Sam H. rated 927d ago

Don Nacho Blanco

52 SCORE

“It beats Cuervo. That's about all the compliments I can afford it. This has a medicinal, almost cleaning supply type taste with very little hints of agave. People cut this slack because it's cheaper which is fair, but you can still do way better for the price.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

El Tesoro de Don Felipe Paradiso

92 SCORE

“So much happening here. Soft sweetness, brash oak, in your face agave, some other fourth thing! Some may argue this is too rich for them. El Tesoro never messes around and they give you bang for your buck even in the dicey three digit ball game. Pick it up if you can, it is paradise in a bottle.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Teremana Tequila Añejo

74 SCORE

“This one loses me a bit in comparison to the blanco and repo. Unlike those, this one tastes like Casamigos Additives. Classic vanilla bomb disguises subtler flavors that are there, but hard to distinguish. I'd recommend this over Casamigos and its other vanilla amigos, but get the repo instead for an actual oak/agave balance.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Olmeca Altos Plata

85 SCORE

“The slight but in every sip notes of pepper and earthy agave will never fail in any mixed drink you throw at it. The gold standard baseline blanco in my view. Gains a few points by being ever-so-slightly cheaper and ever-so-slightly spicier tasting than Espolon, my other go-to mixer.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Espolon Blanco

83 SCORE

“I have two tequilas I will always recommend for mixing. This and Olmeca. Quite simply, you cannot go wrong with them. No harshness whatsoever, but the agave earthy taste is very obviously there, making for simply wonderful margaritas, sunrises, ranch waters, you name it. If you want to sip, there are better options but it is hard to argue with in any way.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Clase Azul Reposado

78 SCORE

“Casamigos with no alcohol taste and just like it very little hint of agave. A wonderful sipper, inarguably tasty, but a dollar fifty Vanilla Coke is better value.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Milagro Reposado

80 SCORE

“Lot of depth in the oak, very dry and you can taste history here. Barely taste the agave at all though. An acquired taste for sure, but unique and surprisingly to me worth picking up to sip.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Don Julio 1942

90 SCORE

“Definitely additive city and one of those conversation piece decorations, so it feels wrong to grade this so high, but there is an art to making something this tasty and complex. Soft vanilla and dry oak notes that compliment each other so well. Unlike many other additive tequilas this one takes you on a nuanced journey. Tastes nothing like the regular Julio expressions, all generally good but unexciting. My only qualm is the price point. 180 is well over the limit of what I'm personally willing to spend, but this really is in a league of its own: Phenomenal.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Don Julio Primavera

78 SCORE

“Wood forward on the front, citrusy on the end. Agave is there. Very refreshing. Loses appeal when you realize there's way cheaper stuff that goes for a similar taste. Bummer price point holds this one back a lot. I guess I can recommend it if you have stupid money.”

Sam H. rated 928d ago

Don Julio Reposado

80 SCORE

“The private cask repo. Surprisingly spicy oak taste. Very good sipper that throws me a bit off balance compared to the other Julio, as there is no obvious hint of additives. Definitely a nice wild card, but the price point is absurd and docks it quite a few points.”

Sam H. rated 939d ago

Teremana Tequila Reposado

84 SCORE

“Everything good about the blanco, but spicier and sweeter. Very nice sipper and mixer. Versatile. I am quite impressed.”

Sam H. rated 939d ago

Teremana Tequila Blanco

80 SCORE

“People don't want to admit it, but The Rock's tequila is quite simply damn good. Nice price point, natural tasting, and very very agave-forward and mineraly. Pretty much the baseline blanco flavor tequilas at this price should strive for. Nothing to complain about. Very close to Olmeca and Espolon in the top echelon of mixers, just doesn't quite match them in value or taste.”

Sam H. rated 957d ago

Casa Noble Reposado

50 SCORE

“Among the Casamigos Cabal where this is a vanilla bomb, but it has absolutely no finish whatsoever and less flavor in general. I see no reason at all to reach for this. Avoid.”

Sam H. rated 987d ago

Codigo 1530 Rosa

86 SCORE

“This surprised me. After being burnt by similar tequila gimmicks I was expecting to hate this rosa one, but this one, the first I've tried, was quite delicious and balanced. Agave forward, with a subtlely sweet floral/citrus kick that is not at all overbearing. Absolutely would recommend this as a wild card sipper.”

Sam H. rated 987d ago

Ocho Tequila Reposado

92 SCORE

“Multiple tidal waves. Pepper. Oak. Agave. All in that order. And what a surprising unique order it is. This is a big one, with refreshing, incredible value for its complexities.”

Sam H. rated 1075d ago

Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila

88 SCORE

“Hard to justify rating this so high, but what can I say? I love Jack Daniels, and this is essentially Jack tequila, them playing God with the process be damned. We all have a guilty pleasure. I can sip on this any day.”

Sam H. rated 1117d ago

Don Julio Blanco

74 SCORE

“The go-to upper mid tier mixer. Feels like the mineraly agave-forward taste is perfectly suited for mixing. But quite simply loses me when so many tequilas that are so much cheaper have gamed this kind of taste just as well.”

Sam H. rated 1117d ago

Don Julio Añejo

80 SCORE

“There is nothing technically wrong at all here. Good oak influence, light-enough-to-deny-it-is-additives-sweetness, and agave is present. But it doesn't particularly burst at the seams with flavor anywhere, and ends up caught between the other Julios and other tequila in general because of that and the price point it has.”

Sam H. rated 1117d ago

Maestro Dobel Diamonte

72 SCORE

“Blending tequilas isn't doing much other than muddying the history of whatever was put into this, along with the obvious additives. But undeniably makes a fine sipper. At this price point and for what it is, can't argue too much. It works well enough. Slight oakiness shines through.”

Sam H. rated 1212d ago

Tequila Romántico Añejo

70 SCORE

“Bit plain tasting. Would like more flavor out of an anejo, and this simply doesn't deliver on that front. Agave is apparent and it's a good sipper with no harshness whatsoever.”

Sam H. rated 1239d ago

Pasote Reposado

88 SCORE

“As far as I've seen, this seems to be an underdog in terms of the good'uns. Rich oak and mineral-y agave. Pretty much a perfect middle ground crowd pleaser for blanco and repo drinkers. No tequila fan will be displeased given a glass of this.”

Sam H. rated 1239d ago

El Tesoro Reposado Single Barrel

100 SCORE

“2022 FINE WINE & GOOD SPIRITS expression. My brain cannot handle the personalized, high-end cuisine complexity in this bottle. Will come back to this blurb and add more detail if I ever can put it into words! El Tesoro is always good. But this good? Sheesh. If you can only get one, grab this over the also masterful Paradiso or other triple-digit ones.”