Tastes

For a blanco, Tequila Ocho - La Canada delivers extreme complexity. Prominenta aromas of smoke, raw and cooked agave, bitters, citrus and ripened fruits follow suit with similar flavor profiles that add mineralogy and dry and oily mouthfeels with spice. It also tends to have an almost ferrous aroma and flavor for a split second at the front.

Gran Centenario is Mexico's number one tequila. A brand not yet commercially established in the US, Centenario delivers a tequila product a the highest rungs in its competitive price market. Centenario Plata is a unique barrel rested silver tequila which brings slight barrel influences into an agave forward expression. Roasted agave, pepper, smoke, and wheat grass are prominent notes on both the nose and the palate. Nuances of oak and spices are present as well as smooth vanilla nuanced finish.

Casa Dragones Joven gets a high grade from me in terms of the quality of the distillate.Casa Dragones at NOM 1489 focus their process towards modernity and sustainability, which moves away from ancestral and traditional techniques. This for many purists is a turn off, as they incorporate the diffuser. Casa Dragones delivers great smoothness with a good presence of roasted agave, fruit forwardness, and silky textures on the palate. Vanillas burst through the finish and a distinguishable note of green apple lingers. Salud.

Casa Dragones Blanco use to be on a higher rung for me. As I have grown more attracted to agave forward expressions of agave, Dragones has really distinguished itself as a more earthy slightly bitter tasting tequila with flashes of sweet and minty notes. Overall the aroma is very nice with notes of cooked agave, green apple, pineapple, vanilla, smoke and slight vegetal nuances. On the palate we distinguish a rather strong medicinal and herbaceous component with flashes of cooked agave, mint, and dry earthy and cinnamon characteristics. As this tequila opens up a little more you will begin to notice the more sweet fruity characteristics that leave a nice smooth finish.

Tequila 818 anejo follows suit with its reposado counterpart. Its overly focused on the vanillas and sweet components. On the nose we recognize hints of oak, spices, clove, incense, and honey. The palate demonstrates oak, clove, vanilla, and honey. It leaves a very buttery texture on the palate while delivering a lingering oaky finish. I scored this average because for an anejo tequila it does not accentuate the complexities of the barrel and the agave.

Tequila 818 reposado gets a lower score than its blanco counterpart. The flavors of the agave were completely diminished for only having been rested in a barrel for 8 months. On the nose we notice vanilla, lemongrass, oak, some astringency, and slight roasted agave. The palate showcases an overly sweet component of vanilla, whipped cream, oak, citrus, baking spices. Hints of roasted agave shine on the finish, but again that sweetness over powers most of the elements.

Tequila 818 blanco hit the scene with quiet the controversy. I tried to remove any bias from this tasting. On the nose we initially noticed some flashes of raw agave that were then followed by lemon zest, black pepper, and vanilla. Some herbal aromas were detected as well. On the palate the flavors were completely offsetting to the aromas. It had an uncanny buttery texture with flavors of ripe oranges, vanilla, medicinal nuances, hints of smoke, and some flashes of raw and cooked agave. For the purist drinkers tequila 818 should not be a choice tequila, but for an honest tequila opinion it is slightly above average.

Herradura blanco provides a strong blanco tequila experience. Its aromas spring with notes of roasted agave, marzipan, sea salt, earth, and flashes of fruit. On the palate we first notice a strong vegetal presence from the agave, which is then followed by some creamy undertones, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and black pepper.

123 Organic Tres delivers a quality anejo tequila. The slightly honied gold color with elegantly defined legs leaves a great impression in the glass. Rich vanilla and maple aromas are complimented with toasted nuts, figs, and oak. The flavors follow suit with oak, black pepper and spices, vanilla, nutmeg, whipped cream not only in flavor but also in texture, and a slight alcoholic astringency.

Siete Leguas reposado continues to strengthen the standard that its blanco counter part sets. The predominant flavors of roasted agave shine through which is at the central core of every agave purist. The nose is complimented with aromas of raw and roasted agave, flashes of fleshy peach and plum, slight oak, and nuances of eucalyptus. On the palate we distinguish the same robust cooked agave, vanilla, oak, cinnamon, and an oily texture on the tongue.