Franklin H. rated 2151d ago

Fortaleza Reposado

94 SCORE

“Nose: A shifting cacophony of the impulse candy aisle. Vanilla, butterscotch, butter, caramel. A sleeve of freshly opened Ritz Crackers. Downwind of a movie theater matinee. Flavor: The flavor is a chameleonic progression. Agave to olive to vanilla to caramel to oak. It’s an Alice in Wonderland drink of adventure. All gas, no breaks. But it works! There are no speed bumps, no road construction, no left lane semi-trucks. Just smooth blacktop the whole way. Finish: Long lingering oaky flavor. Value: More expensive, but well worth it. Not anywhere close to outrageous. Final: This is a tequila to drink home alone in the dark. So interesting and dynamic it is not worth pairing or mixing. Quite a treat. ”

Franklin H. rated 2151d ago

Pasote Reposado

90 SCORE

“Nose: Pleasingly subtle. Almost lightly effervescent. Ever so light dash of vanilla. Flavor: Have you ever licked limestone? You’re about to. There are more minerals in this tequila than in my rock collection. My geoscience thesis advisor would be more proud of this tequila than me. What is so fascinating about this resposado is how it explodes on your tongue and provides you with a strong vanilla and slight pepper nose that was so understated with just sniffing. Yet it is somehow so well balanced. Finish: The finish bubbles and lingers like acid rain on a marble gravestone. (p.s. I want my gravestone out of granite) Value: Not crazy expensive, but not cheap either. An appropriate value. Final: This feels very approachable. It stands up alone wonderfully. It could also be mixed in something like ranch water, but I would be hesitant to overwhelm it with another strong flavor such as a margarita. I found this a very cohesive profile. ”

Franklin H. rated 2151d ago

Tres Agaves Reposado (Organic)

64 SCORE

“Nose: Agave and alcohol. Unfortunately, that was mainly it. I could be convinced of a hint of flowers. A hint such as passing a patch of wildflowers the department of transportation missed on the highway median while traveling 70 mph in a convertible. Flavor: Agave, agave, agave (that’s tres, right?). Oh, and alcohol. Could be oaked. Not sure. Agave is winning this fight club. Finish: As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” The agave is the house guest. Please leave. Value: Meh? Final: I liked the blanco. The resposado was a disappointment. I didn’t know I could describe agave as cloying, but this manages it. The aging process took away what made the blanco good and added nothing back. Needs a mixer to level it out.”

Franklin H. rated 2249d ago

Hacienda Vieja Reposado

65 SCORE

“Nose: Medicinal. Remember when you were six and first smelling your parents alcohol for the first time? That’s was this reminds me of. It’s sharp and unpleasant. Flavor: I had high hopes with this based on reviews. It tastes like dirt. Agave flavored dirt. Caramel is a suggestion. Barrel spice is a possibility, but it would be more like eating the allspice while making gingerbread men. I’ve tried this in a couple of mixed drinks and it’s let me down every time. Finish: Fine, I guess. I’d rather it didn’t finish based on the flavor. Long pepper. Value: Cheap, but you can do better. Also weird plastic pouring valve on it. Initially takes time to get out. Ending up pouring some on my counter because I was confused. Makes sampling hard and awkward. Final: Nope. Not worth. Maybe the blanco is better, but the resposado just feels like waking up with a hangover and a night full of bad decisions.”

Franklin H. rated 2249d ago

Olmeca Altos Reposado

76 SCORE

“Nose: Weakly alcohol. Maybe a bit of oak or pepper. Flavor: Peppery like the blanco, but a maybe a bit mellowed. Has more of an alcohol kick than expected. Nothing too crazy and not offensive. Finish: short burn with a paper feel after. Final: Not great to sip. Solid for mixing. Would suit any drink. If I owned a bar this could be an easy house tequila. Value: Cheap. ”

Franklin H. rated 2249d ago

Tres Agaves Blanco

86 SCORE

“Nose: Rich cooked agave. Imaging waking up and someone is cooking you breakfast. The smell of cooking biscuits and fried chicken. That is the agave smell. I am in the cook house as they are roasting. Flavor: More of the same agave. There is a citrus kick after with a bit of pepper. Think sour skittles or warheads without the sugar. Finish: The citrus carries through, dropping the pepper until the very end when it is all that lingers on the tongue. Value: I don’t know quite how to address this. I found it locally for $32, but I actually bought it closer to a city for $19. It is absolutely worth $19. It is maybe worth $32, but I’d feel bad buying it again knowing I can get it cheaper. Final: This can stand on its own no problem. I would also recommend it as a mixer because it maintains enough oomph to be a player in a cocktail. ”

