William H. rated 37d ago

Terralta Tequila Blanco 110

92 SCORE

“New bottle, so it will need time to properly open up (only an hour thus far) but it’s obviously very concentrated being an overproof. It packs about as big an agave punch as I’ve experienced. 110 is about the highest for agave, correct? Black pepper is second, and orange is hiding back there somewhere. The finish hangs around a good while as expected. I just get screaming authenticity from Terraltas, always a guaranteed fine sip. I want a bit more complexity from this, but again, we’re gonna give it time to open. ”

William H. rated 227d ago

Fortaleza Blanco

94 SCORE

“Sweet citrus on this nose, palate as always is so rich and thick. I’m not opening another bottle/lote to do a side by side, too difficult to get more these days. Reserve bottles will just have to wait their turn! ”

William H. rated 255d ago

Tequila G4 Blanco 108

93 SCORE

“Newly opened bottle, about two hours breathing, so it’s the first review here. I’m sure I’ll edit later. So far, I’m surprised by how different the nose is from the standard blanco. It’s a concentrated sweetness, migrating a bit away from the typical vegetal root of the standard blanco I love so much. It’s still there, but honestly I thought the preference would be a no-brainer for me. So far though it’s a real head-scratcher! This is wonderful, I’m just surprised by how much it changed as opposed to getting more of the same, only concentrated. I even did them side by side! Def noticing the higher concentration of oils too, which is always a good thing. It’s a better balance, but less of a roller coaster ride. Is something lost here?? Time will tell, I’m not judging a newly opened bottle yet. I love the overproofs of course, and it’s nice to see one well above the 90s. Bold move, but I think it works well, particularly for this brand. ”

William H. rated 499d ago

El Caballito Cerrero Blanco (46%)

92 SCORE

“Bottle 441 from Lot #DF17-06. Nose: it’s got the agave rawness of a Terralta, but more. It’s got the lactic funk of a Cascahuin Tahona, but more. Rounding out the nose is pepper, minerality, soil, faint peach and mango. The higher proof brings heavier oils on the palate, plenty of vanilla here, pepper follows. As it finishes there’s this sort of heavy coconut component then some mint follows. Newly opened bottle so I’m sure I’ll come back and write an update once it gets some air time. This one is really something, complex and complicated. After all, isn’t that what we’re looking for?? I’m kinda diggin’ these agave distillates, different and fun! ”

William H. rated 514d ago

Fortaleza Blanco (Still Strength)

96 SCORE

“Finally got a reserve bottle so now I can open the one that’s been in storage, ha! First nose upon opening was rich berries and red apple, unexpected but great. As it’s opened it’s reverted to the typical. That is not to imply boredom! Deep rich agave and butter on the nose, fading to a quiet pineapple as I give it some time. It bursts so oily on the palate, bringing the slow roasted agave and spring water that Guillermo’s got running right next to his lake there. I’ll remember that property the rest of my life. Finish has that minerality I’m looking for and it’s chewy and it brings that oily-ness I love. For me, seems like it’s found only in stone-crushed juice. Few minutes after a sip it’s just a slow fade hanging around of olives, olive oil, alcohol, and sweet roasted pinas. Balance, craft, attention to detail. The overproofs always deliver. It doesn’t get much better than this fellow snobs! Enjoy these slow and savor ‘em! ”

William H. rated 521d ago

Ocho Tequila Plata

89 SCORE

“Finally opened the 2016 Los Patos and for once I have more than one bottle! So what the hell I’m doing a side-by-side pour with 2021 La Ladera. The ‘21 rates are little higher because it’s more rounded and balanced. The ‘16 starts with a sweet pineapple mango but then spikes with a hot pepper more…still great, but for now, the ’21 comes out a bit ahead. This is fun! ”

William H. rated 556d ago

Don Fulano Blanco Fuerte (100 proof)

