The Tequila Tourist - Reviews & Blog

Review #314 - Lapis Tequila Anejo

2013-05-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to try Lapis Anejo for a while because I've heard a lot of good things about the brand...particularly the anejo. The fact that it comes from NOM 1146 is enough to already have my mouth watering.

Price: $50-60/bottle
Aroma: Nice sweet agave nose with accents of light vanilla, orange zest and spice.
Initial Taste: Fruity agave with a hint of smoke.
Body: A nice full mouth feel. Nice oils that coat the glass and palate well. The agave is really faint. The ancillary flavors of oak, fruit and smoke are all very present.
Finish: A very long linger. The smoke is the most highlighted. The agave comes back nicely at the finish with some minty notes that combine with the smoke to make a very unique ending.

There's just a lot to say about this tequila. The light smoke makes me think of a medium Highland Scotch. Certainly not as much as a mezcal or an Islay, but it's definitely more there than in most tequilas. It is done with nice balance with the other flavors. If you are looking for a sweet & syrupy anejo, this is not the one that you want. If you are looking for something that is different and complex, Lapis is definitely worth checking out. This is campfire tequila...something to sip slowly and savor what you are tasting.

Review #313 - El Tesoro Tequila Blanco - White Label (Robert Denton Import)

2013-05-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

I seem to be on a bit of a discontinued/treasure kick recently. While this information might not be that useful to you when hitting the store shelves. If you are a seeker of tequila from the secondary market and are wondering if that collector's bottle is going to be worth the high price tag, perhaps this can help you know if it will fit your palate.

Price: $80-120/bottle (if you can find a seller)
Aroma: A balanced nose of vegetal notes and agave.
Initial Taste: A nice green agave sweetness with hint of pine and mint.
Body: A medium-thin mouth feel. It's a very complex mix. Nice agave notes, pine, mint and grassy notes. Very green, but well balanced with the sweetness and the light pepper spice.
Finish: A green and spicy linger. The agave sweet & spicy combo is in a very nice balance.

As with the newer bottles of El Tesoro, you can tell that they take their time making this one. The slow fermentation process keeps the vegetal notes nicely, but also balances them with the agave. As with all of my reviews, I try to put an estimation on the relative value. Since this is only available in the collector's market now, it makes it a bit more difficult. For the original price, this was a nice value. For the $100 range, it's worth it as a conversation piece, but not strictly for the tequila alone. I guess that I'm sort of having it both ways. Bottom line, regardless of what price you pay/paid...if you like a fresh tasting vegetal note filled juice, you won't be disappointed with El Tesoro White Label.

Review #312 - Penca Azul Tequila Blanco

2013-05-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

My final taste of the discontinued brand Penca Azul. It is one of the finest looking bottles that you will ever see on the shelf with the hand blown agave inside the bottle. It's often referred to as a "treasure" bottle because of it's difficulty to find on shelves these days, but sometimes it's all about the hunt. It carried a premium price tag, so let's hope that it can live up to it.

Price: $60-75/bottle
Aroma: A light agave scent with a hint of toasted marshmallow.
Initial Taste: Right off the bat, it's extremely watery. It's not often that I make note of the mouth feel in the initial taste, but in this case, it needs to be noted. It's very muted cooked agave flavor.
Body: Again, an extremely thin body with a pleasant agave sweetness and the nuttiness/marshmallow flavor returns.
Finish: Short and with a light sweetness. Pleasant, but not much to speak of. It's really easy to drink, but there's juices at 1/3 of the price that are as muted and smooth as this one.

Simply put, there's just not much to this tequila. It tastes fine and is easy to drink, but it's pretty much just hard core tequila lovers that are willing to spend this kind of money on a super premium tequila. The agave is light and there's just too many more flavorful tequilas in this price category that merit $60+. The bottle is beautiful, the tequila is so-so. I'd pass on this one unless you're looking for a really easy to drink bar piece.

Review #311 - 88 Tequila Blanco

2013-05-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's always nice when the first drink of a tequila is so good that it has you itching to try the other expressions. Tequila 88 anejo was like that for me. Really great flavors, a long finish and a decent price. Those are all things that I appreciate in a brand. So it goes without saying that I was excited when I was able to get my hands on the blanco.

