Marcado 28 Tequila Reposado Brovo’s Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio and 10th-generation distiller Bruno Barba co-founded Marcado 28 Tequila. It’s produced under NOM 1502 - Autentica Tequilera in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico. This tequila has been aged for 8 months in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels. Considering its age, the color is a light hay color. The aromas I’m getting are dusty hay, a cooked agave note, thin honey, bright citrus (lemon), and a vegetal note; think celery. There’s some minerality, salinity, and a hint of sweetness from the cooked agave and AO barrels. I taste the barrel spice from the American oak, sitting atop the caramelized cooked agave and honey. The vegetal notes and the natural sweetness of the cooked agave balance the minerality. There’s some salinity in the backbone, and the finish starts with that brine and natural sweetness before the vegetal and black pepper spice kick in. Overall, it’s a great Reposado. It has much of the agave character from the blanco, along with some sweetness and spice from 8 months of barrel aging. It is very affordable locally. The bottle art was created by Austin, Texas tattoo artist, El Sando. His years of study and passion for ancient Mayan art and Mesoamerican culture have made him the accomplished artist he is. Bottle Number 6474.

Aroma: Initially restrained. With time, cooked and caramelized agave, orange and subtle tropical fruit emerge, along with light floral notes of lilac/lavender and honeysuckle. Some honey and an earthy, musty quality like wet cement after rain. Flavor: Caramelized agave with earthy, slightly musty (not bad; like earth) notes. Despite 8 months in barrel, I’m not getting much noticeable barrel influence. Pepper becomes more prominent as it develops. Finish: Medium, with lingering pepper and some of the earthy, wet-cement character carrying through. Longer and more pronounced than the blanco. Overall: I had a hard time getting a read on this one and came back to it for a second tasting. It definitely benefited from time in the glass. The nose opened up considerably, but I was surprised by how subtle the barrel influence was after 8 months. Also, I love the artwork on this label.

Not as bitter or peppery as the Blanco. The agave gets a little lost on the taste. Nose: caramel, vanilla, oak, herbs Taste: caramel, oak, faint toffee, black pepper, warm spices, faint anise Finish: honey, cinnamon

Musty barrel aromas, but flavors are better with a light vanilla, orange, and cinnamon. Extra heavy tears like the blanco. Overall a thin and light flavor profile that might appeal to newbies.

This has a similar tongue coating effect as the Blanco as well as the sheet of tears in the glass. Light aroma and taste with some pepper and spice there is not a hint of barrel bitterness in this. Many people will likely think this is a great product, I mean Heather rated it 100 and another Community rater gave it 96. This is manipulated but it is with a light touch. Reposado for the masses

another good tequila that has zero additives. it just has water agave and yeast. I like the little bit of honey and vanilla that I pick up just a tad bit of citrus. 8 months in American Oak very nice

Store sample…. Not bad but will need a repeat evaluation.

I tried this at the Taco & Tequila event in NYC. Distillery was there as well as chef who helped make it. Very smooth! Went back for samples 3 times. They had a cool “tell us your tattoo story” on the back of the bottle. Loved it.