Josh O. rated 359d ago

Tapatio Añejo

90 SCORE

“I have passed over this screw top bottle countless times, always searching for the next big thing, some new release. While on vacation with family, I decided to finally try. So freaking good. This is my new house anejo. Budget friendly, but an absolutely wonderful anejo. Artfully aged, by, in my opinion, the greatest barrel ager in the game. If you don't always have a bottle of this on hand, you just don't know tequila :) A perfect score on value, knocked a couple points on the nose, lacked a little aroma for me. ”

Josh O. rated 359d ago

El Gran Legado de Vida Añejo

90 SCORE

“This is a beautifully aged tequila. Agave forward, anise, mint (a favorite flavor profile of mine), and all the sweetness of barrel aging. A bit pricey, but it comes out of a juggernaut of fantastic tequilas and brands, NOM 1123. My first bottle went fast and I'm saving my second. ”

Josh O. rated 396d ago

El Gran Legado De Vida Still Strength Blanco

91 SCORE

“My all-time favorite tequila is Calle 23 Criollo. This is in the ballpark. Mint, cooked agave, black pepper heat, anise. This is just a beautiful, well-made blanco. It's hot as hell, but it's 54.5%, so it's no beginner tequila. I'm grateful to have a few of these gems. ”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Pedro Furtivo Tequila Blanco

83 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: The aroma features licorice, anise, and limestone, along with cooked agave, vegetal notes, brine/salt, and a hint of yeast. On the palate, the taste is mineral, with sweet agave and anise. Finish: The finish is brief and sweet, with a slight black pepper heat. Overall: When tasted blind, this tequila is a "par for the course" blanco. It doesn't stand out as overly distinctive, but it's not offensive either. I would drink it again, both neat and as a mixer. I enjoy it and would like to explore this particular tequila further.”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Lote M77 Noban Tequila Blanco

80 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: Upon first nosing, there's a distinctive cheesy, lactic funk that stands out. This is the most unique aroma I've encountered so far in this blind tasting, being my 8th of 10. Wet leaves and mushroom notes almost overpower the cooked agave on the nose. The taste features cooked agave, black pepper, mushroom, and anise, but the highlight is a cherry-like, medicinal note. It’s reminiscent of Siempre’s Exclusivo Vivo in it’s flavor. Finish: The finish is a bit too lactic for my preference, but the hallmark blanco notes are present, including cooked agave, black pepper, and anise. It's warm, but the funkiness is a bit too pronounced for my taste, though not overwhelming. Overall: When tasted blind, this tequila is certainly the most unique blanco in my blind tasting thus far, but also my least favorite. While it's not overwhelmingly lactic, there's enough of it to not suit my tastes. However, there are positives: I enjoy the flavors of cooked agave, black pepper, anise, and mint. Just as I pick mushrooms off my supreme pizza, the same reason applies to why I'm not a huge fan of this blanco.”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Carreta de Oro Blanco

84 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: The aroma is a delightful mix of cola, citrus (lime, grapefruit), with underlying notes of cooked agave, floral rose, lavender, and orange blossom. Interestingly, there are unexpected hints of butterscotch, caramel, ginger, and butter—flavors typically associated with barrel aging, which is surprising for a blanco. On the palate, the taste is complex, featuring mint, white pepper, and floral notes. Finish: The finish is warm and lengthy, with flavors of lime, anise, and black pepper heat. Although the first sip had a harsh finish, it settled in nicely and became quite pleasant over time. Overall: When tasted blind, this tequila stands out as very good. It has a cola and medicinal forward profile, with sweet cooked agave and citrus notes that I thoroughly enjoy.”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Alto Canto Blanco

84 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: The aroma opens with wet cement and limestone, accompanied by citrus notes of lime and lemon, and undertones of stone fruit like cherry. The nose also reveals cooked agave and anise, with a subtle trace of dill. On the palate, the taste is characterized by sweet cooked agave, black tea, and the soft spice of white pepper. Finish: The finish is well balanced, featuring hints of fresh cut grass, cola, mint, sweet agave, and licorice. It's a very good finish with a lingering sweetness that hangs around for a while. Overall: When tasted blind, this tequila stands out as another well-balanced blanco in this tasting. It's enjoyable neat and would also be excellent for elevating a cocktail.”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Madre Tequila Blanco