Price: $40-45/bottle
Aroma: Cooked agave, lemon zest and light pepper aromas. Nice balance.
Initial Taste: A pleasant and light agave sweetness, hints of citrus and light pepper.
Body: A medium oily body. The citrus notes come through a bit more with a spicy agave kick and a hint of earth.
Finish: A very long lasting peppery finish that hangs on for an eternity with a very light bit of that lemon zest. A really nice and long, yet smooth, finish.

This is a really solid blanco. You can get some of the fruit hints that are evident in the anejo, but you also get the big agave flavors that every good blanco should have. A very nice balance of everything that I like in an unaged tequila. You can really tell the thought and craftsmanship that has been put into this brand. If it's in your local store, I'd definitely recommend getting a bottle for a refreshing sipper or a superb cocktail.

Review #310 - Del Dueno Tequila Reposado (Discontinued)

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Another "treasure bottle" that I was recently able to get a nice pour out of in a local bar here in the frozen North. I was especially looking forward to trying it because I really like most offerings out of NOM 1146.

Aroma: Lots of cooked agave and a heavy vanilla aroma as well.
Initial Taste: A sweet & buttery agave entry. Very pleasant.
Body: Nice and oily. Seems very common for juices from 1146. A really full mouth feel. The buttery agave is complimented again by the vanilla, nutmeg and light oak.
Finish: A medium length finish with nice balance between the agave and wood.

This is a very solid reposado offering. I'm not sure that I would go out searching for this one as a "treasure" per se, but it's got a very nice flavor and balance. For a new tequila drinker, this would be a very good example of how to age and balance a reposado to give it the right amounts of both agave and barrel character. I wish it was still being made because it's always sad to see a good product leave the shelves, but with 1500+ juices out there, the search can always continue for something else. Salud!

Review #309 - Jose Cuervo Tequila Anejo (Discontinued)

2013-05-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Living in MN doesn't necessarily afford me the opportunity to get my hands on a lot of discontinued tequilas. However, a random even took me to a townie bowling alley and this bottle was at the back of the bar staring me in the face for $6 for a double pour. Two victories in one for a tequila lover who also loves to find a good deal.

Price: $30-40/bottle (originally), Now $100-150 online if you can find it.
Aroma: A very sweet aroma of cooked agave and brown spices. Very dessert like.
Initial Taste: Sweet agave on the entry with fruit and spices.
Body: Silky smooth body with just the right amount of oak and spice to compliment the fruity cooked agave. Really good balance.
Finish: Not an overly longer linger, but the medium length finish is delicious. A little more oak on the linger and just enough spicy agave kick to give it that special "tequila" flavor.

All too often, when something is no longer on the shelves, tequila lovers will hoard it just because it's gone and then of course talk about the days of what used to be...mostly because it's now rare. In the case of Jose Cuervo Anejo, this is actually a gem of a tequila. If you are able to get your hands on this great looking hand blown bottle, I would highly recommend doing so. It's a shame that Casa Cuervo doesn't make anything this good anymore...especially at the $30 price point for which it originally sold.

Review #308 - Julio Cesar Chavez Tequila Reposado

2013-05-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Just when you think you know just about every tequila out there in the marketplace, you see something new. With shelves full of celebrity backed tequilas, it should be no shock that Julio Cesar Chavez decided to jump in.

Price: $25-30/bottle

Aroma: A rich vanilla custard nose with hints of spice.

Initial Taste: Cooked agave and vanilla. Fairly simple, but sweet and tasty.

Body: Medium-oily body. Still fairly straight-forward. The flavors and huge flavors, but it’s pleasant to sip. Light nutmeg and oak compliment, but do not overpower.

Finish: Medium-short finish with some oak coming through, but the main flavors of vanilla and custard linger nicely.

This is a pleasant dessert-type sipper that will probably please the masses. There’s nothing about it that screams unique, but it is tasty at the same time. When people talk about a tequila that suits the "American Palate," they probably mean this one. It's got a pleasant and soft sweetness and is something to sip late in the evening. If you're looking for a nice party tequila to share with friends, this is a solid option. The price is right to save a little money if you've dumped $70 on a pay-per-view fight too.

