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Clase Azul Tequila Reposado
Distiller Score 97
Everything that the plata is is doubled in the reposado. The nose is very subtle with floral notes of jasmine, apple cider, honey and cinnamon. Wet earth and vanilla combine to give the first sip a rustic but refined mouthfeel. Notes of tobacco and chamomile, anise and clove interweave into a beautiful bouquet you won't soon forget.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Avión Reserva 44 Extra Añejo
Distiller Score 94
There's deep vanilla, salted caramel, and cappuccino on the nose, along with cinnamon, clove, and mild jalapeño--and that's just on the first couple of whiffs. There's much more going on here. On the palate, there is a smooth harmony not unlike what shows in some very mature cognac. The agave flavor doesn't hide behind the oak influenced flavors, it rides along beside them, peeking out once in a while to remind you this is indeed tequila. The finish is long, creamy, and deeply complex.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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Herradura Legend Tequila
Distiller Score 93
The grooved barrels have certainly influenced the aroma with oak and char smoke coming through along with dried herbs and toasted nuts. The tequila is medium full and shows the peppery agave notes that are found in Herradura tequila. The aftertaste is earthy and bittersweet and the tequila feels warm in your chest. The fact that these are new barrels rather than used bourbon allows the tequila to retain the peppery and herbal quality in the tequila.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Tequila Ocho Extra Añejo "El Carrizal" 2008
Distiller Score 92
An unexpected oyster liquor sets the tone for the briny, floral nose along with mint and lime. The viscous palate offers rich layers of baked agave, caramel, plantains, and hints of cocoa and dark chocolate. The warm and lingering finish offers more cooked agave, mint, notes of orange peel and oak.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Tequila Ocho Añejo "Los Corrales" 2010
Distiller Score 91
On the nose, the añejo starts with earthy baked agave balanced with lavender, dried fruit and holiday spices. More interplay between fruit and spice on the palate, with agave, roasted peppers and brown sugar. Coffee, nutmeg and a hint of oak on the finish.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Reposado
Distiller Score 86
Honey roasted peanuts and agave show up first on the nose, with milk chocolate covered berries, and tropical fruits highlighted by mango. The palate offers fruit salad in sugary syrup, grilled pineapples, and mint. Towards the back, the wood spice and tannins of the French oak make their presence felt, leading into a vegetal and grassy finish, with bitter lemon pith and char-blistered peppers.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Herradura Colección de la Casa Reserva 2016 Port Cask Finished Reposado
Distiller Score 93
On the nose, Port is the rare, shy celebrity fronted by a crew of burly bodyguards: dried fruit, roasted agave and peppery spice. More confidence is gained at first sip, with pepper and spice emerging as the dominant personality. As our celeb ducks into a dark sedan to speed off, it's with a wave trailing re-emergent Port, along with chocolate-coated coffee bean
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
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Tequila El Mayor Single Estate Los Lobos Plantation Blanco
Distiller Score 94
Aromas of jalapeño skin, cinnamon stick, aloe, and white chocolate combine for a beguiling nose on this luxury tequila. In the mouth the spirit explodes with a salty mineral tang before showing its powerful baked agave stone fruit. A gently spicy finish rounds out the experience and lingers after tasting.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Expresiones del Corazón Old Rip Van Winkle Añejo (2nd Release)
Distiller Score 86
This is a refreshingly dry style of añejo that opts for woodiness and earth rather than sweetness. There's a peanuty flavor mixed in with the cooked agave notes along with a generous amount of sweet smoke and spice. Only a touch of vanilla and caramel come through. The agave-ness is fighting a little with the bourbon-cask influence, but the combination is still pulled off.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Tres Generaciones La Colonial Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 86
The nose displays a decent amount of oak and barrel spices along with toasted nuts, vanilla, lime peel, lightly burnt cookies and green herbal notes. The tequila is moderately full and mildly sweet on the tongue followed quickly by a cinnamon spices. Somewhat bitter on the palate, but not unpleasantly so. The finish has a light oak and a dry profile. Overall, an enjoyable tequila to sip.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Herradura Colección de la Casa Reserva 2013 Cognac Cask Finish Reposado
Distiller Score 85
A light, floral bouquet, with honeysuckle, orange blossoms, roasted agave, white pepper and dried plum. On the palate, this is light-bodied, with a nice agave flavor accented by orange marmalade, minerality, oak, burnt toast and dark chocolate. The finish bring out more white pepper, poblano chile, oak and raisins to end things before a final, astringent note of raw lumber lifts off the palate.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Expresiones del Corazón William Larue Weller Añejo (2020 Release)
Distiller Score 88
How you feel about this tequila will depend on how much of the bourbon barrel you want to influence the tequila. Since these barrels are from a highly coveted Buffalo Trace Antique Collection selection, you might expect the bourbon flavors to hit you over the head--they don't. That said, for an añejo tequila, it's perfectly fine. It's on the lighter scale of things both in color (very light gold) and in barrel influence. The cooked agave is present throughout with herbal accents. Meanwhile, the barrel spices are light with cinnamon coming in the strongest with a modest aroma of vanilla. It has a sweet midpalate and feels moderately full in the mouth. There is a pleasant char smoke that comes through on the bittersweet finish. This tequila makes you think about it as you experience it, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno