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El Jimador Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 93
This nose offers classic notes of cooked agave, cinnamon and spice notes to complement rich oak and brown sugar aromas. On the palate, this spirit is rich and lively, with a tongue-coating silkiness usually only found in much more expensive añejo tequilas. Flavors of caramel, vanilla and cherries appear first on the palate, followed by cooked agave, oak, cinnamon and baking spices before a pleasant finish that offers more oak, cherry and just a hint of smoke before disappearing from the tongue. This is a great introduction to añejo tequilas and would make an excellent substitution for whiskey in variations of Manhattans and Old Fashioned cocktails.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Lunazul Blanco Tequila
Distiller Score 84
This zippy, light and citrusy tequila goes down smooth. Fresh agave flavors mix with vanilla sugar, orange, grapefruit and lime, ending on a grassy and somewhat smoky note. Easy enough to sip neat, but it's also at a splendid price point for cocktails.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Tequila Pueblo Viejo Blanco
Distiller Score 86
The first few sips reveal peppery notes both in the vegetal and spicy sense, going earthy and pleasantly bitter. The mineral-rich back palate finishes with a hint of bittersweet chocolate and lime, without too much of an alcoholic burn. With a decent complexity, it's no wonder it's preferred by so many bars as a quality well blanco for margaritas.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Espolòn Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 83
On the nose there’s caramel and light agave, tropical fruit and subtle oak. The palate offers plantains and more tropical fruit, vanilla and cooked agave. The medium, spicy finish fades into agave, caramelized sugar and oak.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Exotico Tequila Reposado
Distiller Score 79
With coaxing, the somewhat shy nose betrays a whiff of oak, a suggestions of cooked agave and a hint of pepper. Gaining confidence, the agave asserts itself on the palate but in a sweeter, cooked form; the pepper, meanwhile, retreats behind a veil that masks it more and more into a reasonably lingering finish. Not especially distinctive, but good as a mixer.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
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Tequila Zarpado Blanco
Distiller Score 88
A clean nose of citrus and vanilla greets the palate. Flavors of hot cinnamon candy and jalapeño pepper heat things up slightly, but get fanned out by grapefruit peel and subtle floral and earthy stewed vegetable notes. The finish has a slight bitterness and more of that heat, but also manages to be pleasant and crisp.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Tequila Orgullo Pueblo Viejo Reposado
Distiller Score 85
Moderated agave and some suppressed heat dominate the nose. More agave, green peppercorn and a slight woodiness appear in the tasting, along with some vanilla and a whisper of spice. The impression is of a clean but not complex spirit neither stripped of character nor greatly improved by oak aging. It does, however, work beautifully with strong, dry cheeses.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
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Hornitos Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 80
There's more clove and less pepper on the nose of the reposado than in the plata variant; more agave is apparent as well, along with a touch of cigar box. A hint of wood persists on the palate, where a more vegetal quality emerges; both qualities are modified by a modest creaminess that suits the diminished, peppery heat. The finish is longer than the plata and less bitter, making the repo a potential sipping candidate--though margaritas are likely its highest calling.
Reviewed by Ron Bechtol
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Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 87
Sweet and fruity on the nose with cooked agave, citrus, vanilla and oak. The rounded, smooth palate offers more agave, as well as allspice, nutmeg, crème brûlée and oak. The long finish features caramel, agave, orange peel and a whisper of smoke.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Tequila Pueblo Viejo Blanco 104
Distiller Score 89
Pueblo Viejo's blanco tequila is deservedly popular among bartenders for its high quality and affordable price. Their 104-proof blanco may be even better. It's boldly flavorful, packed with notes of fruity agave, a very pleasant minerality, and a long finish. It's remarkably sippable despite its high proof and has the strength to stand up in cocktails. Quite simply, it's one of the best tequilas for the price on the market today.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila
Distiller Score 86
The unaged plata has a nice kick of roasted agave on the sweet nose, along with citrus, pepper and brine. The soft palate offers lime, agave and spice with grassy notes. The long finish lingers with more agave, fruit and pepper. Competitively priced and well suited for mixing in cocktails.
Reviewed by Daniel Djang
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Espolòn Blanco Tequila
Distiller Score 80
Sweet, zesty, and straightforward, this light-bodied blanco is appealingly smooth and easy to drink. Nice bright cayenne and terra-cotta notes on the nose, but none of the brininess on the palate that these would suggest. Instead, it's lean, slightly fruity and relatively mellow. Nice flavors, but could have had more intensity and energy. Still, a pleasant drink and a particularly good value in its price bracket.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts