Patrick B. rated 1414d ago

Cazcanes No. 9 Joven

88 SCORE

“Cazcanes Joven no. 9 NOSE: This 90 proof is a blended Joven (los valles agave blanco, los altos agave reposado and a pinch of XA). Execution of this blend is on-point, if you don't mind the old-feta-cheese funkiness that's layered just below the sweet buttery agave notes :-). Also light notes of olives, light butterscotch & vanilla, and a faint nutty note of crushed hazelnut. The cheesy funk is a surprise, but not off-putting, and adds a nice complexity. MOUTH: The nose influences are also reflected in the taste, with the addition of pepper and fresh citrus fruit rinds. The higher ABV is almost unobtrusive, yet provides a nice level of heat, followed with a finish that's smooth, loaded with agave sweetness, and goes down very buttery... and perhaps just a hint of that cheesy funk, which I strangely enjoy ;-)”

Patrick B. rated 1421d ago

Tres Generaciones Cenobio's Batch Plata

87 SCORE

“Tres Generaciones (NOM 1102) Cenobio's Batch Plata NOSE: Fresh notes of buttery agave, citrus, vegetal, alcohol, mild spicy pepper, licorice, clove and mint. TASTE: Proofed at 45% abv, which provides a nice heat, but does not negate the sweet buttery agave-forward flavor. Thick mouth feel with citrus-rind influences, earthy vegetals, cloves, pepper, licorice, and mint. On the finish, the heat tapers off quickly, leaving an agave/vegetal taste that. This is a decent old-skool production surprise from NOM 1102... tahona/roller mill, stone/brick oven cooked, well water, fermented in stainless (sans fiber), and 2x copper pot distillation.”

Patrick B. rated 1422d ago

Montagave Blanco 'Héritage'

89 SCORE

“Montagave (NOM 1123) NOSE: Cooked succulent sweet agave, florals, jalapeño-type pepperyness, light lemon-rind, grassy/mint, and bourdeaux wine oaky barrel notes, licorice. TASTE: Good juice on the palate that is equally expressive of the aromatics. The barrel oakiness is just a bit more subdued on the mouth. Creamy mouth feel, and a nice balanced alcohol influence that allows the agave and bourdeaux influences to finish pleasantly... great sipper, indeed!”

Patrick B. rated 1423d ago

Tequila Primo 1861 Blanco (NOM 1579)

88 SCORE

“Primo 1861 (NOM 1579) NOSE: Clean, almost creamy, sweet agave notes. Crushed minerals, light citrus, light funky brine, pepper, grassyness, and subtle anise notes. TASTE: The slightly elevated ABV (43%), most likely pumps up the flavor profile slightly on the tongue. The "light funky brine notes" are still present on the palate, but it fuses well with the sweet agave, white pepper, citrusy-anise, and a notable hint of oaky influence on the finish. Overall, Primo 1861 is a unique and very satisfying sipper.”

Patrick B. rated 1423d ago

Corrido Blanco

86 SCORE

“Corrido blanco (NOM 1412) Nose:  Nice agave prescence, vegetal, lemon-rind, black pepper, anise, and fresh cut grass. Tastes: The aromas are equally represented on the tongue. Nice savory agave, and the pepper pops nicely with good warmth from the alcohol. Mouth feel is buttery and clean. It goes down smooth, and finishes well. Here's a good agave-juice that could serve double duty as a sipper, or a mixer for a quality Margarita or Paloma.”

Patrick B. rated 1423d ago

Don Fulano Blanco Fuerte (100 proof)

86 SCORE

“Don Fulano Fuerte (NOM 1146) Nose: Being high-proof, the alcohol is definitely present, but not overpowering. There's a subtle complexity, with a nice aroma, if a bit sweet. All the usual suspects are present, but with a nicely subdued nose prescence... sweet agave, vanilla, minty-pepper, and a vegetal earthiness. Tastes: High-proof ABV (50%) puts your palate on notice for the sweet(er) agave, vanilla, earthy pepperyness, and light grapefruit rind. Good glycerin-y full-mouth feel, and the heat tapers-off well, but left a lingering light vanilla sweetness that confuses me just a touch... will have to try another pour at a later date.”

Patrick B. rated 1423d ago

Cazcanes No. 10 Still Strength Blanco

89 SCORE

“Cazcanes Still Strength (NOM 1599) Nose: Alcohol, buttery-sweet agave, smoke, grassy vegetal notes, crushed/powdered stones. Light citrus, white-pepper, licorice. Tastes: I like high-proof blancos, and this one is up there (54%). It pushes the flavor intensity up a few notches. Tastes of creamy sweet agave, white peppery spice, anise, light citrus & mint... goes down quite nicely, noticeable heat, but no burn... very clean, tapering agave finish.”