Review #307 - Cava Don Anastacio Tequila Reposado

2013-05-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cava Don Anastacio produced a stellar blanco juice. It goes without saying that I am very much looking forward to diving in and tasting what they do with it in the barrel. This tequila is produced in the Quiote distillery (NOM 1433) that produces a good number of value-type brands including Puerto Vallarta and of course, Quiote.

Price: $45-50/bottle
Aroma: Nice vegetal agave balanced with light vanilla and spice.
Initial Taste: Cooked agave, vanilla and a hint of vegetal notes.
Body: Medium bodied, semi-oily. Agave and vanilla in a nice balance balance.
Finish: A fairly short finish with a bit of oak, agave and vanilla. I felt like the finish was lacking a little "oomph" and spice notes that are found in most aged tequilas.

Cava Don Anastacio was a solid tequila, but didn't live up to my expectations from the blanco. The price point is getting up there in the $50 range and that's a tough spot to be if you don't have a specific flavor that separates you from the very crowded marketplace. The bottle looks great and it's a very smooth tequila, but it just left me wanting a little more out of it.

Review #306 - Arta Tequila Anejo

2013-05-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Arta bottle always intrigued me. The bottle looks great and it's the only tequila that I know of from NOM 1360. While I tend to prefer highland tequilas to lowland ones, I decided to take the splash and see if there was more art inside the bottle than one the outside.

Price: $45-50/bottle
Aroma: A very inviting nose with cooked agave, vanilla and cinnamon.
Initial Taste: Buttery agave, vanilla and cinnamon. Desserty and delicious.
Body: Agave, oak, cinnamon and still that buttery presence. A really oily and tasty aged tequila.
Finish: A great finish with agave pepper, oak, vanilla, cinnamon and a smoky ending.

This is the prize of the Arta line. The aging done by Arta is simply exquisite. While the blanco has a few few of the characteristics of a lowland that don't necessarily suit my palate, the aging that is done with this juice is very good. If you like lowland tequilas, you will probably love this entire line. If like a good balance of vanilla, spice and oak...you should definitely get a bottle of Arta Anejo.

Review #305 - Julio Cesar Chavez Tequila Blanco

2013-05-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

After trying the reposado, it's always interesting to go back and try the base juice. While the reposado was a very easy sipper with some really light flavors, the blanco has a completely different profile.

Price: $25-30/bottle
Aroma: Vegetal agave with hints of flower and citrus.
Initial Taste: Sweet agave start. Notes of pine, mint and citrus mixed in.
Body: A really nice mouth feel. Nice oily texture and a really good balance in the flavors. A good amount of agave sweetness, but also the perfect amount of green notes to makes it unique and compliment it.
Finish: A good finish to a good tequila. There’s a light peppery kick that lingers with the minty and vegetal notes.

This is a unique tequila that has great flavors and good balance. It changes throughout every sip and challenges you to drink in all of the flavors. From start to finish, this is a great tasting and fun juice to sip.

Review #304 - Casa Noble Single Barrel Tequila Joven

2013-05-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Casa Noble made a special barrel selection for The Party Source with this joven tequila. Whenever two places like Casa Noble and TPS get together to do something, tequila lovers should take notice.

Price: $55/bottle
Aroma: Trademark Casa Noble earth/forest floor, but with notes of citrus and pepper as well.
Initial Taste: A wonderful cooked agave taste with a hint of citrus and lowland vegetal notes.
Body: A really intense oil and flavor to the body of this one. It's a wake up call for your palate that gives you everything that you can handle. A ton of agave, lowland soils, citrus, hints of pineapple, oak and vanilla sweetness. It's a complex harmony of flavors.
Finish: A long lingering finish that is unlike any other that I've had. Lots of agave peppery kick, but the citrus lingers along with it. The earth is light and is a perfect compliment as this baby fades away for an eternity.

This is a limited bottle, so if you like Casa Noble and/or high proof & intense spirits, Casa Noble Joven is pretty much a must have. It's a tequila for when you want to sit down and TASTE. Tons of flavors and complexity and they work together for a unique experience. Well done, Casa Noble!

