Semaj C. rated 17d ago

Montagave Blanco Las Rocas

90 SCORE

“Phenomenal blanco that I lucked out on! Aroma: Funky, but in a good way! Tons of roasted agave and minerals. I also get earthy and grassy notes as well as mint. Just a hint of apple and a little bit of cinnamon. Palate: Wow! This is where the juice shines. Agave comes first and it smacks you in the mouth! There is also a nice brine component that really compliments the agave. Very earthy and minerals are everywhere. Mouthfeel is amazing! Very thick and viscous. Finish: I guarantee you will still taste this 5 minutes after your first sip. On the finish, the agave fades ever so slightly, but the brine really intensifies. The finish does a great job of setting up the next sip, making it sweeter as you drink! Thoughts: I generally steer clear of expensive blanco tequila. Most often I find myself disappointed that I spent so much money when there are amazing blancos at half the price. In this case, it was on clearance for $50, which is pretty good. I took a chance on it and I’m so glad I did! This immediately goes on the Mount Rushmore of best blanco tequila that I’ve had! If you can find it at a great price, it’s a must buy!”

Semaj C. rated 41d ago

Tejitas Blanco

84 SCORE

“Sampled at a tequila tasting at Binny’s. Very underrated tequila at a great price. Aroma: Fresh cooked agave with hints of mint, orchard fruit, and grassy/earthy notes. Not super complex, but not bad. Palate: Cooked agave throughout. Lots of baking spice and black pepper. Faint pear flavor. Buttery, thick viscous body. Not the most complex, but again, a really good tequila. Finish: Not super long, but cooked agave and pepper is prevalent on the finish. Mint fades pretty quickly. Delicious additive-free tequila, made the right way, and for $30, I would put this bargain tequila up against Cimarron and Arette. ”

Semaj C. rated 331d ago

Atanasio Añejo

84 SCORE

“This is a decent Añejo. Tad bit pricey… and a really weird cork! On the nose: Best part for me! There is some agave, but not a ton. But there is a lot of pleasant oak and caramel. There is also a pleasant hint of leather, which I am not used to smelling and it was nice! Also there is some floral that comes through faintly. On the palette: I think bourbon drinkers would love this tequila. The oak really smacks you in the face. Some caramel and vanilla flavors follow the oak immediately. There is definitely agave, but I wouldn’t consider it “agave forward.” Although it’s good, I do prefer more “agave forward” varieties. On the finish: That oaky, leathery palette lingers around for a while before disappearing. I don’t taste much agave on the finish. Hints of caramel and vanilla also. Decent anejo, but I believe there are better ones out there for less money. But the real issue is with the crazy cork topper. It’s like recessed in the top of the bottle, and it’s like overly big so you have a hard time uncorking and recorking the bottle. My cork separated from the top, so now it’s hard for me to uncork the bottle. ”

Semaj C. rated 344d ago

Don Vicente Tequila Extra Añejo

82 SCORE

“Very good extra Anejo, with one thing keeping it from being amazing… On the nose: Good mix of cooked agave and barrel notes. Cinnamon and caramel abound. Subtle notes of mint, vegetal, and earthy aromas. Crisp and clean. Everything is balanced. Faint citrus. The interesting thing that I experienced happened after I drank all the tequila in the glass. I smelled the empty glass and got the most beautiful bouquet of floral notes. It was amazing! On the palate: Very nice oily mouthfeel. I actually get the subtle barrel flavors first, followed immediately by cooked agave. Hints of vanilla and citrus. I also get a little bit of pear or apple. You get the typical barrel flavors of caramel and a small hint of bitter chocolate, but not too much. On the finish: There is a subtle bitterness that comes across, not overwhelming and not bad, but subtle. It begs you to take another sip. Citrus and barrel flavors continue while the agave falls off a little too quickly for me. Now my honest assessment: The irony is that the very thing that makes this tequila unique is the one thing that keeps it from scoring higher. My first observation is that for an extra Anejo, the color is very light. Many brands’ reposados are actually darker than this extra Anejo. The taste profile matches the color profile. There are hints of barrel influence, but not a lot. This is good, because I want to experience tequila, not whiskey. However at this price point, I would prefer a bit more barrel influence. If I tried this tequila blind, I would think that this was a good reposado, at most, a minimally aged Anejo. At MSRP, you could grab two, maybe even three bottles of a really good reposado. I have seen this tequila selling for as much as $200! In my opinion, this is not a $200 tequila. Good product, but grossly overpriced in my opinion. ”

Semaj C. rated 381d ago

Tequila Primo 1861 Blanco (NOM 1579)

91 SCORE

“Almost missed out on this gem! On the nose: Super complex! Agave forward, as most tequilas that come from “El Pandillo” but there is also strong notes of citrus, earthiness, minerality, and some vegetal notes. Almost like green onion or green bell pepper. Underneath all of these aromas is a nice calm floral note. On the palate: Agave sweetness out the gate, which is exactly what I like! None of that artificial sweetness, just pure agave. There is also a balance of pepper, but mild pepper, like white pepper. The citrus sneaks up on you, but it compliments the other flavors perfectly. Nice undertones of brine and minerality. There is a symphony of flavors, but none overwhelm the others. On the finish: You can taste this several minutes after a sip. The agave trails off first, but the white pepper, brine, and minerality continue. Nice coating that stays on the tongue. This is one of the better blancos out there. At 86 proof, you get that bonus agave that is usually missing in an 80 proof tequila. Can be tricky to find. A tad too expensive for my taste as a blanco, but my spot had it on clearance for $55, and I couldn’t resist. MUST BUY! ”

Semaj C. rated 387d ago

Geneba Tequila Blanco

84 SCORE

“New product alert! Really good tequila product owned by a Black woman! On the nose: Aromas of cooked agave and citrus are present, with a hint of mint and pepper. There is also floral notes that add a pleasant scent to the aroma profile. On the palate: Agave forward sweetness that is welcomed on the palate. In addition, the citrus and black pepper accentuates the agave; it’s present, but doesn’t overwhelm the agave. The most surprising flavor that was present was a hint of light smoke. It added a richness to the overall palate. On the finish: Agave forward sweetness that lingered on the palate. The citrus hangs around for a while, but the pepper and smoke fades away, until the next sip. Overall: Amazing bottle presentation and really good juice inside for a great price. As a new brand, it might be difficult to find, but if you see this bottle, it is a must buy!”

Semaj C. rated 408d ago

PM Spirits Tequila Blanco Still Strength

90 SCORE

“One of the best tequilas out there! (Lot 2) On the nose: Smacks you in the face with cooked agave, followed by notes of earthiness, minerals, citrus, and hints of black pepper and mint. There is even a little cinnamon in the aroma. On the palate: This is where this tequila shines. So many still strength tequilas drink “hot,” but not this one. Even at 55% ABV, this is an easy sipper. Although I personally don’t like using this term, many people would call this tequila “smooth.” Again, your tastebuds are overwhelmed by cooked agave sweetness. In fact, this may be one of the most naturally sweet tequilas I’ve encountered. The agave flavors are joined together with rich black pepper, minerality, brininess, cinnamon and other baking spices, citrus, and hints of mint. Super complex palate. Mouthfeel is also very oily and silky. On the finish: Again, tons of agave flavor and pepper on the finish. Cinnamon and baking spices follow the original agave sweetness, begging you to take another sip. If there is one criticism, I wish the finish was a lot longer. For all the complexity up front, the flavors trailed off too quickly, at least for me. But then again, just take another sip! This relatively new product shocked me! I never heard of them until recently, and the still strength blanco was always a little too expensive for my taste at MSRP, but I ran into one of my spots and saw this being clearance sold at $60. When I asked the manager why, he said it was not selling well in that location. Makes sense since they still had two Lot 2s (2022) halfway through 2025! I had to get it. Took it home and cracked it. The next day, I got back into my car and drove to buy the last one! If you are a fan of high-proof tequila, this is a “must have!” ”

Semaj C. rated 424d ago

Herradura Reposado

67 SCORE

“Not sure about additives or not, but this is not my cup of tea… On the nose: Searching for agave aromas, but can’t seem to find any. There is some oak and vanilla notes, but that’s about it, other than ethanol. On the palate: There is some flavors of oak, and another flavor that is similar to citrus, and that’s all. I can’t identify any agave. On the finish: There is a pronounced bitterness on the finish that tastes borderline artificial. Not very pleasant. This is not the best representation of what I would call tequila. ”

Semaj C. rated 428d ago

Siete Leguas Blanco 47

87 SCORE

“This is tasty! On the nose: Cooked agave with peppery notes balancing one another. Backend aromas of herbs, minerals, with rich earth tones and faint grass. There’s a slight whiff brine. On the palate: That peppery spice smacks you in the face, but not in a bad way. This does not drink like an overproof blanco. If anything, the added proof enhances the flavors. Rich agave flavors like sugar in the mouthfeel. The salty brine brings out the richness of the agave. Nice and silky feel. On the finish: Nice peppery finish leaves a nice flavor that sets up your next sip. The crispness sticks around on the palate and feels light. At $60, you can’t beat this blanco. Had a $5 off coupon that made it all the more better. Worth the money. ”

Semaj C. rated 429d ago

Volans Reposado

92 SCORE

“Might have just taken the number one spot for my favorite reposado! On the nose: Sweet cooked agave aroma with hints of vanilla, oak, and earthiness. Faint butterscotch. On the palate: WOW! The amount of sweet agave balances well with the barrel notes of vanilla and oak. Slight brine which adds a savory note that accentuates the other flavors. On the finish: Nice viscous, oily, mouthfeel. The flavors of agave and vanilla stay around for a long while. At $60 (what I paid at a popular chain big-box retailer in Illinois), every tequila connoisseur should experience this masterpiece. ”

Semaj C. rated 443d ago

Fortaleza Blanco

92 SCORE

“Actually Lot 181. On the nose: Definitely agave forward, but I love the citrus blast you get as well. You can also smell the earthy notes, with minerals, fresh grass, and a deep vegetal richness that seems to come with tahona-crushed agaves. On the palate: I understand why so many people love this tequila. Very unique and complex flavors. Forward agave and citrus notes with some vegetal notes. There’s also a hint of a brine flavor that almost adds a salty complexity that adds a ton of flavor. On the finish: The agave and citrus lingers and coats the mouth with great flavors. You can also continue to enjoy the vegetal and briny flavors. 10/10 on the bargain only if you can get it at the suggested price. I used a $5 off coupon when I found this and bought paid about $55 for the blanco. I’ve seen this personally marked up as high as $120 in some stores. Nobody should ever pay that much for this! ”

Semaj C. rated 446d ago

ArteNOM Seleccion de 1146 Añejo

87 SCORE

“Can’t take credit for this statement (was said on Curiosity Public), but this tequila is like a baby Tears of Llorona! If you want the experience of Tears for a third of the price, this is your option. Super complex nose with cooked agave, and hints of chocolate, cherries, spices, vegetal, earthiness, nuttiness, and minerals. On the palate, agave, cinnamon, ripe fruits, chocolate, and a hint of a brandy/bourbon flavor. The amazing thing about this tequila is that it is richly complex, but none of the flavors take over the main palate of cooked agave. On the finish there is a long flavor of brandy/bourbon with a hint of pepper and baking spices. A sweet brine flavor is also present. Nice mouthfeel. Coats really well. ”

