Shaun M. rated 3m ago

Valor Tequila Reposado

85 SCORE

“Valor Tequila — Reposado Nose: Mineral and fruity with what seems like peach, along with a slightly funky character. Subtle oak-aged notes, pepper and black licorice. Taste & Texture: Thick and oily, clinging nicely to the glass. Pepper-forward with herbal and fermented notes, followed by another touch of black licorice. Finish: Peppery spice settles into the back of the throat and lingers into the back of the nose. A touch of tannin remains on the finish.”

Shaun M. rated 1d ago

El Tesoro Extra Añejo

91 SCORE

“El Tesoro Extra Añejo Nose: Sweet caramel and bourbon notes with spice, pepper and some underlying minerality. Taste & Texture: Thick and coating, clinging nicely to the glass. Sweet bourbon influence comes through but remains subtle, with soft cinnamon underneath. Tannins add noticeable dryness to the palate. Finish: Warm and sweet with lingering spice and cinnamon that carry through the finish.”

Shaun M. rated 7d ago

Tapatio Reposado

91 SCORE

“Tapatío Reposado Nose: Damp stone and minerality with pepper and agave sweetness. Taste & Texture: Warming agave sweetness with cinnamon and spice. Thick in the glass with a slick, coating mouthfeel across the tongue. Finish: Warm spices linger with a pleasant tongue tingle, followed by a drying effect from the tannins. The barrel resting softens the profile nicely, bringing out more agave sweetness and creating a noticeably rounder, more balanced pour without overpowering the tequila.”

Shaun M. rated 7d ago

Tapatio Blanco

89 SCORE

“Tapatío Blanco Nose: Damp stone and minerality with cooked-agave sweetness and pepper. Taste & Texture: Agave sweetness with herbal notes, pepper, cinnamon and baking spices. Thick and coating in the glass, with a noticeable tingling sensation across the mouth. Finish: Herbal notes linger through a spicy, pepper-forward finish.”

Shaun M. rated 8d ago

Tequila Rimari Reposado

89 SCORE

“Tequila Rimari — Reposado Nose: Oak, mineral, cooked agave and a pleasant sweetness. Taste: Cooked agave, cinnamon, baking spices, oak and tannins. Thick and coating in the glass with a rich sweetness. The tannins add some dryness to the palate without overpowering the agave or spice. Finish: Warm and lingering with sweet baking spices and cinnamon. Subtle tannins create a light tongue tingle and gentle dryness while the sweetness hangs around.”

Shaun M. rated 8d ago

Tequila Rimari Blanco

88 SCORE

“Rimari Blanco Nose: Clean mineral nose with a light peppery note. Subtle and straightforward. Taste & Texture: Agave sweetness up front with pepper and cinnamon. Oily, thick mouthfeel that coats the palate and clings nicely to the glass. Finish: Clean and peppery with a slight herbal character lingering on the finish.”

Shaun M. rated 9d ago

Siete Leguas Reposado

86 SCORE

“Siete Leguas Reposado Nose: Mineral and damp-earth notes with vegetal character and pepper. Taste & Texture: Clings nicely to the glass. Agave sweetness comes through with cinnamon and spicy pepper, followed by barrel tannins and herbal notes. Finish: Herbal notes linger nicely with some tongue tingling from the pepper. Barrel influence and tannins provide a slight drying sensation without overwhelming the finish.”

Shaun M. rated 13d ago

Codigo 1530 Reposado

84 SCORE

“Código 1530 Reposado — NOM 1616 — 84 Nose: Light toasted notes with subtle floral character and cooked agave. Pleasant and inviting, although fairly restrained. Taste & Texture: Clings nicely to the glass with a good mouthfeel. Sweet agave comes through with cinnamon spice. Balanced and easy drinking, though not especially complex. Finish: A pleasant warmth carries into the finish with lingering cinnamon and some funky vegetal notes. There’s a slight tingling sensation on the tongue that hangs around without becoming harsh. Overall: A solid, approachable reposado. The barrel influence stays restrained and allows the agave to remain present, which I appreciate. Sweetness and cinnamon dominate the palate while the funky vegetal character adds some interest to the finish. Enjoyable and well balanced, but it doesn’t have quite enough complexity to push it into the upper 80s for me.”

Shaun M. rated 13d ago

Codigo 1530 Rosa

85 SCORE

“Código 1530 Rosa — NOM 1616 Nose: Clean mineral character with some subtle sweetness, but overall the nose is fairly subdued and doesn’t give up a lot. Taste & Texture: Clings nicely to the glass. Cinnamon comes through with vegetal and funky notes, along with an interesting almost tangy character on the tongue. There’s some sweetness underneath and a surprising chocolate note that adds another layer to the palate. Finish: Sweet baking spices linger with a warm sugar-and-cinnamon character. The sweetness carries nicely through the finish without becoming overwhelming. Overall: This one surprised me, especially because I really disliked it the first time I tried it. The nose is still fairly quiet, but the palate is much more interesting than I remembered. Cinnamon, vegetal funk, sweetness, tanginess and even a little chocolate give it considerably more character once it gets going. The warm sugar and baking-spice finish ties everything together nicely. This is a great example of why I like revisiting bottles—my opinion of this one has changed considerably since the first pour.”