Patrick B. rated 1423d ago

Cascahuín Tahona Blanco

90 SCORE

“Cascahuin (NOM 1123) is a premier distiller of masterfully crafted traditional Tequilas... and "Tahona" is a premier example of the blanco tequila expression. Nose: Fresh, clean, complex notes of sweet agave and minerality, light citrus, light peppery grassyness, and a subtle anise all come thru on th nose. Tastes: A tiny bump in ABV (42% total) may aide in pronouncing the mouth experience of the aromatics received on the nose. There's a deliciously smooth and warm buttery mouth feel. Tastes of sweet agave, white pepper, anise, light citrus & light spice... goes down smooth, no burn, flavorful finish that tapers-off cleanly, only leaving a desire for the next sip...”

Patrick B. rated 1425d ago

Mijenta Tequila Blanco

87 SCORE

“Nose: Mijenta blanco has pleasant subdued aromatics of sweet agave, with black pepper and green olive-infused brineyness. Nothing is really overpowering on the nose, and the notes are light, nuanced, and quite nice. And this is a weird way to describe the agave notes, but it "smells" creamy. Tastes: Whereas the aromatics are subdued, the palate turns up the intensity. Good glycerin-y mouth feel, black pepper, cloves, briney green olives, and light grapefruit. This is good juice that tingles the tongue, and finishes well! ”

Patrick B. rated 1522d ago

Don Pilar Extra Añejo

89 SCORE

“Nose - The agave notes are there, but lingering in the background... almost unnoticeable. Aged in New American white oak 36 months and finished in French limousin oak an additional 4 months, providing a deep woodsy aromatic prescence. Dried dark fruits, nicely layered with cinnamon and nutmeg spices, butterscotch, honey, vanilla and caramel-candy influences, and also a mild, distant anise note. Taste - All of the nose aromas are equally exposed in the tongue. Sweet, spicey, fruity goodness, buttery mouth-feel, and the alcohol prescence provides a good mid-fall-season warmth. For me, the barrel influences are slightly more reminiscent of a good Cognac than a scotch, and the finish is unobtrusive, smooth and lasting.”

Patrick B. rated 1540d ago

Tierra Noble Tequila Añejo

84 SCORE

“AROMA - Pronounced notes of buttery vanilla, spices, oranges, medium oakyness, and creamy caramel along with the sweetness of dried fruits. PALATE - Creamy mouth, good alcohol heat without being too hot or overwhelming. The aromas announce themselves on your palate with the addition of apricots and peaches, some light pepper and anise, and cinnamon. It all finishes quite nicely with a sweet oaky honey flavor.”

Patrick B. rated 1540d ago

Clase Azul Reposado

74 SCORE

“Nose - Overly sugary, added sweetener?, vanilla, caramel, cotton-candy-esque. Taste - sugary sweet, vanilla, cotton-candy-esque... Lingering apartame-like aftertaste. It's overpriced, and more akin to a sweet aperitif. I'd probably rate it lower, but my wife really likes it.”

Patrick B. rated 1540d ago

Grand Mayan Silver

70 SCORE

“AROMA - Agave, alcohol, pepper, citrus, licorice, some florals. PALATE - flavorful agave, coats the mouth well. Black pepper, licorice, mint, lemon rind influences. Fairly smooth, Nothing is really outstanding. Would be a decent sipper or used as a mixer, but is a touch pricey. There are several better options for a blanco in this price range.”

Patrick B. rated 1540d ago

Don Fulano Reposado

85 SCORE

“AROMA - Very nice unobtrusive notes on the nose, just like a proper repo should have. Agave, light notes of caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch. Light grassyness, black pepper. PALATE - Nice mouth feel, very nice warmth from the alcohol let's you know it's some good juice without being overwhelming. All the aromas also shine thru on the tongue as well, with the subtle addition of fruity dried apricots, nutmeg, anise, and cinnamon. All of which linger on the palate along with a clean agave finish.”

Patrick B. rated 1540d ago

Yeyo Blanco

84 SCORE

“AROMA - Satisfying agave on the nose, if somewhat muted. Decent alcohol with a pronounced grassy, funky (in a good way) minty licorice yeastyness. Earthy, sweet yellow bell pepper and white pepper. PALATE - As is often the case, flavors are similar to the aromas. The agave is a bit more pronounced upon tasting vs aroma, and is sweet and savory. There's a smooth, buttery mouth feel, and some velvety heat as it goes down. Finish is nice, and leaves some of that lingering funkyness which is not bad at all, just unique. It's some good juice, at a good value. ”

Patrick B. rated 1623d ago

Tequila Alquimia Blanco

86 SCORE

“This is a very smooth blanco which appears to have all the trappings of a traditionally created tequila. Floral sweet agave, pepper, earthy mineral grassiness/mintiness. A smooth alcohol hit on the tongue, a good buttery mouth feel, with a really nice even finish that leaves me looking forward to the next sip. Will be happily included in my rotation of sippers. ”

Patrick B. rated 1634d ago

Herencia Mexicana Añejo

87 SCORE

“Aroma: sweet agave, oak, caramel, spices, and a surprising hint of mint in the background. Taste: Very tasty, matching the aromas, plus vanilla and a buttery sweetness, along with a touch of smooth heat from the alcohol (40%abv). Finish is very smooth and lingers nicely.”

