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Ocho Cientos Sotol Añejo
Distiller Score 92
This spirit is a real bruiser, with a heavy, viscous weight that leaves serious Rockette-caliber legs in the glass. Chocolate malt, vanilla and dulce de leche add to its richness. However, there is still a lot of Sotol funk to be had in the form of dill, rosemary, thyme, mint and that strong, pervasive eucalyptus note which keeps the richer flavors in check.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Sotol Coyote Blanco Chihuahua
Distiller Score 94
This wild spirit has a fairly intense nose of cantaloupe, iodine, green grass, and a wisp of smoke. The palate is mineral and densely structured but carries its high ABV with an admirable amount of grace. There is a bit of a fibrous, earthy flavor that builds up before untangling to a long, moderately spicy finish. Certainly a delicious sipping spirit that shows the intense nature of the desert from which it comes.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Sotol Coyote Blanco Durango
Distiller Score 83
The nose to this spirit shows a deep, clay-y earthiness and complexity reminiscent of aged parmesan. The palate has admirable richness and a flavor akin to agave, but ultimately does not fulfill the expectations set by the nose. The sotol finishes with more earthiness and a touch of ripe, sweet peppers making it very pleasant and a fine, if not profound, example of the category.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Tailwinds Rested Agave Spirit
Distiller Score 78
Hot, intense nose of crème brûlée, vanilla, and cinnamon sticks; definite bourbon notes with hints of butterscotch pudding, coconut, and bubble gum. Weighty in the mouth with a rich sweetness but not oily; hot vanilla, cinnamon in the form of red hots and caramel, a definite heat throughout. Finishes long and hot with bourbon notes to the end.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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Ocho Cientos Sotol Blanco
Distiller Score 90
The blanco shares many traits with aged expressions of agave, showing deep flavors of buttery roasted nuts, smoky beachwood, dill and cocoa. These are balanced by fresh flavors of fresh-cut grass, eucalyptus, pineapple, mango and earth, all tied together with a peppery spice and a medium viscosity.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Ocho Cientos Sotol Reposado
Distiller Score 89
This astoundingly viscous spirit is quite buttery on the nose, oozing scents of caramel-pecan-cinnamon-buns. The palate gives way to the sotol's rustic earthiness, with cooked dill, chili peppers, and black pepper. The heavy weight is cut somewhat by a fresh eucalyptus/menthol characteristic, even more present here than with the blanco expression.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Los Magos Blanco Sotol
Distiller Score 89
The nose is like sniffing a boozy tropical punch that's warmed in the sun a bit (super ripe citrus with papaya, pineapple, mango juices) next to a lit mesquite BBQ with a whiff of rosemary and rose petal. At first sip the wood smokiness dominates, but further tastes reveal layers of funky, ripe tropical fruit flavors along with grapefruit peel and somewhat of a seaweed brine. The finish has a sweet smoke mixed with these fruity punch notes, but also a salty undertone and vegetal note reminiscent of fresh sugar snap peas that savory elements to the mix. Overall, funky, smoky, tropical, and rather well balanced between sweetness, earthiness, tartness, and umami.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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La Venenosa Costa Raicilla (Green Label)
Distiller Score 94
This raicilla is aromatically dense and savory with notes of nuts, pine, mastic, olive brine, sawdust, cedar, and cocoa. Lots of bright acid on the palate (unusual for a spirit) there are more olive flavors, “funk”, resin, wine-like tannins, and yuzu along with herbs, terracotta, cedar and fresh carrot. This spirit seems to evolve as it sits in your glass guaranteeing you will never be bored!
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Quechol Wheeleri Sotol
Distiller Score 88
The nose is fresh, herbal and citrusy, with notes of fresh mint and dill, grapefruit peel, and smoked habanero pepper. Red bell pepper comes into the palate with spiced hot cocoa flavors (milk chocolate, chili pepper flakes, cinnamon). This medium-bodied sotol has a bright, lively finish with elements of sweet smoke.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Quechol Texanum Sotol
Distiller Score 87
There is a distinct aroma of wet leaf-covered soil backed up by allspice and orange peel. The medium weight palate is quite peppery—both yellow bell pepper and green chili pepper—with aromatic black tea components, porcini mushroom, smoked orange, and sweet spices. Though it is quite earthy, spicy, and vegetal, a subtle chocolate sweetness comes into the finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Papilio
Distiller Score 77
Papilio, distilled from a blend of blue agave and maple syrup, is difficult to classify. By method of production, it resembles a mixto tequila. But with its hint of tropical coconut on the nose and flavors of dark molasses, its taste is more reminiscent of a full-bodied white rum. Combining agave and maple syrup is an intriguing idea. It's not a compelling spirit for sipping, but perhaps it could find interesting application in tropical drinks.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier
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Revel Avila Reposado Puro de Agave
Distiller Score 75
Aromas of brown butter and brine make an interesting combination, but there's not a lot of agave richness here. On the palate, wood characteristics like caramel, vanilla and spice dominate, with merely a touch of cooked agave fruitiness.
Reviewed by Jack Robertiello