Shaun M. rated 14d ago

Campo Azul 1940 Reposado

84 SCORE

“Campo Azul 1940 Repo Nose: Damp earth/mineral character, cooked-agave sweetness. TNT: Warming cinnamon spice with vegetal and fermented-agave notes. Thick in the glass with good legs/cling and a substantial mouthfeel. Finish: Vegetal and fermentation notes linger. Very little bourbon/barrel character comes through; the oak stays mostly in the background”

Shaun M. rated 14d ago

Espéralo Tequila Reposado

83 SCORE

“Espéralo Reposado — NOM 1107 Nose: Warm agave sweetness with some minerality and an almost caramel-like note. Taste: Caramel sweetness up front with fermented agave and vegetal notes underneath. Finish: Lingering warmth with persistent vegetal notes. Slight tannic dryness and a gentle tingle on the tongue. Overall: An enjoyable, easy-drinking reposado. The barrel brings some caramel sweetness without completely covering the agave and fermentation character. Nothing overly complex, but nicely balanced and something I’d happily drink again.”

Shaun M. rated 18d ago

Zumbador Tequila Blanco

87 SCORE

“Zumbador Blanco Nose: Vegetal and mineral notes with noticeable fermentation and agave sweetness. Taste & Texture: Thick and viscous, clinging nicely to the glass. Fermentation leads into pepper, sweetness and cinnamon. Finish: Slight numbing through the gums and tongue, with fermentation notes lingering pleasantly after the sip. Overall: A very enjoyable blanco with a fermentation-forward profile, good agave sweetness and a surprisingly substantial mouthfeel. Pepper and cinnamon add some complexity, while the mineral and vegetal notes keep the profile firmly rooted in tequila. The lingering fermentation character makes for a satisfying finish. And for $28 That’s the bottle I’d point to when somebody says “I want to try good tequila without spending $50–60.””

Shaun M. rated 19d ago

Lost Lore Reposado Amburana

88 SCORE

“Lost Lore Reposado Amburana Nose: Sweetness with noticeable barrel influence. Taste & Texture: Thick and coats the glass nicely. Sweet agave leads into pepper and cinnamon, with a pleasant tongue tingle. The barrel influence is present without covering up the agave. Finish: Herbal and fermented notes linger, with barrel tannins adding some drying structure. Overall: A very good reposado with a nice balance between agave and barrel influence. Sweet agave remains present alongside cinnamon and pepper, while herbal and fermented notes carry into the finish. The Amburana influence adds character without taking over the tequila.”

Shaun M. rated 19d ago

Casa Azul Organic Tequila Añejo

82 SCORE

“Casa Azul Orgánico Añejo — NOM 1480 Nose: Fairly subdued. Not a lot coming from the glass beyond some alcohol presence and a faint bourbon/barrel character. Taste & Texture: Sweetness leads with cinnamon and pepper. Straightforward and enjoyable, with the spice providing considerably more character than the nose. Finish: Warming with barrel tannins adding some drying structure. A lingering herbal character develops toward the end. Overall: A solid, enjoyable añejo, but fairly simple overall. The palate provides pleasant sweetness, cinnamon and pepper, while the finish adds some herbal character and drying tannins. The biggest limitation for me is the nose, which never really opens up or offers much complexity. There’s nothing particularly wrong here—it simply doesn’t provide the depth or memorable character I now look for in bottles scoring in the upper 80s and 90s.”

Shaun M. rated 19d ago

Insólito Añejo

81 SCORE

“Insólito Añejo Nose: Oak-forward with a noticeable sweetness. Taste & Texture: Bourbon influence is front and center with sweetness from the barrel. Some vegetal notes manage to come through underneath, along with a little tongue tingle. Finish: Warming and lingering, with some herbal notes emerging through the finish. Overall: A barrel-forward añejo with bourbon character dominating much of the experience. There is still some vegetal and herbal tequila character underneath, but I would prefer the barrel influence to complement the agave rather than lead the pour. ”

Shaun M. rated 20d ago

Flecha Azul Tequila Añejo

83 SCORE

“Flecha Azul Añejo Nose: Orange peel with some mineral notes and a noticeable bourbon/whiskey influence. Taste & Texture: Cinnamon spice and sweetness lead the palate. The barrel influence is definitely present, but much more restrained and balanced than some heavily barrel-forward añejos. Nice mouthfeel. Finish: Warming, with noticeable but balanced tannins. A lingering vegetal character comes through after the barrel and spice fade.”

Shaun M. rated 20d ago

Gran Orendain Añejo

72 SCORE

“Gran Orendain Añejo Nose: Barrel and oak lead the aroma with a pronounced bourbon sweetness. Some autumn baking-spice notes underneath. Taste & Texture: Bourbon-like sweetness immediately takes control. The barrel influence dominates the palate and pushes the cooked agave into the background. Finish: The bourbon character continues through the finish and remains the dominant impression after the sip. Overall: Very barrel-forward, with bourbon sweetness running from the nose through the finish. There are some pleasant oak and autumn-spice notes, but the barrel influence overwhelms the agave character for my taste.”

