Nose: smoke, cooked agave, lemon zest, wet cement, vegetable , lemon thyme, sage, and stone fruit Flavor: oily mouth feel, briny, sweet agave, stone fruit and smoke Finish: medium finish has a nice smoked agave sweetness

I smell creamy buttery agave that has a vegetal undertone and some light pepper. There are some floral notes along with some mineral notes with hints of brine and green olives. There’s a faint hint of smoke and mint. The nose is full and layered. On the first sip I taste agave and smoke. I then get a peppery and creamy mouthfeel. I taste earthy minerals and a pleasant alcohol tingle from the 84 proof. The finish is warm, round and oily with a lingering smokey and peppery tingle.

Aromas: Bright and vivacious light colored tree fruit, and slightly smokey agave at first pass. Lemon/lime citrus aromas, cinnamon and a fresh minty note. An herbal medley: lemon thyme, sage, dill and a combination of finely ground black and green peppercorns. Earthy minerals and a growing level of smoke add interest and depth. Flavors: Bold fruit notes. Buttery, briny, oily mouth feel. Smokey, honey sweet agave, warming pepper heat, assertive spices and anise - all make for a vibrant and clean tasting experience. Finish and notes: The finish is round, warm and balanced…. It fades away slowly and satisfyingly. Kudos to Don Alberto.

So this came highly recommended to me by Blas at Mercado San Marcos in Rosarito Beach - which is the greatest little market in the world - and gotta admit, my dood let me down this time. The tequila was tasty but not what I expected - very heavy agave forward, smoke and black pepper - to the point where my wife kept asking, is this mezcal?! I will say this, it paired up perfectly with some topa chica and lime…my palette might have been blown out from lunch so will def try again.

Aroma: heavy agave, some smoke, citric Flavor: mint, cinnamon, honey, cooked agave, smoke, nice complexity. Oily mouthfeel with a longer finish

I’m smelling a lot of agave, a touch of wood like trees in Autumn, a little citrus and some floral tones. On taste, I’m getting the agave shining bright, a little smoke, light pepper, minerals, and brine. Everything is balanced nicely, nothing overpowers. The legs are long and the finish lingers enough. This is really good. Very nice traditional tequila from Alberto Partida, definitely worth a try.