86 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: The scent is dominated by petrichor minerality and wet cement, with underlying notes of cooked agave, lime, and cherry. On the palate, the taste features cooked agave, refreshing mint, and a noticeable white pepper heat on the tongue. Finish: The finish is sweet and relatively brief, but there's a subtle cheesy funk on the back end that I really enjoy. Overall: When tasted blind, this tequila stands out as very good. However, after sampling five tequilas in this blind tasting, I find that four of them are nearly identical.”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Puro Potro Blanco

82 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: Initially, the aroma presents musty olive and yeast notes, which are soon followed by the scent of cooked agave. There are also medicinal and anise aromas that come through, and on the palate, you experience a distinct mint and black pepper heat. Finish: The finish is somewhat harsh with medicinal and anise flavors, accompanied by a hint of solvents. However, it's not altogether unpleasant, as a touch of mint and cola lingers. Overall: Tasted blind, this is a solid tequila, it has a flavor profile that leans more towards peppery and savory notes, with less sweetness. I'd drink it neat, but would definitely use it in mixers (depending on the cost).”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Matíari Tequila Blanco

86 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: On the nose, this Blanco Tequila offers very sweet aromas of cherry, plum, and cooked agave. There are also delightful notes of tropical fruit, particularly pineapple. The taste introduces a mix of black pepper and anise, adding a spicy and slightly sweet complexity to the flavor profile. Finish: The finish is vegetal, with savory hints of rosemary and black tea and medicinal notes of anise. It's a good finish that sticks around for a while, leaving a lasting impression. Overall: Tasted blind, this tequila is well-balanced. While I preferred the aroma over the finish, I would definitely revisit it.”

Josh O. rated 403d ago

Zumbador Tequila Blanco

90 SCORE

“Aroma/Taste: The nose reveals an intriguing mix of mushroom, sweet cooked agave, cola, a slight cheesy funk, and petrichor. On the palate, it introduces mint, green pepper, black pepper, and a hint of anise, creating a well-balanced and memorable flavor. Finish: The finish is medium in length, with a mint flavor that lingers, which I really enjoy. There's also a warm and sweet aftertaste that stays with you, making the experience even more pleasant. Overall: Tasted blind, this tequila has a soft mouthfeel. It's really well balanced between sweet and spicy flavors. I found it very enjoyable and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good tequila.”

Josh O. rated 495d ago

Cascahuín Tahona Reposado

90 SCORE

“Single Barrel Private Barrel NY Market Lucked out when visiting the city and dragging the family to Anejo in TriBeCa. This is a delicious unicorn. Is it worth the cost? Certainly debatable, but I found a local retailer who sold me two bottles, so I loved it that much. ”

Josh O. rated 514d ago

Montagave 'Exploración' Volume I Añejo

89 SCORE

“Crushed bottle 1 with some friends, more detailed tasting notes will be written on the backup bottle. It is delicious, I do remember that. ”

Josh O. rated 577d ago

Fortaleza Blanco

89 SCORE

“This tastes very much like the Fortaleza Still Strength, likely because there was no water added to bring this to 80 proof, it was distilled to proof. Also, bagazo (leftover agave fibers) was added during the fermentation process, which lends to even more agave flavor. This has all the hallmarks of the small, boutique distiller. Cooked agave, peppery heat, smooth butter, minerals. This is a blanco lovers dream, a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway. Points were deducted, through no fault of the distiller, due to price. Retailers and the multiple distribution levels are hurting the consumer's wallet and this special release (and the growing scarcity of Fortaleza due to higher demand) only serves to make more money for those in the supply chain instead of lining the pockets of the geniuses making this product, who are staying true to who they are. ”

Josh O. rated 577d ago

Siempre Exclusivo Edición Especial Vivo

87 SCORE

“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.”

Josh O. rated 577d ago

Siembra Valles Aniversario Joven

89 SCORE

“I love this bottle, as it checks every box for me. As prices have risen, especially on aged tequilas, I only deducted points on value, as this is at a higher price point. As for the liquid, nose and taste are all cooked agave, minerals, baking spices, namely cinnamon, a hint of honey and citrus. This is warm and inviting and an excellent sipper, especially in the cooler months. If you are fortunate to see this bottle, buy it. I found my most recent one at Liquor King while on business in Fort Worth.”

Josh O. rated 676d ago

Lágrimas del Valle Plata - 2022 Palo Verde

92 SCORE

“I hated to finish this bottle, but grateful I have a backup. This is giving off Calle 23 Criollo vibes, mint, pepper, and cooked agave. ”