Review #303 - Don Weber Tequila Extra Anejo

2013-05-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

After being luke warm about the reposado, I'm ready to jump in and taste the extra anejo. Coming from NOM 1414 I'll admit that my expectations were high. The moment I opened this bottle and poured it, I got a big whiff of that wonderful 1414 smell.

Price: $60-70/bottle
Aroma: A wonderful nose of ripe fruit, caramel, agave and oak.
Initial Taste: Oak on the initial taste isn't common, but this one does it well mixing with fruit and agave.
Body: The spices come through in the body well. It's a nice mixture of clove and nutmeg. The oak becomes more prominent as well.
Finish: A smoky, spicy & chocolatey finish that has a medium duration. A unique finish.

This is a really interesting and unique extra anejo. Not at all overly sweet and the spice mixture with the oak is unlike any other tequila that I can remember. For those who like an XA with an oak flavor that isn't too sweet, this one fits the bill nicely. With a price in the $60 range, it's a nice value for an extra anejo. It's not the best tequila that I've ever had, but it's certainly a bottle worth adding to your collection.

Review #302 - Agave Dos Mil Tequila Blanco

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

My first experience with Agave Dos Mil (reposado) left me really impressed with the value and the overall flavor profile. There was a citrus element that had me really enjoying the flavors of the base juice along with the flavors added with the barrel aging. Thus, I fully expect to very much enjoy the base blanco for this line...particularly because I tend to like blancos with a citrus profile.

Price: $25-30/bottle

Aroma: A pleasant and light cooked agave flavor with floral hints and a bit of earth and citrus. Nice balance.

Initial Taste: Cooked agave, earth and pepper. Not much fruit to speak of.

Body: Medium-light body…not too oily. The flavors are what you’d expect (agave, earth, pepper), but are on the lighter end. There's a bit of citrus as well, but none of the flavors are bold. There's a nice, easy balancce.

Finish: A fairly short linger that is pleasant, but unremarkable. The pepper doesn't hit you and the earth doesn't linger on for very long either.

This is a fairly standard blanco offering with nice flavors, but also nothing too exciting. As a value brand, it would be worth it. It's a pleasant sipping blanco, but it is not something that will make you rush to tell a friend. The price is worth noting since you can find it in the $25 range. For that price, it's definitely worth picking up a bottle if you are looking for an easy drinking sipper or a high end mixer.

Review #301 - Don Weber Tequila Blanco

2013-04-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

Another day, another tequila from NOM 1414. If there was ever a distillery that I make a point out of trying a new offering...it's this one. It's my third try from the Don Weber line (Reposado & Extra Anejo) and I've been happy with both of those expressions. Let's try the base.

Price: $35-40/bottle
Aroma: Lots of agave. Nice grassy and mint notes to round it out and just a hint of cinnamon.
Initial Taste: Nice cooked agave sweetness with notes of pepper and cinnamon.
Body: The greener notes of grass, pine and mint come back a bit more and mix superbly with the black pepper and spice. One of the more complex blancos I’ve ever tasted.
Finish: A medium length finish that puts the emphasis on the pine notes and pepper. There’s still that linger of cinnamon as well.

This is a really complex and delicious blanco. You get the nice agave punch, but a lot of really flavorful notes that go along with it and make every sip different and every part of the palate take notice. The bottle looks nice and it's well worth the $35-40 price tag.

Review #300 - Centinela Tequila Extra Anejo (3 year anejo)

2013-04-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

For review #300, I figured that I would dip into something extra special. I've always liked the profile of the Centinela brand. They produce a taste unlike any other tequila out there right now. I should prefacce this by saying that I have only tasted the juice from the round bottles...not the newer square bottles. I don't know if the flavor has changed, but I have heard that it has.

This is my first taste of the 3 year extra anejo. I've always found the brand to be a relative bargain, but this is a real jump in price from the $40s to the $80-100 range. I've been waiting a while to try it, so I hope it's a good as the rest of the line.

