Carlos Fierro rated 54m ago

Arriesgado Blanco

89 SCORE

“Taste this blind, you’d be forgiven thinking this was a mezcal. As a mezcal, you’d describe it as having a light smokiness. As a tequila, you’d call it a heavy, smoke-forward-glass. Arriesgado, kinda meanders between two worlds. Not quite fully tequila, not quite fully mezcal. Well, as a designation, they are fully tequila, but in spirit, this spirit straddles the line. The tequila harkens back to days past, with their cooking of the pinas in an above ground, adobe, wood fired oven. Sort of a Temazcal for agave, though decidedly a lot hotter. Extraction of the mosto is done using a canoe and mallet. They aren’t using that new-fangled tahona that’s all the rage, nowadays. Fermentation is done is wood vat, open air, with fibers and wild yeast. When using canoe and mallet to crush the cooked agave, there is so much usable sugar in the fibers, it’s necessary to ferment with the fibers. The added benefit is the additional complexity in flavors, the dangers is that those flavors can be a bit overwhelming. Again, its a fine line to walk. But when done well, you can find yourself in a beautiful place. I think Arriesgado, finds itself in a beautiful place. Ancestral, traditional, artisanal, Arriesgado in its production, philosophy, aromas, and flavors reaches into the past to deliver this tequila today. Straddling those two lines again. —Nose: Smoke is the prevalent aroma. It hits you first. And for a tequila, it can be jarring. But it’s not necessarily overpowering. Once you take in that initial hit of smoke you get the cooked agave. It doesn’t stand alone, however. It has a decided tinge of smoke as well. Grassy, raw agave then comes through. Followed by a minerally brine. And earthy notes. Once you become familiar with the smoke, you start to pick up on the nuance. This isn’t necessarily a subtle tequila, but there are layers. Sitting with it and looking for the secondary aromas is worth it. I didn’t pick up on it until I had my first sip, but going back after that initial sip, I get clay, it’s a deep earthiness. —Palate: Whoa, the palate doesn’t start the way you’d imagine. Smoke isn’t what hits you first. Sweet agave embraces you. The smoke isn’t welcomed to the party until the back end of the sip. Minerals, herbs and green vegetables mix with the smoke and sweet agave. There’s a light lactic acid there too. It creates a soft, round, oily mouth feel. Which is a nice counterbalance to the sharp aspects of this tequila. The smoke will fool you a bit though. Smoke with mezcal can be rather astringent, with slight turpentine notes. Largely due to the process of cooking, covered in earth and other organic materials. With Arriesgado, because its roasted in wood fired ovens above ground, some of those harsher flavors are avoided, while adding some of the earthy, smoky, goodness. Sharp, but not harsh. Sharp, but sweet as well. Sharp, but still with soft edges thanks to the sweetness and some of the lactic acid that seems to be present. —Finish: is long and more complex as you get into it a bit. The first sip and finish is smoke prevalent. It covers up a bit of the other flavors, but as you get into the glass you start to pick up on the sweet agave that met you on the first sip. You get some pepper. You pick up on the raw agave and some of the herbs that give the aftertaste some additional complexity. As your taste buds get used to the smokiness, the rest of the flavors start to come forward more. It’s a nice, long, changing finish. The most surprising aspect is that for a higher proof blanco, there is very little alcohol numbing. —Final thoughts: If you prefer smooth tequila this may not be your cup of tea. If you are looking for a full bodied tequila, that is unapologetic when it comes to an agave forward, flavorful tequila—a tequila that is willing to push the edges of that distinction between mezcal and tequila—a tequila that asked you to sit with it, get to know it, walk with it just a bit, if you do…you may just fall in love with Arriesgado. —The Tequila Note”

Mercedes Mark rated 2h ago

Trujillo Manifiesto 56

89 SCORE

“Great nose: agave/fruit/melon Great palate and finish: tons of agave-citrus, spice, and all things nice. Absolutely delicious. ”

Mercedes Mark rated 2h ago

Cambio Cellar Series #5 - Sur Lie

92 SCORE

“Hands down one of my personal favorites, so sad it’s sold out. Really enjoyed this unfiltered style and beg John to make more every chance I get. ”

