tequileño Reposado

86 SCORE

“Interesting sort of sour minerality. Smooth finish and good value, $25. Not great like Ocho or El Tesoro aged tequilas but very good. ”

Daniel P. rated 1307d ago

Tierra Fertil Blanco

81 SCORE

“Not the best to sip but fantastic to mix. At $47 per 1.75L that’s right about $20/bottle. Rough around the edges with some bitterness but decently sweet and spicy with plenty of agave. Nice to have a budget go to that I never have to think about. ”

Daniel P. rated 1307d ago

Don Fulano Blanco

82 SCORE

“Had a pour at local bar. It’s fine with a nice clean finish but I felt it had been a somewhat overhyped. But I’m not a huge fan of lowlands tequila. ”

Daniel P. rated 1309d ago

El Padrino de Mi Tierra Blanco

80 SCORE

“Gotta say this is solid. It’s tasty but given that El Tesoro is $10 more it doesn’t seem that great because it’s quite a bit more expensive than Lunazul but not all that much better. They have def dialed into a flavor profile that’s attractive and can make you question your priorities though. ”

Daniel P. rated 1309d ago

Tierra Fertil Añejo

60 SCORE

“On its own it’s not bad and you might not notice the fake flavors. Compare to other añejos like el Tesoro and you’ll pick up what’s going on here. The additives make a difference in how you feel the next day. The flavor is good but if you drink a lot of it you will notice. Go for the blanco. ”

Daniel P. rated 1309d ago

Tapatio Blanco 110

94 SCORE

“Fruit, mint, pepper, butter. Delivered by a mule’s hind leg ”

Daniel P. rated 1309d ago

Ocho Tequila Plata

90 SCORE

“This has more of the pronounced features dialed back. Doesn’t seem too complex as far as blancos go; on one hand it seems like nothing too daring is going on, but that assumption can fool you because the variation from year to year and from estate to estate is well outside of mainstream production standards. ”

Daniel P. rated 1990d ago

Ocho Tequila Plata

91 SCORE

“This one is dialed in. It has a yeasty uniqueness and the agave leaps out in front of your nose with an accompanying bouquet of mint, citrus, and herbs. Clean sweetness to this aroma. A swirl kicks up more peppery coolness plus some nice brine and minerality. Viscous mouthfeel, hint of olive. Plenty of minerality again, interesting how the big spicy ness and the brine flavors don’t fight each other. Clean brine/olive/agave finish that’s unmistakable. To me that’s what stands out here amidst budget brands like lunazul: this one can finish several notes; plus it lasts a loooong time. ”

Daniel P. rated 1990d ago

Don Sergio Tequila Reposado

44 SCORE

“Nose: green banana peels and vanilla. Mouth: medium bodied Taste: very sweet, very oaky, very vanilla. After 3 sessions with this I can’t drink it. Too cloying, 1 oz is enough to give you a headache the next day. The fake oak is nauseating. It’s not on the list of confirmed additive-free tequilas. Took back to total wine for a refund and got some Tapatio. Lesson learned! ”

Daniel P. rated 1990d ago

Fortaleza Blanco

94 SCORE

“Wood pulp, glue, agave, and ocean spray on the nose. Olive juice, brine, black pepper, agave, and heavy minerality taste wise. Distinctive and daring, not what I would have expected for such a well regarded tequila. The proof is in the glass- this is an outfit that sets its own standards. This is probably true of any tequila but if you leave this out for six hours it completely falls apart. ”

Daniel P. rated 1990d ago

Lunazul Reposado

59 SCORE

“Nose of alcohol and honey. Swirling stirs up aromas of baked bread and sugar with a pleasant bitterness. First sip is a blast of agave, cinnamon, pepper. Now I’m getting oak in the nose. Lots of spice here. Agave and spice on finish, even pot roast and caramelized onions- wow. Super delicious, phenomenal value. Good luck finding a repo to match this for value besides Cimarron. Big flavor. $20/750 mL at TW”

Daniel P. rated 1990d ago

Casa Noble Reposado

69 SCORE

“Update: I think mysterious is probably the best way I have to describe this. The more discerning I’ve become the more I wonder if it has additives. I can’t think of a tequila brand that seems embroiled in more ambiguity on that matter. Bold, daring, spicy reposado. $35 at TW. Compounds and intensifies the distinct casa noble blanco vegetal mineral boldness in the best way. Love to guzzle it neat and load margs and palomas with it. Mixes amazing. Dollar for dollar best tequila I’ve purchased. ”

Daniel P. rated 1990d ago

Lunazul Blanco

74 SCORE

“Harsh fumes come to the nose along with toasted biscuits and agave. Mouth feel is on the thin side but it has a big cooked agave finish that’s ultra clean. Highly guzzleable. I’ve had several batches and they are inconsistent. The others weren’t very good. ”