Price: $80-100/bottle

Aroma: Earthy agave, green notes, wood and a bit of alcohol on the nose.

Initial Taste: A spice filled entry with nutmeg and clove. Hints of agave and vanilla as well with the aforementioned green notes. Very complex, but well rounded.

Body: A bit thin for an aged tequila. Light vanilla & agave, lots of spice and hints of wood.

Finish: A medium-short, but very nice finish. Lots of brown spices and sweetness to go with just enough oak to make it not overly sweet.

This was not the usual taste from Centinela. Generally, they are bit more filled with fruit. This is an interesting tequila because even though it’s less sweet than a lot of aged tequilas, it has a nice spice balance that keeps you guessing. Was this tequila good...yes. Was this tequila worth paying nearly $100 for...nope. It's a pretty solid 3 year aged juice, but when you're playing in the Ben Franklin ballpark, you need to be better than pretty solid. Definitely worth a taste, probably not worth the price.

Review #299 - Huizache Tequila Silver Blanco

2013-04-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

If you've noticed a theme about my reviews, you definitely note that I have a soft spot for the budget brands that are 100% agave. Finding something that tastes good for $60+ is easy. Digging up the bargain gems is much tougher. So I see that Huizache is under $20 and of course I'm going to jump on the chance to give it a shot. NOM 1437 is a solid distillery as well, which makes it even more tempting.

Price: $15-20/bottle
Aroma: REALLY earthy agave nose. Cement and floral notes.
Initial Taste: Earthy agave with compliments of mint.
Body: Tastes like it’s been rested with hints of vanilla and spice along with the cooked agave, earth and white pepper.
Finish: A medium length finish with agave, white pepper and floral notes.

This blanco is unlike most others out there. Lots of different flavors throughout the drink and a nice challenge to try and taste them all. It may be a tad earthy for some...but for those that like the earthier blancos, this is an absolute steal for under $20. It's not my favorite tequila, but you definitely can't go wrong with a juice that has this kind of character for the price.

Review #298 - Cava Don Anastacio Tequila Blanco

2013-04-21T08:00:00.000-05:00

My first experience with anything from the Cava de Don Anastacio line. Great looking bottle and a solid distillery. It's always fun going into tasting these thing blindly. Let's jump in

Price: $40-50/bottle
Aroma: A great nose full of agave, citrus fruit and pepper. Light floral notes round it out nicely.
Initial Taste: Nice agave sweetness on the front of the tongue with some citrus and pepper sizzle.
Body: Medium body with nice oils. Nice agave profile. Citrus, floral and vegetal notes make for a nice complex body.
Finish: A very peppery/spicy finish that last a while. There’s a bit of an alcohol burn as well, but it’s not at all unpleasant.

This is a very solid all around blanco with lots of agave and complex flavors. It has a bit of an edge to it, which might be a bit much for some palates, but big bold flavors are right up my alley in a blanco. The price is right on in the $40s. It's a very well crafted tequila and I'm looking forward to tasting the other expressions.

Review #297 - Suerte Tequila Blanco

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

A new brand from tequila loving guys in Colorado. This tequila is made with the traditional Tahona wheel. That along with the thought behind the story of the brand and the great looking bottle shows the kind of passion that this brand has for producing a great juice.

Price: $35-40/bottle

Aroma: Nice scent of cooked agave with citrus and herbal notes…maybe a hint of anise.

Initial Taste: A sweet entry with herbal character. Simple, but tasty.

Body: A medium-oily bodied blanco. Very agave forward flavor profile. It also has earth, citrus and a light pine taste.

Finish: A fairly short finish with similar flavors to what was experienced throughout. Lightly earthy agave, pine and a cement-like flavor (perhaps from the tahona).

This blanco has a lot going on. The agave sweetness and the citrus are very tasty. The oily body coats the mouth nicely and brings out all of the flavors. The finish is strong, but maybe gets a little bit out of balance with the sweetness and citrus fighting with the cement notes. There’s a bit of bitterness, but it doesn’t take away from the overall experience. For the money, this is a very nice blanco that would work well as a complex sipper or for a premium cocktail. If I’m “lucky” enough, I’ll get to taste the other two expressions as well.

