Nose: Heavy on the oak and vanilla, with caramel and a touch of spice. Agave presence is minimal, maybe it’s there if you squint, but it’s buried way under the wood influence. Feels more like nosing a light bourbon than an añejo. Palate and Mouthfeel: Drinks much more like a bourbon. You get sweet oak, some dried fruit, and a little cinnamon, but the agave is barely hanging on. Mouthfeel is smooth and slightly oily, but not enough to carry much depth. It leans sweet, without the balance you’d expect. Finish: Medium length with lingering oak and a bit of tannin. Agave is still MIA. Not harsh, just forgettable. Final Thoughts: This one didn’t land for me. The barrel aging seems to have overpowered the agave, which should be the core of any good tequila. If you like sweeter, bourbon style spirits, it might appeal.
Vegetal notes, citrus vanilla and some grapefruit notes. More watery than oily and the alcohol is a little strong but otherwise a fine sipper.
Strong vanilla scent on the nose with pay and caramel notes. Taste of alcohol is a bit strong for this proof level. Not watery than oily. Overall it's a solid choice.
Nice nose with still a little agave. Cinnamon and vanilla. Caramel and barrel spices. Tasted this in a six XA blind. This was a flight winner. The palate has a lot nice flavor of fruits and earth and black pepper, meaty. Good finish.
Nose: An earthy nose led by rich cooked agave, underscored by clay and a touch of olive brine. There’s a raw, vegetal quality from fresh agave, rounded out by black pepper spice in the background. Palate & Mouthfeel: Light on the tongue, the mouthfeel is thin but not lacking in flavor. Cooked agave leads once again, joined by floral and saline notes. Anise adds a faint licorice twist, while black pepper and jalapeño bring heat and a fresh, green spice. There’s a deep earthiness that ties it all together, making it feel honest and unrefined in the best way. Finish: The finish leans into the savory - salty butterscotch impressions without the sweetness, followed by a slow-building wave of black pepper and subtle baking spice. It’s long, warm, and pleasantly dry. Final Thoughts: A no-nonsense tequila with a focus on agave and terroir. Bold, briny, and pepper-forward, this is a fantastic sipper for those who appreciate tequila in its authentic form. Even better, it’s an exceptional value for what it delivers.
What’s a great blanco tequila at an affordable price? To figure that out, we put 6 well-priced blancos in a blind tasting and gave them to members of the Tequila Matchmaker Tasting Panel.
As we begin a new month, we like to recap the bottles we poured on repeat from the month before.
Blind Taste Test Results Are In from 24 Tasting Panel Members
If you are an outsider making tequila, the least you can do is gain understanding and respect for the culture, and the people who work hard to make the product.
Lou opens up some super old products from Arette that you can't find anymore.
Lou says this is his favorite budget blanco.
Largely dependent on U.S. bars and restaurants, Mexico’s craft distilleries are in trouble, and trying to find new ways to connect with consumers.
Lou loves to talk about the 10-year Arette Gran Clase Extra Añejo, 110 proof tequila.
Instead of sampling tequila in its birthplace, I reached out to six of the top tequila experts in Mexico to unearth their favorites.
mineral nose and palate it’s good