Jose N. rated 36d ago

Partida Reposado

76 SCORE

“Seems a little manipulated. On the nose I get an artificial vanilla almost cake batter which translates to the palate. Medium viscosity that again may be manipulated I expected more from this, I was a little disappointed. May be a good gateway into tequila as it is sweet and smooth, which newbies are looking for before being introduced to real tequila. ”

Jose N. rated 65d ago

Tequila Cabal Still Strength Blanco

79 SCORE

“Nose: band aid smell hits first followed by smoke, cooked agave, cinnamon, and a faint vegatal and citrus Palate: Smoke up front followed by sweet cooked agave, anise, cinnamon, and not much else for me. Nice viscosity as well. Finish: The agave sweetness and cinnamon linger for a bit on the palate along with the smoke which is what bring this score way down for me. I'm not a mezcal fan and this reminds me of a tamed down mezcal but still too much on the smoke here that makes this not for me. if your into mezcals this one is for you. Sample received via Agave Swappers FB Group. ”

Jose N. rated 87d ago

El Ateo Añejo

80 SCORE

“Tastes a lot like Casa Noble Anejo. If that's your thing this is for you. ”

Jose N. rated 96d ago

House of Rare Founder's Cut Blanco

76 SCORE

“Nose: Opens with a noticeable ethanol presence right away, followed by eucalyptus and raw agave. There’s also a rubber note that gives it a bit of funk, but not necessarily in a balanced or inviting way. Palate: Leans herbal with eucalyptus carrying through, backed by raw agave. There’s a slight bitter anise note that adds some complexity, but it borders on distracting more than enhancing. The profile finishes peppery, giving it a bit of bite. Finish: The best part nice lingering spice that sticks around longer than expected and gives it some redeeming character. Conclusion: There are some interesting elements here, especially on the finish, but the nose and mid-palate don’t quite come together. It feels more like a collector-driven bottle than something that truly delivers in the glass. Considering the limited releases and premium positioning of House of Rare this one comes off overpriced for what you get, and that’s where it loses the most ground on the score for me. Sample provided via Agave Swappers FB group.”

Jose N. rated 112d ago

Legado del Banquero Blanco

80 SCORE

“This one comes across as a bit of a mixed bag for me. Nose: Right away there’s a light funk that leans a little off-putting. I picked up some rubber/plastic notes alongside cinnamon and a noticeable ethanol presence. It’s not overly aggressive, but it doesn’t invite you in either. Palate: The flavor opens with some green apple, cinnamon, cooked agave, and bell pepper which gives it a brief moment of brightness, but it's short. The mouthfeel is pretty thin, which doesn’t help carry the flavors. Finish: Very short. It drops off quickly without much development or lingering character. Conclusion: There are flashes of potential here with the green apple, cinnamon, and agave notes, but the short finish and thin body hold it back from being great. Sample provided by the brand via Agave Swappers Facebook group.”

Jose N. rated 129d ago

Volcan de Mi Tierra Blanco

82 SCORE

“This one opens with a bright, citrus-forward profile that leans heavily into lime. On the nose, the lime note comes through clearly with a fresh, zesty character that gives it an inviting start. On the palate, that same citrus carries through, again centered around lime. It drinks crisp and approachable up front. The finish is where this one becomes a little more mixed for me. There is an artificial cake batter sweetness that shows up unexpectedly, followed by a lime rind bitterness that lingers and makes the ending feel a bit unbalanced. That said, the price really helps this one’s overall score. At $34.99, it brings solid value and makes it easier to overlook some of the flaws on the finish. ”