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Riazul Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 86
This is a super-rich and sweet style of añejo, almost like a dessert wine. It tastes a bit like a pineapple upside down cake (or perhaps one should say "tart tartin" since it's aged so long in French oak), with baked tropical fruit and dark caramel notes dominating the palate, with only a small taste of cooked agave flavor. Warm cinnamon spice takes it into the finish. Good choice for someone yearning for a sweet after-dinner drink, and goes great with flan!
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Clase Azul Tequila Plata
Distiller Score 93
Clase Azul has a very delicate aroma with sweet candied notes of papaya, mango and lemon zest. Quite a sweet sipper with lots of caramelized brown sugar and soft notes of black pepper. The finish is long and strong of with flavors of butterscotch and crystallized honey, almost like an American cream soda.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Fortaleza Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 97
A hint of sweet spice is sometimes the best way to enhance a green vegetable. Here cinnamon, nutmeg and clove bring out the flavor of sweet cooked agave (sort of like sugar snap peas), with hints of caramel, vanilla, coffee and toasted oak. The finish is bright and spicy with a measured sweetness adding to the agave flavors.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Tequila San Matias Gran Reserva Extra Añejo
Distiller Score 94
This super-concentrated elixir straddles the line between tequila and liqueur, but finds its balance. Sweet, rich, vanilla, caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon and pecan coat the palate. However, tropical flavors of pineapple and mango mixed with a bit of pine sashay their way in, and it's tied together with a good dose of cedar and allspice. A little goes a long way here. Perhaps, as they say in Spanish, you need "only enough to fill a belly button" to end a good meal.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Don Pilar Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 92
A delicate balance of stewed agave, ripe tropical fruit, and sweet milk chocolate welcome the palate. The tequila has a creamy weight and caramel flavors reminiscent of a dulce de leche dessert. However, just enough of the agave character shines through the distillate so it isn't lost among the sweetness.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Cabo Wabo Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 82
For people who like sweet versions of añejo, this is for you! The fruit flavors are a lot more tropical than the blanco and reposado expressions, with some added orange blossom. There's a veritable candy store of vanilla, honey, cocoa and sweet Christmas spice here.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Mucha Liga Invicto Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 90
Initially this tastes like the tequila equivalent of Coke mixed with Jarritos Mandarin soda. After a couple of sips, the sweetness is tempered with pine cone, spearmint, clove, allspice and chili pepper. An undertaste of sweet cocoa envelopes all these flavors. It's very sippable as an after dinner tequila, and would pair well with rich, creamy desserts.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Volcán De Mi Tierra Cristalino Tequila
Distiller Score 91
A crystal clear pour betrays the fact that this tequila shows quite a bit of oak influence in a nose filled with notes of caramel candy, toasted vanilla bean, and a touch of spicy pepper-toned agave. In the mouth there is a tone of cognac-laced fruit reminiscent of baked plum and creamy milk chocolate which dissipates into another spicy kick of pepper and a hint of salted lemon.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Herencia Mexicana Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 91
This tequila presents a rich and dense character that is evident from the moment you smell it. A culmination of milk chocolate or perhaps Tootsie Roll, allspice, bananas foster, caramel, butterscotch and brown butter. The flavor is sweet and lush, but surprisingly bright and gentle with cinnamon toast, clove, charcoal and a hint of lemon zest. All the markers of a Highland tequila graciously taking on the characteristics of intense wood aging.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Casa Noble Reposado Tequila
Distiller Score 80
Super-rich vanilla nose with a little bit of fruit and little cooked agave. It has a buttery-rich texture with some roasted tropical fruits in addition to notes of toffee and caramelized orange peel. It ends just as fruity as it started with just a little bit fresh green pepper added. It's a very drinkable tequila that has all the smoothness you would ever want, but perhaps could show a little more depth.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Tequila Ocho Reposado "La Magueyera" 2014
Distiller Score 90
There's a huge difference between the Reposado and Plata of this same harvest! This one is a trip to the tropics with flavors of pineapple, mango, tangerines, lemons and canteloupe. Vanilla and sweet, warm spices enter the mix, with white floral aromas and a yeasty/baked bread quality. Like a good Prince song, it's both funky and smooth.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Avión Añejo Tequila
Distiller Score 84
A lot of vanilla on the nose reminds me of flat cream soda. Fresh mint and sage on the tip of the tongue, it evolves to dried apricot. I find it very sweet so if you’d like, you can mix with a little Fever Tree tonic water which will help to dry it out. But I would leave this one alone. It is quite a sipper and a great valued tequila priced for under $60.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte