Tastes

Don Julio is one of my favorite tequila brands and I quite enjoy Lagavulin as well, so I've been keeping a sharp eye for this since I first heard about it a few weeks ago. Smells mostly of the usual reposado tequila with just a hint of grassy smoke. The taste is very upfront with the smoke, so much so that I wouldn't know this from a good mezcal had I not poured it myself. That's not necessarily a bad thing; I like me a smoky boi every now and then. It's a very unique spirit, but I can't help feeling a little let down. Based on the price and the pedigree of the two distilleries, I thought this was going to be a 5 star experience. And it's just not. It's pretty good, and I'll enjoy the rest of the bottle for sure, but I think it's got more 'cool factor' than blind deliciousness.

Love the look of the bottle so I had to pick it up. I think the rest in wine barrels gives it a bit of extra fruit on the nose; the fruit however doesn't really carry over to the palate. The first thing I taste is the spice. I get a big hit of cinnamon. The spiciness makes me salivate; it's not unpleasant. It's followed by a hint of vanilla. The finish is fairly long and the cinnamon really lingers. Very enjoyable neat, but I'm sure it would do well mixed. It's a surefire repeat for me.