93 SCORE

“Wow what a first impression! Nose immediately starts off with peach and mango, no hesitation. There’s absolutely no shortage of peppery agave, but it’s nicely balanced and as the sip fades the tongue is just loving a kind of skittles-esque sweetness. Wow. This juice leaves a great impression on all fronts and now as the first pour is almost gone, the term “well-rounded” comes to mind. Yep, def comfortable with this. I feel like I could hang out with this bottle for a few hours. One of the initial impressions was: yep, this cracks 90, no question. When I come across another bottle I’m snagging it without hesitation. I feel like I’m pretty tough on finishes, at first I said meh, but after twenty minutes now this finish is earning respect. The oily-ness is certainly there, not the highest, but that’s big to me and it’s leaving me craving another sip. I’m getting really spoiled with these overproofs. Bourbon began this high-test journey and I’m glad to see the agave producers getting more and more into this. I’ve 7 or 8 now (?) and loving them. There’s just so much more flavor. Fine job Don Fulano, I can tell care was put into this one! ”

William H. rated 584d ago

Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018 - "Las Antenas"

85 SCORE

“Excited to finally open this up and try it, lots of hype with this one. Minerality and brine on the nose, it’s old school, old world. There’s something about this that lacks hype, lacks celebrity and I love that. Pure comes to mind, it’s got a Tapatio-type rawness to it. The palate takes a sharp pepper and balances it with an all-agave sweetness. Some citrus but it’s timid. I wanted a lil more “oily” from this but given its from an autoclave I’m quite impressed and pleased. I’m a little impatient on the finish, but at the end of one pour now it’s starting to hang around. It’s not thick, but you can’t call this thin. Loses points on price, but I had to see what everyone is going so crazy for. Best blanco ever (as many say)?? No, but yes I’m glad I got it when I had the chance. As always, let’s see what some air in the bottle does. Only two small pours for the inaugural opening. ”

William H. rated 619d ago

Ocho Tequila Plata

90 SCORE

“This is a good one sure, but it’s just not enough to put it over the edge. New bottle though, so we’ll see if some air time helps. The finish though is great, I cleared my throat and got an overwhelming taste of walking through Tequila on the way to the distilleries!! ”

William H. rated 689d ago

Siete Leguas "Siete Décadas" Blanco

89 SCORE

“Loads of concentrated agave in the nose to start, followed by some intense sweetness on this. It’s got a bubble gum and cotton candy thing going on. I would like a little more complexity on this palate but it’s very good, newly opened though too so we’ll see what a couple months does to this. I’m getting the “oily” that I love from a tahona juice and that helps carry things into the finish where a muted pepper arrives. This finish also fades into a clay, clay pot kinda backdrop and that’s just fine by me. I like how the pepper doesn’t dominate though, and this feels balanced all around. I also appreciate the higher proof points, even if it’s only a few. I have always respected Siete Leguas, love the regular blanco and this is the next step. The price is tough but I understand. Bravo, this is quality and the tradition shows. ”

William H. rated 696d ago

Revolucion Silver

80 SCORE

“Very raw and stripped down nose, carrot root and even a potato note surprisingly enough. Otherwise ehh, this is fairly thin with a lemon aspect as it finishes. ”

William H. rated 696d ago

La Gritona Reposado

77 SCORE

“Butter and caramel on the nose, even a tad of coconut oddly enough. This is a light repo. Not bad, just not overwhelming. ”

William H. rated 697d ago

Don Fulano Blanco

84 SCORE

“Nice combo of raw vegetable root and mint on the nose. The palate really surprised me with a sweetness that I didn’t expect, certainly works though. There’s also a rawness with this one that I appreciate, to me it displays authenticity. The finish is the weakest part, a little thin with some rubbing alcohol going on, however as it opens up here after an hour a bit of that sweetness and some depth are starting to appear. We’ll see. To me, finish is mostly defined by depth and just as important as the nose and taste. ”

