Tequila Ocho Plata Puntas - 2023 Mesa Colorada

91 SCORE

“Nose: Minty, herbal, citrus, anise, vegetal Palate: Same as the nose. The mint and citrus really dominate, but there is a vegetal, herbal note at the end that is interesting and hard to place. Finish: Lingers on the tongue for a fairly long time. Very nice as a sipper. Verdict: Excellent sipper, though there are better overproof blancos that you can find for cheaper. The price point of this one loses it a few points with me, to be honest.”

Tequila Primo 1861 Blanco (NOM 1579)

88 SCORE

“Nose: Cooked agave comes on strong upon the first whiff. Then peppermint, black pepper, orange zest, an herbaceous aroma, and a wet earth scent really dominate the nose as you let the glass air out. A strong scent of minerality persists throughout. Palate: The cooked agave, peppermint, and crushed black pepper explode onto the tongue upon first sip. Further sips give you those orange citrus, herbal, and mineral notes from the nose; but a strong floral taste also comes through as it lingers in your mouth. Finish: Short and subtle. This tequila invites further sipping. Not truly a standout as far as the finish goes, but it's a delicious blanco and a great entry-point to introduce people to still-strength blancos, given its soft nature on the tongue. Overall: The nose is the strongest part of this tequila. The flavors on the palate remain consistent, but the finish leaves a bit to be desired.”

El Gran Legado De Vida Still Strength Blanco

93 SCORE

“Strong cooked agave nose. Has a minty and almost floral scent, as well. Initial flavor is a cooked agave bomb. Really excellent on the first sip. Follow up sips (after letting the juice in the glass breathe for a bit) reveal some grassy vegetal notes, a nice herbal taste, a hint of white pepper, and a citrus tang that's reminicent of lemon zest. The finish is very fruity and really lingers on the palate and I would go so far as to say the finish is the best part of this excellent still strength blanco.”

Volans Still Strength Blanco

100 SCORE

“On the nose: incredibly rich aroma of cooked agave. A bit of a citrus note as it opens up. Ripe grapefruit or blood orange peel. On first sip: the agave comes through strongly, with a nice warmth in your chest as it settles. The finish: lingers pleasantly but doesn't overstay its welcome. This is a fantastic high-proof blanco and is really hard to beat for the price ($85 at my local, where other quality high-proofs seem to start at $100).”

Tres Agaves Añejo (Organic)

81 SCORE

“Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, and cooking spices on the nose. These flavors translate directly to the sip. You really get a good bite of the cooked agave on the finish, which is nice aa the agave is hard to detect upon first sip. A good añejo for a fantastic price (I found it at my local for $40) that is fine to sip but is also great for really spicing up a cocktail”

Don Fulano Blanco Fuerte (100 proof)

91 SCORE

“Very mellow nose. Hints of vanilla and pear to go with the cooked agave scent. VERY herbal on the palate. Has a lot of fruity taste to it, along with a strong minerality. The minerality remains and a light citrus note along with the vanilla that was on the nose temains of the tongue on the finish. This is excellent juice.”

Tres Agaves Reposado (Organic)

85 SCORE

“A very balanced reposado. Light on the nose, but there's some citrus, pepper, and vanilla if you let it open up for about 5 minutes after pouring. The vanilla and even a hint of cinnamon is present upon the sip and there's a nice warm finish of cooked agave. The value for this bottle is absolutely absurd and it earns top marks for that ($30 at my local! I was pleasantly shocked!). All in all: a perfectly fine reposado for sipping and an excellent choice for mixing with a price that is truly hard to beat. I'm looking forward to trying their añejo, next!”

