The edge between butterscotch and caramel quickly gives way to an overpowering tobacco-like aroma, sharply reminiscent of Skoal. Foral and vegetal tones mingle with a blue cheese funk and a fruity tanginess, I’m guessing from fermentation. The overall nose is wild and layered. On the palate, cooked agave anchors a boldly persistent tobacco profile, once again reminiscent of Skoal. Notes of bleu cheese, oxidized wine, and what some may interpret as overripe or even spoiled fruit (my wife remarked "rotten") complicate the experience. Yet, there's also orange citrus, honeyed caramel, and pineapple with other tart tropical fruit accents. A quiet freshness tries to break through, but the smokiness remains constant, casting its shadow over every layer. The finish is quick, featuring dry, sharp citrus, intensifying pepper, lingering grassiness, and a tobacco note that lingers on the glass. It’s unconventional, bold, and unapologetically distinct. Sure to split opinions but never to be forgotten.

Barnyard and blue cheese! Really unique nose and pallet, I feel like this would shine with a food pairing. Well balanced flavour to alcohol.

Nose: This is my favorite nose to date. Starts out warm with Cinnamon, baking spice, sweet agave. I pick up on a little funk in the way of smoked cheese and then it transitions quickly to bright, fresh and alive with raw agave, grass, honeysuckle and vanilla. How interesting! Palate & Mouthfeel: The palate surprised me because it differed heavily from the nose. I got licorice, cooked agave, bell pepper, saline, cinnamon, orange, veg, and bittersweet grapefruit rind. Medium viscosity and super pleasant mouthfeel. Finish: Finish was salted caramel and anise with some black pepper spiciness, very pleasant but cut off fairly quickly. Final Thoughts: This one is so unique and very special. What a mad scientist Sergio is for creating Vivo! Will revisit for the more in-depth and eloquent review that this one deserves.

Tasted at Sip Tequila Fest As opposed to the Muerto, the Vivo’s flavor profile leaned more into the citrusy & fruity elements of what a great high proof tequila can be. A wonderful expression coming out of the Vivanco distillery.

Whoa, this is as unique of an experience as I've ever had with a tequila. Complex isn't enough to describe this. On the nose, I am getting white wine sangria (loaded with citrus and berries). There is cooked agave, smoke, black pepper, minerals; a floral arrangement indeed Taste doubles down on the nose and adds green pepper, olive. This is sweet, sour, spicy, buttery, smoky, and even gives the impression of being carbonated like a seltzer. I cannot describe this without taking a complete tour of the tasting wheel (save for the absence of barrel aging). Finish is long and warm. This is worthy of anyone afficionado or explorer to sample.

Strong unique clean agave nose with some alcohol burn, you can tell this is a HP. Such a unique nose, lactic, cheese? Thick creamy palate with a finish that continues on. Small pepper on the finish which is nice. That finish goes on for days in a good way. It’s an easy sipper

Earthy, cooked agave, whisp of smoke, buttery palate and creamy almost olive like brine finish. The more it opens up the more flavors keep coming forward

Nose: sweet/vibrant/clean - light alcohol/ fruit notes -pear & very slight banana / citrus / hint of grapefruit Taste: sweet agave forward/ black pepper spicy / banana/ pear/ citrus / Finish: lingering sweet / some of the black pepper dissipates rapidly leaving a minty fresh taste - not a long overall finish except for the clean/sweet wet finish…with the slight hint of smoke. There is so much flavor and complexity in Vivo. It’s like you can hear every piece of the orchestra instead of just the melody. So many aroma and taste notes that work together very well but each is identifiable and enjoyable. This expression from NOM 1414 Sergio Cruz is amazing beyond words in some ways…my palate is overwhelmed in an enjoyable way. Fantastic.

I bumped this by a point. I just don’t know if anything out there that I’d rather drink. Very unique nose. Beside agave, there is olive earth, light smoke, banana and flowers. That smokiness almost reminds me of bacon and who doesn’t love bacon. The taste is also very unique and follows many of the aromas. Agave is prominent with light smoke, again bacon,, brine and olive. A very nice finish that is enjoyable for a good minute. I am so happy I was able to get a case of this because it is a one and done tequila. Another great one from Sergio Cruz. As of 06/24 this is my favorite blanco. The Higher Proof works very well with this tequila. This is one of my favorite high proofs and even exceeds Fortaleza Lote 26-S and Atanasio Origenes Fuerte. They don’t get much better to my palate. I will say the malolactic note, which comes across as a little smoke, may not be for everyone. But if you like it like I do, then this tequila will tickle your fancy!

Off the cuff, this one gives notes of salty, brininess that I associate with capers or artichokes. Also, a lot of minerality is going on here. Very smokey cheesy finish, not a smokey cheese, like gouda per se but more of a blue cheese with a smokey back end. The minerals are also prevalent in the finish as well. I also am picking up some earthiness, artichokes, capers and black pepper. The funk on this one is real, but it plays a pivotal role in making this one of the more unique tequilas I have ever had. what a treat!