Review #296 - Embajador Tequila Reposado

2013-04-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Mention that a tequila is from NOM 1509 and you immediately have my attention. With gems like Crotalo and Alma in their profile, I would happily try anything that they pump out of the Tequila Embajador, S.A. de C.V. distillery.

This is my first taste of anything from the Embajador line. I'm very much looking foward to it. If it's anything like its 1509 cousins, it is going to be on my highly recommended list.

Price: $50/bottle

Aroma: Cooked agave, light vanilla and some green/minty & spice notes.

Initial Taste: Nice agave profile, vanilla, pepper and some green flavors & spice. A very nice overall balance...the kind that I like in a good reposado

Body: Medium-thin body…not oily at all. Nice retention of agave with light oak and spice. Nice vanilla-like sweetness to round it out. The green notes disappear a bit leaving a sweet and spicy combo.

Finish: The finish doesn't hang around for as along as I'd like, but the flavors are still in good balance and very well crafted.

This has everything that you'd want from a good repo. Plenty of agave, a nice mellowing from the barrel and balanced flavors to round it all out. The price is on the high end, but the flavors are pretty darn good. It's tough to compete in the $50 category, but Embajador just might have the tools to pull it off. I don't like it quite as much as Crotalo. Nor do I think it's as good a value as Alma, but I certainly would never turn down a sip of this solid juice.

Review #295 - Arta Tequila Reposado

2013-04-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Arta tequila bottle will grab your attention to be sure. Triangle shape, nice label and artsy presentation. It looks good on a bar, but I'm more interested (as always) how it sits on the palate.

Price: $40/bottle
Aroma: Almost no sweetness on the nose at all. Lots of herbal notes, black pepper and oak.
Initial Taste: Herbal agave and a hint of citrus an vanilla. Pepper is definitely present as well.
Body: A lighter body than expected. There's light vanilla and lots of pepper and herbal notes. An interesting combo.
Finish: A nice lingering finish of light vanilla and a lot of pepper and wood. Strange for a repo to still have this much pepper, but it is unique and stays with you.

I found myself surprised on the initial few tastes, but then wanting to go back for more and see what else I could find in this drink. There's some nice complexity and a spicy/peppery flavor that keeps your palate awake. All in all, this is a pretty nice tequila. I've started seeing discounted pricing in places (around $25-30) that makes it a worthy buy. I think that I'd probably stay away at the initial MSRP of $45-50. Regardless, if you like black pepper in your tequila, you'll want to check out Arta.

Review #294 - Bonita Tequila Platinum Blanco

2013-04-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Normally, I try to approach every tasting with an open mind. However, when a tequila is released with the main promoter saying it doesn't taste like gasoline and other statements that clearly show a lack of understanding that is the elegant spirit of tequila, I'll admit that skepticism creeps in. Generally you keep distilling something to take flavors/impurities out. Bonita is 5 times distilled which just made me expect agave vodka. Perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised...

Price: $90-100/bottle

Aroma: Earthy agave, but with a bit more softness than the ones that smell like cement or a mud pit. There's a sweetness there, but it's faint.

Initial Taste: A very mild agave sweetness with a hint of white pepper.

Body: The body of this tequila changes the taste completely. There is no longer a softness. There’s a giant peppery kick that takes you completely by surprise.

Finish: Strong vegetal and pepper notes that last much longer than I expected.

This is not a blanco for rookies and it's not bland at all...well at least not at the end. The aroma fools you a it, but as it advances on your palate you get a huge spicy punch and some green notes to compliment. It's a confusing tequila. Juices from NOM 1137 tend to be a bit more green and earthy, but the 5x distillation takes a lot of that out. In all honesty, this is a decent tequila. However, if you factor in the $100 price tag, you just leave this on the shelf. It could compete in the $30 range, but it is blown out of the water by most other options in the luxury price category.

Review #293 - Riazul Tequila Silver Blanco

2013-04-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

After tasting the anejo from Riazul, I've been dying to taste the rest of the line. The anejo is so good, that I really wanted to try the base that they started with. Is it as good as the aged one, or is the secret in the barrel?