Volans Reposado

95 SCORE

“Aroma of caramel, cooked agave, fresh fruit (I can't decide which it leans more towards, between pear or green apple), and a hint of cinnamon. On the palate is that strong cooked agave flavor you'd expect from Volans, backed up by a honey sweetness and strong minerality. Further sips reveal flavors of coffee, crushed pepper, and more of that honey taste. All in all, a very good resposado”

Volans Single Barrel Reposado

97 SCORE

“On the nose, I get aromas of cooked agave, butter, vanilla, baking spices, dried fruit, butterscotch. On the sip, there's an essence of oak, creamy butter, cooked agave, citrus (orange more than lime or grapefruit), olive brine, a bit of mild crushed pepper. The finish is silky soft with a nice subtle sweetness, and the heat of the oak and pepper linger on the tongue at the end. One of the best reposados I've had. This one has strong barrel influence without sacrificing the quality of the agave flavor.”

Tequila G4 Blanco

95 SCORE

“Give this one some time (about 5 minutes) to open up in the glass. The smell is fantastic. Cooked agave and fresh spring water with just a hint of pepper. The pepper comes through on the palate, along with the aforementioned cooked agave. Nice minerality without it being overwhelming. Almost a vanilla flavor at the end of the sip and lingers on the tongue when finished. This is a spectacular sipper”

Tres Agaves Blanco (Organic)

80 SCORE

“Nose is very strong with the alcohol up front, but underneath you can detect the agave and even some crushed pepper. The taste was much better than the nose suggested. The pepper and even some mint notes really shine through once it's on your tongue and in your mouth for a bit. Not a very complex flavor overall and the finish is somewhat forgettable, but this earns points for value. Got a bottle for less than $30, which is a great bargain for what I would say is an overall pretty good quality tequila. I'll probably use this for my mixed drinks at parties.”

El Tesoro Extra Añejo

98 SCORE

“Makes a great gift, especially for any whiskey lovers out there. Really nice, rich flavors of the bourbon barrels it's aged in, while still maintaining a strong agave flavor. My friend who is new to tequila but a huge whiskey fan really enjoyed this bottle and I think tequila enthusiasts and whiskey lovers will really find a lot to enjoy with the flavor profile here. Let this one breathe and open up for a bit after you pour it into the glass.”

Cazcanes No. 10 Still Strength Blanco

100 SCORE

“NOM 1599 - WOW! This has definitely taken the top spot as my favorite still strength blanco tequila! The aroma is crisp and clean and the juice itself is just as good. A huge flavor of lime - which I personally really love - accompanies the strong agave taste and just really gives this tequila a fantastic flavor profile. Very flavorful with a crisp bite at the finish. Just a really enjoyable sipper.”

Lunazul Añejo

70 SCORE

“This one gets most of its points for value. Very good price for an añejo. Nose has a strong agave note but I really wish that carried over into the flavor of the juice. No obvious additive flavoring, but don't let that fool you. This is a clearly mass-produced, additive-laden tequila and the flavor suffers for it. Tastes more like a generic whisky than an agave spirit. Disappointed with the juice but really can't beat the price.”

Fortaleza Reposado

97 SCORE

“This resposado is a perfect balance of light barrel influence while still maintaining the full agave bite and flavor of their blanco expression. It softens a bit of the pepper notes from the blanco and adds a subtle honey/caramel/oak flavor to the overall profile. Nothing in the nose or flavor profile that is overpowering or obnoxious, just very delicious tequila. A perfectly made reposado that is very easy to drink and enjoy.”

Storywood Tequila Reposado Speyside 7

60 SCORE

“The nose is the best part of this tequila and that's not saying much. Nose hints at a greater complexity than the actual juice had to offer. Very weak finish as well.”

Curado Tequila Blanco (Cupreata)

95 SCORE

“The nose didn't really grab my attention, but oh my god the flavor is incredible. The cooked agave really shines through, but there is a subtle smokiness that really grows on you as you drink it. Anyone who enjoys cupreata mezcales will appreciate the depth of flavor that the cupreata adds to this. The finish is warm and soothing. An absolutely perfect tequila to sip neat after dinner. Now I have to try their other expressions!”