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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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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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Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 80
Poured into a glass, the straw gold tequila releases a light bouquet of cooked agave, light oak, vanilla and pepper. This tequila has a medium bodied, slightly oily mouthfeel, and flavors of roasted agave, pineapple, oak and white pepper. This is a subtle tequila, with an herbal note toward the finish, before a gentle ending of pepper and agave.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Sauza Conmemorativo Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 83
On the nose, this añejo offers up aromas of oak, cooked agave, vanilla and caramel. On the palate, this is surprisingly light-bodied for an añejo, definitely not syrupy as many can be. Instead, flavors of pineapple and mango, brown sugar, vanilla and caramel are predominant, with hints of pepper and oak apparent. The finish is quick for an añejo, but enjoyable nonetheless with penuche, oak and caramel tones abundant. It is great sipped neat, but has a light enough profile and affordable price point to even mix into margaritas.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Sauza Signature Blue Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 80
This very pale straw colored reposado offers up a light nose of agave, white pepper, vanilla and caramel with a hint of orange peel. In the mouth, agave and cooked pineapple notes appear first, before a hit of pepper, ending with vanilla, orange blossom and subtle oak. The finish is quick, with light oak, agave and roasted pineapple making a brief appearance.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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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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El Jimador Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 92
Notes of cooked agave, light oak and vanilla are joined by a slight hint of baked cherry pie on the nose. On the palate, this medium-bodied tequila coats the tongue with pleasant vanilla and caramel flavors complemented by more fruit notes, especially cherry and strawberry. Light oak and cinnamon notes and a touch of earthiness add to the complex flavor profile. It presents a medium length finish, with alcohol, white pepper and agave appearing initially before a quick hint of agave nectar and cherry finish things off.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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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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Tequila Cabrito Blanco
Distiller Score 84
An intriguing aroma of dry asphalt and decomposed granite, cotton candy and burlap, reminiscent of the high desert. Starts sweet and warm but decidedly not laid back on the tongue. Mint and eucalyptus join in with a little soft tropical fruit, then that decomposed granite, burlap and a hurried heat. The finish is hot and dry, and still true to the nose. Could stand up to a frozen margarita and most tropical cocktails.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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El Jimador Blanco Tequila
Distiller Score 86
The bouquet has a slight alcohol burn, with aromas of grapefruit, white pepper and agave discernible. On the palate, grapefruit and lemon temper the sweetness of agave, while a subtle spice note rounds out the flavor profile. The finish is quick and smooth, with a mild alcohol burn, followed by more citrus fruit and white pepper.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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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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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