El Tesoro Reposado Single Barrel

87 SCORE

“Nose: very nice cooked agave aroma with some oaky honey and caramel just underneath, presumably from the bourbon casks. The longer it opens it takes on a butterscotch note. Palette: very similar notes to the nose with strong agave, oak, honey, caramel, with a little minerality and citrus as well as a light vegetal note like raw agave or wet grass. Finish: round and soft mouthfeel and a little grippy at the very end. Full flavored agave and oak flavors with some alcohol heat that burns off to citrus and black pepper. Surprisingly low ABV for being a single barrel, but otherwise a lot of fun to drink. ”

El Padrino de Mi Tierra Añejo

72 SCORE

“Nose: Vanilla, Caramel, Alcohol, Oak, very light Cooked agave once you find your way past the overpowering vanilla and caramel, with a light oakiness. Also a heady floral note, maybe orange blossom or jasmine, and the longer it opens up, candied orange and dried banana. Palate: vanilla caramel, alcohol, but with a saltiness that gives a salted caramel flavor that gives way to a lightly oaky cooked agave flavor. Also notes of cinnamon, toffee, The finish starts with agave and oak, but fades out with the strong bitterness of artificial sugars like too much monk fruit or aspartame. This is almost liqueur sweet and hides the agave and barrel flavors behind vanilla and caramel flavorings. Mouthfeel is very round, but there is little complexity overall. No vegetal notes or minerality, and not enough citrus to get ahead of the sweetness. I’ll be giving this bottle away. ”

Don Fulano Blanco Fuerte (100 proof)

88 SCORE

“On the nose, cooked agave and a big hit of Parmesan or provolone cheese right behind it with some citrus, olives, and butter. On the palate, cooked agave, citrus, banana, passion fruit, a little mint, and as it opens longer, a nice bananas foster mix comes through stronger - bananas, orange peel, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a little rum-like funk from the cheesy note. The fairly long finish has some alcohol burn and is a bit hot with the higher ABV, but the cooked agave still comes through nicely with some grass and a little passion fruit tartness. Round in the mouth despite the hot finish and only a little grippy at the very end. This isn’t my typical go to style, but it’s a very interesting and layered tequila and fun to drink. Hope to find a couple bottles for my home bar.”

Corrido Blanco

85 SCORE

“Strong cooked agave, wet grass, brine, a little butter on the nose. On the palate, the deeper flavors of cooked agave is the first to arrive and the only thing lingering when it’s gone - almost a chewy fig jam or date syrup flavor. Once it opens up, the butterscotch and vanilla comes up behind the agave flavor with a little butter. The Finish is very long and pure agave, and it’s really my favorite part about this tequila. Just a sip will hang around a long time. The mouthfeel is round and almost decadent but not slimy like some of the celebrity tequilas. Overall this isn’t as complex or vibrant as some of my favorite tequilas, but calling it flat would be completely unfair. I would never decline if it was offered. The finish and mouthfeel make up for the lack of fun on the nose and palate.”

Siete Leguas Blanco

88 SCORE

“This is a great touchstone tequila. Easy to drink and without pretense - just good tequila like it’s supposed to be. Cooked agave, grapefruit peel, and a nostalgic fresh straw aroma on the nose. Agave, grapefruit, black pepper, and a little apple and mint on the palate. Short finish with hints of black pepper, herbs, grass and a nice minerality. Slightly grippy and sharp mouthfeel, but that doesn’t take away from just how enjoyable this tequila is. ”

Chula Parranda Extra Añejo

26 SCORE

“Finish is pure vanilla syrup. No agave, nothing interesting. Have fun getting drunk at The Office in Cabo, but it’s not worth buying. ”