Franklin H. rated 2249d ago

Tequila Mi Campo Reposado

70 SCORE

“Nose: Cloyingly sweet alcohol. It’s flowery, but flowery mixed with hand sanitizer. Flavor: Grandmother’ house potpourri flowers. Awkward spraying of the glade after using someone’s toilet flowers. Light pepper. Mexican agricultural tradition mixed with Wizard of Oz poppy field. Too much, not for me. Finish: For all the alcohol on the nose, this doesn’t burn. Lingers like a red wine. Final: This Tequila is not my favorite. I want something else, but it is certainly different. The blanco feels more tequila-y and mixes with things better. I did try making frozen margaritas out of the resposado and it came out ok. It carried a sweet flavor with it despite not adding any sort of sweetener. Because of that the drink morphed into a slightly different cocktail. It wasn’t unpleasant, but not where I expected to end up. Some people may really like this flavor, but I was not one of them. P.S. this was undrinkably strong on the wine notes when first opening. It mellowed after being opened for a day. ”

Franklin H. rated 2249d ago

Tequila Mi Campo Blanco

81 SCORE

“Nose: Mostly alcohol. Light scent of something floral and sweet. Like if you forgot to wash out your wine glass from the night before. Hits of medicinal. Flavor: Agave, but it doesn’t take the drivers seat. The wine barrels really come through. It is not a strong wine, but there are interesting accenting notes of flowers. It sits nicely above the middle tongue. If this was totally blind, I would say this is a tequila but as if it was mixed with something else. Very unique compared to others. Finish: The finish is a burn directly back on the throat, but it also hovers on the edge of the tongue. The after burn of a red wine is a good way to think about it. Final: This is certainly unique. I prefer the blanco over the resposado. It mixes better. The wine flavors are less pronounced in the blanco. It’s also real cheap, although the bottle looks like hot garbage (and the label is borderline Teenage Emo Punk band - think My Chemical Romance). P.S. this was very strong on the wine notes when first opening. It wasn’t as undrinkable as the resposado, but it mellowed after being opened for a day. ”

Franklin H. rated 2263d ago

Kirkland Signature Añejo Tequila

80 SCORE

“NOM 1173 Nose: Somewhat lacking. Understated caramel would be kind. First sniff I checked to see if I put anything in the glass. Taste: Despite the weak nose, the taste is rather very forward. Caramel, moderate vanilla, and oak. Minimal agave left, but enough to distinguish it from other aged spirits. Could sip this all day. Finish: Moderate. Short flavor finish although the slightly cottony/sawdusty mouthfeel remains. Cost: $19.99 for 750ml of an Anejo. This would have to rob my 401K for me not to bail it out. ”

Franklin H. rated 2263d ago

Cabrito Reposado (USA)

85 SCORE

“Nose: Vanilla and agave. It wants to be sweet but stops just short. Taste: Wonderful oily mouthfeel. Vanilla explodes on the tongue (particularly in the tip). The expectation is it flows into a strong caramel flavor but it stops short and reaches a buttery stage. My ideal batch of pancakes would contain these flavors. Maybe a bit of hay, but that could be the goat on the front talking. Finish: Buttery. Waffle House take note. However it is a bit short and weak. ”

Franklin H. rated 2263d ago

Espolon Reposado

73 SCORE

“Nose: Rich agave with a light undertone of alcohol. There is a bit of a woody smell too although it complements the profile rather than take the reins. Taste: The best way I could describe this is inoffensive. Nice tingle of agave and some oak. Nothing overly sweet, just a mild bite of alcohol that overlays a caramel undertone. Reminiscent of a really old Werther’s original you find in your pocket on a cold rainy day walking back from the bank. Finish: Strangely effervescent. Maybe because there wasn’t any one strong flavor in the taste, the alcohol/flavor profile has a light bubbling on the tongue. ”

Franklin H. rated 2263d ago

El Jimador Reposado Tequila

60 SCORE

“Nose: Smoke. But not like s’mores at the campfire smoke, more like couch from a house fire smoke. Mix that with some wet grass. Taste: Like licking the couch. However, it does have an interesting sweet note to it that balances out the smoke. Alcoholic bite. Finish: The smoke lasts a while.”

Franklin H. rated 2263d ago

Espolon Blanco

72 SCORE

“Nose: Agave with a side of alcohol. Taste: Agave with a side of alcohol. Maybe some floral on the front of the tongue. Slight pepper but more of a white than black pepper. It is a very clean flavor. Aftertaste: Longer than expected, but not the most pleasant.”

Franklin H. rated 2263d ago

Olmeca Altos Plata

83 SCORE

“Nose: Pleasant earthy and vegetal with a slight hint of pepper. Taste: Agave and pepper. The pepper tends to dissipate the older the longer the bottle has been open. Finish: Sweet and smooth, but short. ”

Franklin H. rated 2263d ago

Kirkland Signature Silver

71 SCORE

“Sweet, slightly vegetal on the nose. Taste is harsh and heavy on the alcohol, but agave does come through. Finish is a long alcohol burn. Decent for mixing and ludicrously cheap. ”