Patrick B. rated 1641d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2021

88 SCORE

“High-proof blend (46.3% ABV) with barrel-aged influences of American oak and used Marsala wine French oak barrels. NOSE: sweet agave forward, lots of minerality, some vanilla, oakiness, anise, soft citrus, grass. MOUTH: similar to NOSE, good but muted mouth feel, love the extra level of intensity the higher-proof gives to the flavor profile. Has a touch of salty spiciness, perhaps influenced by the Masala wine barrels? Fruity, but not overbearingly so on the initial taste, but it disappears quickly, only to return in the finish. ”

Patrick B. rated 1659d ago

Cantera Negra Reposado

82 SCORE

“NOSE: Agave, light vanilla, subtle mint & grassyness, along with woodsy oakiness. MOUTH: Sweet agave, vegetal minerality, good mouth feel, subtle oak, vanilla, spices and caramel. good heat, with a nice, smooth finish. Nothing bad about this juice. ”

Patrick B. rated 1661d ago

Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco

61 SCORE

“Nose: Very little of the traditional notes I'm accustomed to in a blanco. Smells like cotton candy and marshmallows blended with licorice and alcohol. Mouth: Another reviewer mentioned it tasted like potpourri (and not in a good way). It was difficult for me to imagine potpourri as part of a tequila "flavor" profile, but the reviewer was spot-on... it tastes like I imagine a mouth full of floral-scented woodchips would taste... not good. I also experienced a lingering fake sugary aftertaste. It's not a good representation of anything resembling a real tequila... blanco, or otherwise. ”

Patrick B. rated 1661d ago

Cantera Negra Silver

76 SCORE

“Nose: Nice aromas, if a bit subtle. Agave, earthy, mineral, grassy, black pepper. Mouth: Same as "nose", it's overall a subtlely flavorful juice, and has decent heat, good mouth-feel, with a smooth anise finish. Very drinkable as a sipper or mixer.”

Patrick B. rated 1681d ago

Cascahuín Plata 48%

88 SCORE

“Cascahuin Plata 48, Lot 103. Purchased this past wknd, during a trip to San Diego along with several other bottles of sweet nectar. I've really grown to like the higher-proof tequilas. Gives the flavor profile a nice bump. NOSE: The agave aroma is sweet, but seems slightly subdued compared to some blancos, it's still very nicely balanced with the extra alcohol hit... peppery, minty, grassy, scents of grapefruit flesh, vegetal, and a fresh moist dirt aroma that reminds me of helping my father dig holes to plant roses in our backyard when I was a child. MOUTH: Agave flavor is almost a touch creamy! As is typical, the notes on the nose are expressed in the flavor profile. There's a nice intensity of flavors... along with that citrusy peppery alcohol, and a buttery smooth mouth feel which finishes light and smooth. Mmm Mmm good!”

Patrick B. rated 1681d ago

El Tequileño Reposado Rare

92 SCORE

“Muy delicioso!!! A finely crafted golden butterscotch-colored reposado. Aged just over 6 years in American oak pipon barrels (25,000 liters)… which is why this can't be legally called an extra-añejo (extra-añejos are limited to 600 liter barrels, for 3+ years). My guess is the larger “pipon" barrel imparts the oak influences in a more subtle manor than a smaller barrel would accomplish over the same 6+ year timeframe? Very complex, but less in-your-face. NOSE: The aromas are sweet agave, with caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, and light apricot dried-fruit imparted by the oak barreling. And a mild sweet citrusy note (i typically get mildly bitter citrus notes in blancos & repos). There are light vegetal and earthy notes, as well as light spicy notes that are reminiscent of a good rye whiskey, but thankfully less pronounced. There's also the prescence of floral notes in the background, very subtle. Mouth: equal to "the nose" with very satisfying full-bodied flavors. A nice touch of heat from my initial sip, but follow-up sips were less alcoholic-intense, with a nice drop-off leaving the flavors to finish-off nice and smooth. Very pleasant buttery mouth feel. And a first for me that I can only describe as a light “floral" taste in the background, similar to the subtle floral aroma. A very pleasurable sipper, indeed! ”