Shaun M. rated 20d ago

Suerte Still Strength Blanco 104

87 SCORE

“Suerte Still Strength Blanco 104 Nose: Earthy and damp with a subtle green vegetal aroma. Taste & Texture: Thick and coating in both the glass and the mouth. Agave sweetness comes through with fermented and earthy flavors. The higher proof is definitely noticeable, bringing additional warmth and intensity, but it doesn’t overwhelm the flavors. Finish: An almost creamy texture lingers on the palate, followed by vegetal and herbal notes. The finish hangs around nicely and gives the pour more character. Overall: A flavorful high-proof blanco with an especially enjoyable mouthfeel. The earthy, fermented and vegetal profile carries throughout, while the higher proof adds intensity without simply becoming heat. I would absolutely drink it again and recommend it. It’s a definite step up in flavor and finish, although it still doesn’t quite have that extra dimension that would push it into the 90s for me.”

Shaun M. rated 20d ago

Suerte Blanco

84 SCORE

“Suerte Blanco Nose: Funky fermentation with noticeable mineral notes. Taste & Texture: Agave sweetness with vegetal character and a gentle warmth. The warmth isn’t particularly spicy or pepper-driven and doesn’t have much bite. Thick in the glass with a substantial, coating mouthfeel. Finish: Herbal and vegetal flavors linger after the sip, accompanied by a soft residual warmth. Overall: A nice, enjoyable blanco with good texture and some interesting fermentation character. It’s easy to drink and there’s nothing here that I particularly dislike, but it doesn’t really separate itself or give me that standout moment I’m looking for. I would drink it again and recommend giving it a try. It’s good tequila—it just doesn’t blow me away.”

Shaun M. rated 21d ago

Lost Lore Tahona Blanco

90 SCORE

“Lost Lore Tahona Blanco Nose: Minerality leads with cinnamon and a pleasant agave sweetness. Clean and inviting without being overly complicated. Taste & Texture: Even touching the tip of the tongue brings an immediate hit of sweetness and cinnamon. Cooked agave follows with peppery warmth and some vegetal/herbal character. Thick in the glass and equally substantial in the mouth, with a really nice coating texture. Finish: Herbal notes linger along with a subtle tongue tingle and gentle warmth. Nothing becomes overly aggressive, and the finish leaves you wanting to go right back for another sip. Overall: A very enjoyable Tahona blanco. The combination of minerality, sweet agave, cinnamon, herbal character and thick mouthfeel works really well together. What stood out most wasn’t any single flavor—it was how easily everything flowed from one sip into the next. This isn’t an over-the-top or incredibly complex tequila, but it’s balanced, flavorful and extremely easy to keep drinking. I would absolutely drink it again and recommend it.”

Shaun M. rated 21d ago

Lost Lore Valley Blanco

87 SCORE

“Lost Lore Valley Nose: Mineral and stone aromas lead the nose with some subtle sweetness underneath. Clean and pleasant, although not especially complex or expressive. Taste & Texture: Sweet cooked agave comes through with cinnamon and pepper. The mouthfeel is thick and substantial, coating both the glass and the palate nicely. Everything is well balanced and enjoyable, but nothing really separates itself or creates that standout moment. Finish: Herbal notes linger along with pepper toward the back of the throat. There is some subtle tongue tingling, but it remains controlled and never interferes with the flavors. Overall: A very good, well-made tequila with a profile I generally enjoy: minerality, sweet agave, cinnamon, pepper, good viscosity and a pleasant herbal finish. There isn’t anything here that I particularly dislike. What holds it back for me is simply that nothing rises to the level of exceptional. As I’ve tasted and rated more tequila, my benchmark has continued to move. Profiles that once might have automatically pushed me into the 90s now have to do something memorable to separate themselves from an increasingly strong field. I would absolutely drink this again and happily recommend trying it. It’s very good tequila—it just didn’t give me that extra something that would push it into the 90s.”

Shaun M. rated 23d ago

Ocho Tequila Reposado

88 SCORE

“Nose Musty and damp, almost reminiscent of wet dog. A slight cinnamon note develops alongside barrel influence and a light floral character. Taste & Texture Clings nicely to the glass with a coating mouthfeel. Sweetness leads into cinnamon and pepper, followed by a slight bourbon note. There’s some tongue tingle along with a vegetal character underneath. Finish Barrel tannins are noticeable but don’t overly dry the mouth. The tongue continues to tingle through the finish, leaving no question that this is a high-proof pour.”

Shaun M. rated 23d ago

Manuscrito Tequila Reposado - Chapter Four

89 SCORE

“Nose Damp fermentation leads the nose, giving it an earthy, funky character. Taste & Texture Coats the glass nicely with a good mouthfeel. Peppery warmth comes through with cinnamon and a subtle sweetness underneath. There’s a light tingle on the tongue without being overly hot. On the last sip, a briny, almost salty note begins to show. Finish Long, warming finish that slowly builds, leaving a slight numbing sensation through the throat and gums. Barrel tannins dry the mouth as the finish lingers.”