Price: $45-50/bottle
Aroma: Wonderful nose of agave and citrus. Hints of grass.
Initial Taste: A really clean and crisp agave flavor with lemon and light pepper.
Body: A medium and oily body. Agave continues to be the prominent flavor. Very clean and crisp flavor. No earthy flavors at all.
Finish: A fairly short finish with a light peppery note mixed with the agave sweetness. Not memorable in terms of flavor, but it is really easy going down.

This tequila is a consummate smooth blanco sipper. Not challenging, but very tasty and ultra smooth. Lots of agave and citrus. Really pleasant. It's not quite as good as the anejo, but it would great for all tequila drinkers. Riazul is priced at a premium, but in the end it's a very good tequila...and probably worth the price.

Review #292 - Tequila 88 Tequila Anejo

2013-04-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

I've been hearing good things about Tequila 88 for a while, but never had a chance to try it until recently. Solid NOM, nice looking bottle...let's see how it tastes.

Price: $45-50/bottle
Aroma: A nice rich anejo on the nose. Notes of agave, oak, vanilla, ripe fruit and roasted nuts. Lots of scents, but they work well together.
Initial Taste: Sweet cooked agave, vanilla and oak.
Body: A thick and oily body. Almost chewy. The rich texture works well with the wood, vanilla and roasted nut flavors. The ripe fruit is present, but only lightly detectable.
Finish: There's a nice linger on the finish. A thick custard with vanilla, nuts and woody dark chocolate. It's like a good sundae.

The agave is faint with the 12-18 months of aging, but it's there enough so that you know you're drinking tequila. 88 anejo has a really nice and rich flavor and to me, seems perfect for late evening sipping. A nice complex set of flavors that work really well together. Sip it slowly...and enjoy!

Review #291 - Don Weber Tequila Reposado

2013-04-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Tequila Don Weber is a new entry from a stellar distillery (NOM 1414). Just about everything that I taste out of 1414 is really good...so it goes without saying that I'm looking forward to tasting this one.

Price: $40-45/bottle
Aroma: A clean and crisp aroma with a nice green/grassy agave scent. Hints of vanilla and citrus round it out nicely. Maybe a hint of anise as well.
Initial Taste: The grassy agave is easily the most upfront flavor with a hint of vanilla. A nice light sweetness and a crisp flavor.
Body: Thin body, not too oily. Grassy agave still the most prominent. Hints of oak, vanilla and anise are present as well.
Finish: A fairly short finish with not much spice or linger. There's a bit of oak and anise with a hint of light vanilla and that persistent grassy agave flavor. The finish is fine, but it's nothing to write home about.

I wanted to love it, but Don Weber Reposado is simply decent. From the flavor profile, I feel like the reposado might be lost in between the blanco and anejo. The blanco probably has strong flavors and big grassy notes with more citrus. The anejo probably marries the agave flavor with a bit more barrel aging.

One thing that I will say for sure is that this tequila is crisp and tastes very authentic and natural. It would mix really well and compliment any drink recipe. While I can't say that I fell in love with this one...I am intrigued to try the rest of the line.

Review #290 - Campo Azul Tequila Extra Anejo

2013-04-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

My first couple of experiences with Campo Azul were less than stellar because of persistent alcohol hotness that really took away from a baking spice forward juice that was otherwise pretty decent. Upon pouring this, I was hoping that the rough edges would be smoothed out by the extra aging.

Price: $65-80/bottle
Aroma: A nice complex aroma of agave, oak, vanilla and toasted nuts.
Initial Taste: Cooked agave with compliments of light vanilla, oak, fruit and nuts. They mix together really well.
Body: Awesome body. All of the flavors that are in the initial taste working together in perfect harmony.
Finish: A medium length finish with nice nutty agave linger. Some baking spices and oak round it out as well. The agave isn't as present because of the extra aging, but there's also no burn on the way down. This is a very pleasant sipper.

It looks like the extra aging did this brand some good. The time in the barrel gave nice spice and nut flavors and made the finish very enjoyable. This is a tequila to be sipped and savored and is by far the best of the Campo Azul line. It's a decent value for the price for this extra anejo.