Stephen G. rated 588d ago

Espero Blanco

82 SCORE

“@ 30 USD for a liter, this one is a hard value to beat! Not tremendously deep or complex, but an easy intro sipper or mixer. Right in the mix with Cimarron, Altos, Arette, and the like for an economy option. ”

Stephen G. rated 1674d ago

Oro Azul Añejo

80 SCORE

“1079 Oro Azul añejo. Old school juice, no idea on bottle date/lote # Nose: Damp wood and earth. Caramel, vanilla, toffee. Tannins and alcohol really dominate a medium aroma. Palate: Those oak tannins hit early, and are pronounced. And some alcohol. They are followed by toffee again, candied bananas, some light vanilla and dark cacoa, and a touch of agave, and then moderate pepperiness that tapers off into more oak pushing a rather long, lingering finish. Medium weight in mouthfeel and noticeable presence on the mid-palate after finish. This is rich, robust añejo. If you like dark, sultry añejos, this is for you. A nice blend of sweetness with some earthy and peppery support characters that give a nice contrast. Front and back end almost taste like two different tequilas. A very 'staged' flavor profile that is overall enjoyable but let down by a lack of agave and surplus of alcohol and oak. Worth a pickup if you come across one.”

Stephen G. rated 2092d ago

Charbay Blanco

92 SCORE

“What a delicious blanco! Wonderful nose of roasted agave, green grass, honey, citrus. Takes a bit to open up, but when it does, wow. Big roasted agave sweetness up front that gives way to a lovely interplay of serrano, mineral, lime zest, melon. Complex and dances on the tongue. Cool on the palate, with a nice heavy heavy mouthfeel. Exits quickly with more roasted agave.....but then.....wait.....more of that crisp green chili again. You think the finish is gone, but instead it just lingers with a faintittle sparkle. Great stuff. Long out of production, so might be hard to find, but if you come across some at less than secondary mkt prices, buy it all.”

Stephen G. rated 2516d ago

El Tesoro Tequila Platinum

92 SCORE

“Lot 1059, 2/20/2007. Beautiful nose. Some cooked agave, light citrus, pepper, a little stone fruit. No alcohol to speak of. On to flavor. A delightfully cool, mild sweetness upfront- kinda melony- that spikes early, then tapers out to a delightful finish of cooked agave and black pepper. Nice medium mouthfeel, and weight on the tongue. Not overly complex, but wonderfully balanced and nuanced with a fantastic finish. A standout blanco in my book.”

Stephen G. rated 2751d ago

Los 3 Garcias de Arandas Resposado

94 SCORE

“A shockingly good tequila. Bought it at a local mercado on the cashier's recommendation. $30, so why not? Was blindsided by the incredible flavor profile and balance. Possibly the best reposado I've had, sir least certainly up there near the top. Would like to try the newer NOM stuff to compare. ”

Stephen G. rated 2759d ago

JAJA Tequila Blanco

67 SCORE

“A merely okay tasting tequila let down by a high price tag. Would struggle- and cede to, imo- against many $20 tequilas out there. At the $40 price point in my area, it does not even warrant consideration, as it is not even in the same realm as others such as 7 Leguas, Pasote, Suerte, and lots of others.”

Stephen G. rated 2879d ago

Chamucos Añejo

82 SCORE

“A very one dimensional anejo. Decent flavor, but nothing that stands out. Fruity, somewhat flat. No wonder it's a $35 anejo. ”

Stephen G. rated 2879d ago

Siembra Azul Blanco

88 SCORE

“Fruity. Lime and citrus on the aroma, sweet fruitiness that is a blend of pineapple and papaya on the palate. A unique and tasty blanco.”

Stephen G. rated 2879d ago

Tapatio Añejo

90 SCORE

“An anejo for blanco lovers. Light, crisp, fruity, wonderfully balanced. ”

Stephen G. rated 2879d ago

Fuenteseca Cosecha 2013 - "El Maguey"

96 SCORE

“It just doesn't get better than this. A textbook blanco that perfectly showcases how good this spirit can be. Astonishing.”

Stephen G. rated 2945d ago

Expresiones del Corazon Buffalo Trace Reposado

87 SCORE

“Felt like my rating was a little harsh. The value hurt the score some, but make no mistake, this is a great reposado that I highly recommend. It is an extremely well balanced reposado that is hard to not like. The aroma, flavor, and finish are all at least 'very good'. Out of production, so of you see a bottle, pick it up!”

Stephen G. rated 2952d ago

ElVelo Tequila Blanco

85 SCORE

“My kinda blanco. Big, bold flavor with a nice rich, oily, full mouth and a lasting finish. For $25~ for a liter, almost impossible to beat. Can easily be sipped, probably makes a fantastic margarita.”

Stephen G. rated 3086d ago

Espolon Blanco

76 SCORE

“A decent, if not wowing, blanco. Mostly let down by a thin body, and slightly bitter finish. For $20, you can do worse, but I wouldn't recommend it over other similarly priced blancos from Cimarron, Altos, or Azteca Azul.”