123 Organic Extra Añejo Diablito Tequila

Rating: 18/23 I've been curious about this brand for a while, but haven't tried it before. N: Lots of menthol with a bit of spearmint to it. A bit of ginger and other barrel spice. This is a dry nose with clean scents. Hints of lime leaf and then slightly briny agave sneak through. After a bit, it starts opening up more and I get a more balanced profile as the mint fades and some slight sweet caramel and a bit more pronounced savory notes come through. P: This is nice. I can't say I was wowed by the nose, but this palate is really well integrated. The one thing I'm not a big fan of is the low proof, which really does stand out here. Mint, agave syrup, brine, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, dry wood, a touch of rich minerals. The balance is terrific as the flavors support each other nicely. The complexity is good as well, though it isn't amazing. A little musty paper and the faintest hint of mustard. Notes of envy apples flit in and out at times. F: Dry and clean. Memories of the apples echo amidst a clean water minerality, lingering hints of bitter spices. Slightly vegetal and faintly savory agave shows up just a little bit. This isn't that interesting of a finish, but it's fine. I do wish it were bolder though. - Conclusion - Partida Añejo (15) is substantially richer and fuller than this is. The Partida has some of that El Jimador overly sweet flavor and flatness when put side by side with this, highlighting the elegance on display here, but also shining a spotlight on just how mild this is, especially since the Partida is already a fairly mild tequila. I'd take this over the Partida, but the comparative weaknesses here are pretty substantial, though coming back to this, it doesn't taste so mild. I would be surprised to go as low as a 16 for this. Fuenteseca Reserva Edad 7 Años 2010 (18/23) is richer, spicier, and sweeter than this is, with a bolder sense of age. This is more elegant and has a bit more nuance, but it doesn't have the same degree of decadence. I can imagine it being the same rating as this, though I'm struggling to find this to be better than the Fuenteseca. I like this a lot, but I've certainly had better aged tequila. I just don't think that this beats the Fuenteseca; however, they are close. I'm going with an 18 for this. It's a fine dram, but not a big stand-out in the extra añejo category. I could be convinced that it's a 19, but I think that it just doesn't quite make it to that level. As a final comparison, El Buho Arroqueño (18/23) is very different from this, but it has a similar complexity and sophistication. Both are a bit lacking in presence, but have some elegance. I think that my 18 was right on the money. Thanks for sharing this with me, @ctbeck11 ! It's always fun to try a rare find like this one.

Very smooth very sweet low burn

Soft and sweet. Easy drinker. Very delicious