The complexity of flavors is really unmatched, agave, citrus fruits, banana/lemon/lime, floral & herbal, smoky, some funk/cheese, keeps evolving every sip and as it opens, great mouth feel and finish, excellent tequila

I love the burst of flavors. I love the dry and briny finish. Superb.

Aroma: slight cooked agave sweetness, raw agave, chilies, asparagus, artichoke, black pepper, dry soil, jalapeño. Flavor: cooked agave, orange citrus, salt brine, green olive. Finish lingers for a bit. At first it’s pretty green and vegetal but tappers off to a more sweet finish. Mouth feel is soft and silky and there’s a slight burn in the bottom of my chest. Overall I think this is a very good blanco but the low marks come from the price.

Nice aroma that opens with berries (blueberry in particular), mint and floral notes. A very unique aroma profile. The flavor opens with a distinct sweetness (grapes and berries) that evolves to a good fiery heat (hot peppers and black pepper). The finish is great with a moderate duration. Overall, this is a new and unique aroma/flavor profile that has all the characteristics of a classic blanco tequila. 07-05-2023

SEBCO2217 Batch 1 / Bottle 1312 172077 11/06/22 47.5% ABV Visual: bright and clear with a thin - medium clear edge. Initial nasal impact: heavy prickle. Aroma: Bottom of the glencairn opening - honey, mineral and white pepper. Top of the glencairn opening - Cabernet meets mezcal. Actually, mezcal aroma notes hit as soon as I opened the bottle. Initial mouthfeel: buttery and drying with generous heat. Flavor: cooked agave, mineral, chalk and tropical fruit. The retro nasal really is where this gets interesting, big honeydew/fennel/ancho and funk hit in equal parts and all at once. Some may say 'smoke' comes into play but I think that is more of a funkiness from spontaneous fermentation and the live yeast used in distillation. The finish is jacked up, but harmoniously balanced. Damn, the finish defines this tequila because that's where most of the tasting notes develop. As a mezcal drinker, the Vivo finish provides the same mouthfeel, fruitiness and roundness on the tongue as mezcal. Extra points for the finish, but points off for the price. This is not my pick to convert any Casamigos drinkers into the world of traditionally made, additive free tequila. This is for the experienced palate. And any mezcal lovers looking for a tequila to call their own - Siempre Vivo is one of the best!

Siempre vivo Nose: fresh, mineral, citrus, fruity (honey dew) Taste: agave, mint, you can tell it’s high proof by the slight burn, citrus, vegetal

Lots of different flavors going on in this of you can find as to your collection

A delicious high proof blanco, pepper, citrus, light mint, cooked agave notes. Nice finish

Siempre Vivo NOM 1414 edicion especial 47.5 abv updated 9/16/23 Nose mild smoke like campfire smoke bacon Palate sweet agave, smokey bacon, some fizz at the end. Finish a little mild very unique tequila and I really like it. tasted at john Welch's feb 18, 2023. we opened the bottle for the tasting. I'd love to try it again and let it breathe a little. At any rate, I really enjoyed this... Nose vegetal, citrus agave minerality Palate a little campfire smokey anise agave Medium finish Cost 130

Grassy like a sotol with a bit of wet earth. Roasted agave and slight smoke.

Nose: A distinctive red wine aroma, with a bit of wood. Bold honey imbued agave richness. A pleasantly sharp mineral aspect at midpoint, with mint and anise making an appearance as well. Light smokiness, and a sour Mezcal-like suggestion. It has a warm, round feel to the aroma profile; integrating the higher ABV with no ethanol excess. Flavor: Bursts on the scene with gutsy white pepper, fennel & caraway seed, and a counterpoint touch of vanilla. Sweet, viscous and savory. Lots of fruit and agave goodness. A big licorice punch joins the peppery foray. Mouth filling and long lasting finish. This is a vivacious expression that defies your previous notions of tequila. Veteran palates should appreciate Vivo.

Nose is light agave, apples, pepper, peppermint, and light spice. Flavor is agave, pear, burnt sugar, mint, and cinnamon. Floral and well balanced, its a great hybrid of old school and newer flavor profiles.

Notes in progress…

This special tequila has a very fresh and clean nose. The dominant scent is buttery cooked agave followed by some celery, minerals and oily lemon and lime citrus zest. There’s a slight hint of anise and alcohol (47.5 ABV). This still strength blanco is a full bodied and complex offering. This viscous potation is very buttery. The cooked agave is front and center. That’s followed by some green mellon, lime, soft vegetal notes, grapefruit rind, thin honey, minerals, white pepper and fresh jalapeño on the finish. The finish is more savory than spicey but some fresh pepper lingers. It begs you to keep coming back for me.

UPDATED- 93- Lord Almighty- THIS is old-school amazing. Some light mezcal presence, and hardcore all the way. Very unique, putting live yeast into the distillation.