Nom D. rated 1126d ago

Ocho Tequila Plata

87 SCORE

“Just perhaps the perfect Blanco to introduce a novice to real Tequila. Sweet melon and key lime pie on the nose… inviting! Sipping… Roasted agave, mint, marshmallow and butter flavors give way to a multi-layered and lingering finish of white pepper, cinnamon, lime rind oil and that certain “sour mash” quality that Nom 1123 captures so well. I was lucky enough to find five of these dust covered at an out of the way little package store in my travels and worked a nice discount for the lot. He had only sold one since 2021. Score one for the good guys!”

Nom D. rated 1128d ago

Ocho Tequila Plata

84 SCORE

“A clean fresh nose with hints of the mint to come. Oily mouthfeel with a blast of jalapeño pepper, roast agave, minerals, and mint. Medium finish with a certain smokiness, olive brine and pepper.”

Nom D. rated 1131d ago

Patrón Extra Añejo 10 Años

92 SCORE

“Interesting story… I rate Patron silver a little higher than sone, not that it is exceptional by any stretch but to me it’s like the Makers Mark of Tequila being found in almost every bar and restaurant and not a bad pour vs other mixer level offerings. So, one night in a small restaurant I ordered Patron. The server comes back and says “we only have one of the aged ones”. Anejo she tried to say, so I said bring me that, neat, I will give myself a treat. After nosing it and one sip, I flagged her down and said I want to see that bottle! Long story short, the restaurant was swamped, we did not eat a bite for probably 50 minutes and the manager came by at one point and said “All the drinks are on me. Sorry for the long delay”. Everyone else ordered beer or Coca-Cola, I made out like a bandit with two free snifters of this gem! Truly an exceptional, very complex yet perfectly balanced and beautifully colored, extra aged expression. Surely one of the very best to ever come out of this distillery. Highly recommended!”

Nom D. rated 1361d ago

Cascahuín Plata 48%

92 SCORE

“Very clean and bright all around, much more so than the regular Blanco. The nose is really nice with sweet melon, a touch of smoke, minerals and a subtle hint of rose. Palate entry is butter, then crisp lime, spice, earth… finish brings hot pepper, fruit, vanilla and minerals. This is a great one!”

Nom D. rated 1373d ago

Fortaleza Reposado

83 SCORE

“Sad to say, quite disappointed in this lot. The nose is very nice with a little bit of vanilla, citrus… more like blood orange. The flavor is what really disappointed me this time around. Rather flat, nothing stands out. Well, the oak and hints of bourbon. Finish is better with butterscotch, lingering pepper and citrus. I will not be buying more of this batch.”

Nom D. rated 1456d ago

Arette Reposado

83 SCORE

“Markedly different from the Blanco, and I’m big on the Blanco. Curious to know the actual brand bourbon barrels used for aging as this comes out quite reminiscent of Glenmorangie scotch. Fans of that near non-peated dry scotch will love this. Notes of cherry, charred oak, orange, honey. Agave takes a backseat.”

Nom D. rated 1503d ago

Volans Blanco

90 SCORE

“Like most everything from Nom 1579, the nose is incredible. Love it. Felipe has crafted a unique Highland in Volans. Decidedly less floral, but not absent. Nice white pepper, citrus, delicious agave front to back and lingering sweet minerals. The finish is noticeably longer than G4 and the flavor profile is more forward, but with fewer subtle notes. Most Excellent!”

Nom D. rated 1589d ago

Siete Leguas Blanco

83 SCORE

“This is a hard get in my neck of the woods, thus have not had it in a number of years. Grabbed two bottles while traveling recently. The nose is more pronounced than I remember, very agave forward. Pallet is a little flat, finish adds nice pepper and green notes but also a bit too much bitterness for me. Very nice traditional tequila. But, for the price point and much less I will select at least a half dozen before this.”

Nom D. rated 1683d ago

Tapatio Reposado

88 SCORE

“A favorite Repo I enjoy often. This enhances the 80 proof Blanco many notches in complexity to stand on its own as unique and most excellent. For Tapatio Blanco, the 110 expression is “the one”.”