William H. rated 815d ago

Caballito Cerrero Chato Reposado 46

92 SCORE

“Wow, definitely an “agave distillate”. I expected different, I wanted different, and wow this is different. A nice change. I’ve had the blanco in Tlaquepaque but this is my first repo of Caballito Cerrero. Smoke, maple, soil, and earth on the nose. There’s also something else I just can’t quite define, but it reminds me of smelling the ovens, the raw pina, the fields and soil. It’s raw, and pure, and wonderful. The palate brings a punch of black pepper, just loads of it, wow. I can be sensitive to this but here it just works. It’s balanced though too. There’s agave and vegetable root, a little carrot, and oak with faint caramel and butterscotch as the sip fades. The finish is strong and has mad endurance, wow. One of the longest, best finishes I’ve ever had. Glad I made this purchase. Very unique! Let’s see what a couple months of air time does to this. ”

William H. rated 858d ago

Don Abraham Blanco

85 SCORE

“This nose really changes as it opens up. First few minutes were strong vegetal root, raw agave, a little carrot (down by the stem), and weaker cooked agave. Now an hour later the nose is more vanilla, agave, and a fainter sweet cream. Palate is ok, this stuff could break 90 if it had more viscosity, was more oily, more chewy. It’s a little thin. Maybe an overproof of this would rate higher. It finishes though, long-ish and balanced with pepper and agave. This stuff belongs on the top of the middle shelf. If you see it, buy it, just don’t go out of your way for it. Beautiful bottle and label. ”

William H. rated 864d ago

Ocho Tequila Añejo

90 SCORE

“Geez, when an anejo’s first nose presence is agave, you know it’s done properly. It’s followed closely (and balanced pretty well with) cherry, red apple, and some faint chocolate. The oak is there of course but does not dominate. The palate is evenly distributed with butter, agave, and pepper. First pour of this bottle, so I’ll give it some air time over the next couple months, but so far the finish is a bit thin, that’s where this scored weakest. But what finish there is is also evenly distributed. A fine anejo that’s different enough from the last Ocho Anejo I had (the 2017 I believe), no anise in this one. Let’s see how this develops. I’m glad I bought. ”

William H. rated 1018d ago

El Tesoro de Don Felipe Paradiso

92 SCORE

“Mucho respect here for what Senor Camarena is able to consistently achieve. Over the course of the three to four hours I’m giving this, I’m getting a crazy big pineapple to start, then smoke, agave, cherry, cocoa powder, caramel, butterscotch, anise (which I’m very sensitive to), and of course the vanilla and spice that comes with the barrel. It’s not as thick and chewy as I enjoy with the tahona blancos, but I’ve learned that for me at least, the barrel will absorb some of that. Still though, there is viscosity. This finish is a B+, not the best ever yet has a nice cinnamon and agave balance, especially on a deep exhale. Yes, the price is high, but think of what it took to make this. I’m sure the angels’ share is ridiculous. Everything from La Altena screams craft, art, monitoring, and care. The fact that there is zero additives makes this all the more better and gives reason to take this one SLOW. I will surely savor every last drop of this bottle (number 1,867 ha). ”

William H. rated 1109d ago

Ocho Tequila Reposado

89 SCORE

“This is what you want in a repo: it’s real. No additives. Barely kissed by the barrel, agave still shines. Pure. I miss the 2018 bottle, it had a bit more depth, but this will do just fine. ”

William H. rated 1228d ago

Siembra Valles High Proof Blanco

90 SCORE

“Lots of creaminess in the overproof to compliment the agave, almost reminds me of a Cascahuin Tahona blanco. Plenty of ripe sweet citrus on this and I think the higher proof helps the finish linger on, yeah the finish is def standing out here. I like this. ”

William H. rated 1276d ago

Tequila Alquimia Blanco

80 SCORE

“Alcohol, melon, and citrus on the nose. All of the corners are a tad too rounded for me here, nose and palate. The finish is barely detectable, it’s barely present. Newly opened, but so far anyways my hopes were a little higher. ”