Mercedes Mark rated 2h ago

Yeyo Tequila Reposado CAPRI

90 SCORE

“Really enjoyed this one! Great nose, mouth feel, and finish. Love the barrel experimentation and Yeyo as a brand is always been solid ❤️”

Lágrimas del Valle Plata - 2024 La Loma

92 SCORE

“Excellent! total steal for its price! at 46% just offers so much more aromas and flavors! aromas：floral, fresh herbs, lavender, bright citrus palate: sweet cooked agave, baking spice, peppery, lots of mineral ”

818 Tequila Blanco

25 SCORE

“just what the hell is this?! no agave notes on the aromas, only artificial sweeteners, vanilla and ethanol... tastes like a flavored vodka, if u ask me to blind taste this, i would never have guessed its a tequila”

Matt Cavanaugh (Agave Swappers) rated 17h ago

Cabo Wabo Añejo

87 SCORE

“2007 Juice! Very Solid”

Herradura Reposado

83 SCORE

“Nom: 1119 Nose: artificial sweet agave, oak, honey, cherry, butter, alcohol, somewhat of a weak nose. I really have to try hard to identify notes: Flavor: oak, vanilla, butterscotch, cherry, 5 second, short linger Finish: smooth transition , short finish, not harsh, not bad Overall: not a sipper I would enjoy on the regular due to Depth issues but hey it’s not horrible. I do enjoy this in a margarita at Mi Tierra in San Antonio TX. I would buy again for margaritas and would recommend to a friend who is not looking for a top notch sipper but aged tequila good for a margarita ”

Azuñia Añejo

85 SCORE

“Nom: 1426 Nose: Cherry, Vanilla, Oak, light agave. Light barrel influence, butterscotch. Nice nose but does not linger. Flavor: oak, vanilla, white pepper Finish: short finish, slight metallic backend finish, wish it lingered longer Overall: Decent Anejo, if you like light oak based anejos this is for you. I enjoyed the flavor and finish just wished it lasted longer. ”

Matt Cavanaugh (Agave Swappers) rated 18h ago

Mapelo Blanco

84 SCORE

“This one has QUITE the nose! Nose: Agave, Minerality, Salt, Vegetal, Cucumber Palate: Cinnamon, Apple, Almond, Brine Finish: Minerality, Pepper, Olive The nose was really something but the palate and finish were underwhelming for my profile. Too much brine and not enough of anything else. ”

Cabo Wabo Blanco

69 SCORE

“Nom 1440 Nose: fake fruit, minerals, light on agave Flavor: light agave, vanilla, sweetener, pepper, Finish: best part of this tequila, smooth, well balanced, slight linger. Overall: if I had not had agave-forward additive-free tequila I would probably like this, would buy again and would recommend to a friend. Sine I have enjoyed traditionally made tequila, I did not rate it favorably to buying again or recommending it. ”

EdgarE Umpire rated 19h ago

Ocho Tequila Reposado

88 SCORE

“Citrusy and briney noticeably before any barrel notes. Agave and earthy this is almost a blanco on the nose. Maybe some vanilla underneath On the palate I get some of the aging vanilla and oak barrel notes. Agave finish rounds try is out as complex and interesting. Always well done with Ocho”

Jesse Montero (@Tragos_y_amigos) rated 19h ago

Chamucos Extra Añejo

89 SCORE

“Cask strength Xa 44.4abv! Beautiful fruity aromas coming from this pour. Leather, oak, at first, dried cranberries, ripe pineapple, cinnamon, just wow, complex nose. Perfect balance of sweet to spicy flavors, I got dark cherry, plum, roasted agave, cacao, cinnamon. Mouthfeel is pleasant, oily. Finish went from tannic fades into a mellow sweetness. Great buy, will definitely be sharing this for after dinner pours with friends and family. ”

Shane Brennan rated 19h ago

Tapatio Blanco 110

99 SCORE

“Most likely the purest expressions of agave straight off of the still you will find — especially at this price point. This is an absolute must have if you are a true tequila drinker.”