Nom D. rated 1828d ago

Tapatio Blanco 110

86 SCORE

“A great balance for high proof! Inviting agave, lemon zest, mineral nose. Sweet almond, buttered popcorn entry... very mellow initial flavor for a 110, but quickly gives way to green peppercorn, spice, brine, lime and roasted agave lingering on and on and on for an incredible, deliciously long finish. Long legs. Packs a punch. Not for the novice or faint hearted.”

Nom D. rated 1829d ago

Suerte Reposado

84 SCORE

“The barrel aging adds oak, vanilla, dryness... plus some char to the finish compared to the Blanco. It also blunts the nose and the finish a bit. Still, this is excellent and very enjoyable. Although, I definitely do prefer the sharper, more full and distinct Blanco.”

Nom D. rated 1849d ago

Mijenta Tequila Blanco

84 SCORE

“This comes really close to being the perfect marriage of my favorite blanco’s, yet is unique in its own right. Fascinating nose. Complex butter, lime, cinnamon flavor profile... oh and melon, definitely. Long legs... beautiful, lingering finish. Very nicely done, I’ll take a case! (Update: New bottlings from Nom 1412 do not compare)”

Nom D. rated 1869d ago

Patrón Silver

79 SCORE

“It isn’t that it’s bad, just unworthy of the huge hype and high price. I do rather like the flavor, it has a certain citrusy zest that is very appealing. Finish adds white pepper and mango. Kind of like Makers Mark, in being a restaurant go-to as far as best of what is often available.”

Nom D. rated 1870d ago

El Tesoro Tequila Añejo

89 SCORE

“This rating is for the older styled bottle spotted on the bottom shelf - ! - in a tiny Tex Mex place, 2/3 empty among the typical meh assortment today. Bar keep said she’d never poured one in her 2 years there... she poured me three. The nose reminded me of Suerte, lime, but with hints of the vanilla to come. An unexpected burst of cherry opened up in the flavor profile, with vanilla, burnt butter and some pepper. Excellent agave presence for the long aging. Finish as expected was on the short side, but the spice lingers. A++ The modern day version is nice but does not match this gem.”

Nom D. rated 1913d ago

Suerte Blanco

85 SCORE

“Devine nose! Like apple strudel made with green apples. Roasted agave. Honeysuckle. The palate is softer with melon, a touch of cinnamon. The finish adds pepper, lime, nutmeg, minerals. Like Arette, incredible value. Love it!”

Nom D. rated 1927d ago

Cimarron Reposado

71 SCORE

“Some of the less appealing aspects of the Blanco are smoothed out and enhanced here, but the finish is exceptionally short.”

Nom D. rated 1931d ago

Olmeca Altos Añejo

73 SCORE

“The nose is the highlight. The extra aging however takes away from the Blanco’s uniqueness. This stuff is thus rendered rather bland. Predominantly oak, hints of whiskey and vanilla but leaning more towards bitter smoke. ”

Nom D. rated 1931d ago

Olmeca Altos Reposado

76 SCORE

“Nice change of pace repo better suited for mixing, but to me the Blanco shines brighter. ”

Nom D. rated 1932d ago

Tapatio Blanco

85 SCORE

“There is something truly classic about Tapatio Blanco. Pepper. Citrus. Licorice. Good as it is, I adore the repo and especially the 110!”

Nom D. rated 1932d ago

Don Julio Blanco

72 SCORE

“At some restaurants this is the only decent choice if they do not at least have Patron. It’s not bad, but I always walk away thinking it’s adulterated. It surely is to some degree. ”

Nom D. rated 1939d ago

Cascahuín Blanco

87 SCORE

“New 2023 review. This Blanco hit me as too pepper forward in the past, but the new lots are fantastic. While I still prefer the 48 for it’s full-on complexity, this is a very enjoyable daily sipper with a balance of flavors and lingering notes that is hard to beat for the price. Excellent.”