Asombroso eros repo Nose= neck pour, at first lots of alcohol and mild barrel notes. When it opened, less alcohol, mild barrel spices, cinnamon fruit mild anise, honey. Taste= not offputting also not complex. As it opens, good balance between sweet and barrel spices. Not a lot of agave. Notes: 9 mos aged. Closed s/s ferm tanks and triple distilled.

Used French oak barrel staves from their 11yr XA are rubbed with fresh cooked agave juices before being reassembled, charred, and filled with blanco. It’s then aged for 9 months and bottled at 40% ABV. They don’t consider the agave rubbed barrel an additive and it’s really an interesting one to think about in that regard. I do prefer the blanco to this sweeter one. There’s some initial earthy musty notes on the nose I’ve gotten from some other aged French oak Valley tequilas, but it opens up to vanilla on the back end. The flavor pops with sweet honey, charred oak, and a light touch of effervescent root beer. Thin mouth and short finish that leaves a bubbly mouth tingle like soda does, with no burn or unwanted aftertaste. An easy drinking experience will likely be welcoming for newer tequila drinkers.

pepper, coffee bean, citrus

NOM 1424

This will be a polarizing tequila and spark an interesting debate. The barrels are rubbed with agave nectar before the fill. This isn’t considered an “additive” per se, but the result is sweet, bordering on overly sweet. But, with the fancy (yet phallic) bottle and the sweet taste, it makes for a fantastic transition for people coming from the Clase Azuls into the world of additive-free tequila. If viewed as a pit stop between the two worlds, then it certainly succeeds. Although, for what it’s worth, I happen to enjoy it on its own, even if not viewed through this lens.