Semaj C. rated 458d ago

Volcan de Mi Tierra Cristalino Añejo

80 SCORE

“Picked this up in Barcelona as there are very few quality tequilas to buy there, at least in all the places I looked. I’m not positive, but I think this particular bottle found its way to Europe due to the fact that it’s part of the LVMH stable. On the nose: Muted agave. The prevailing aroma is anise and minerals. A hint of earthy and barrel notes, but overpowered by anise. On the palate: Hint of barrel with some vanilla. Again I am tasting a lot of anise. Some agave is present, but is taking a back seat to the other flavors. Not my first choice for a sipper, but overall not bad at all! I believe I paid about 75 euros, which I think is around $80-85, which is about right. A little too expensive for my liking, but I guess that’s the going rate for Cristalinos. ”

Semaj C. rated 458d ago

Mijenta Reposado Symphony Series No. 2

86 SCORE

“On the nose: Very pleasant aromas, like a summer day! Agave forward, with tons of floral notes. Hints of oak and vanilla. Earthy and grassy, with a touch of minerality and brine. Faint citrus. On the palate: Again agave forward, but this is where the barrel notes take over. Citrus and a touch of coconut. Also get baking spice and oaky flavors with a hint of vanilla. Coats the mouth really well. Would be higher, but there’s a little bit of a bitter finish, like a grapefruit. If you’re a fan of grapefruit, you may love this. I’m not a huge grapefruit fan. Also, a little pricey for my liking for a repo (about $80), but I don’t regret buying it and I will definitely come back to this!”

Semaj C. rated 465d ago

Siete Leguas "Siete Décadas" Blanco

84 SCORE

“On the nose: Earthiness and agave. Little bit of anise and floral. Some pepper and citrus creeps in as well. On the palate: Tons of agave, earth, and grassy notes with pepper mixed in. Hints of minerals and a little citrus as well. On the finish: The pepper lingers for a while. Agave fades a little too quickly for me. Heard so many great reviews about this that I wanted to give it a try. It’s a tea good blanco tequila, not amazing, but far from ordinary. I don’t regret buying it, but it is significantly overpriced (in my opinion). I understand that criollos are much more difficult to harvest, and that this is a special 70 year release, but no blanco should cost $130, not to mention what the secondary market is charging. At normal blanco prices, this would be a steal, but have to penalize it for the price. Even as a special release blanco, I’m thinking $80-$90 would have been more appropriate. ”

Semaj C. rated 469d ago

San Matias Gran Reserva (US)

66 SCORE

“One of the cheapest extra Anejos, and I can see why. On the nose: Very faint hint of agave coupled with some hints of barrel aroma, but mostly ethanol and anise. Not a lot to be desired. On the palate: There is a oaky flavor, but it honestly doesn’t taste all natural. I could be mistaken, but the bitter flavor reminds me of other tequilas with additives. There is some agave, but it is overpowered by the bitterness of the oak. On the finish: There is still a hint of agave on the finish, but it is quickly swallowed up by the lingering bitter flavor, almost like chewing on the rind of a citrus fruit. It dissipates rather quickly, but in my opinion doesn’t leave me wanting more. I always wondered why this extra Anejo was priced cheaper than some blancos, and now I know why. This is an easy pass for me. ”

Semaj C. rated 509d ago

Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo

91 SCORE

“This may be the first sipper I have ever experienced that gets exponentially better the more you sip it. The second sip is better than the first, the 10th is better than the 5th, and so on. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before! On the nose: Tons of cooked agave, with aromas of cherries, berries, cinnamon, and vanilla. Hints of earthiness and caramel notes. On the palate: Wow! Agave forward with compliments of cinnamon and vanilla adding to the mix. What makes this tequila complex is that there is dark fruits and chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of butterscotch. The flavors intensify with each subsequent sip. On the finish: You will be tasing the fruit and vanilla combination for several minutes after you take your first sip. Masterfully crafted. ”