Rating: 15/23 For those who taste Fortaleza Blanco and say "this is too bitter, tart, savory and oily", this is perhaps a good tequila. It has a genuine tequila nose with stewed agave, lime, and some savory, oily, herbaceousness. There's nothing exciting going on with the nose, but there's nothing super exciting. Based on the authentic and moderately complex nose, this is a solid tequila that I would be happy to drink. The palate has a nice balance of bitter oiliness and sweetness with the stewed agave making a clear appearance, but also some nice lime leaf and a clean creek mineral note that I expect more from vodka. There's something a bit savory and oily too, as well as a bit of cinnamon, white pepper, and ginger. It really does taste like a mellower Fortaleza Blanco, which isn't a bad thing. It's a quite representative tequila without being too aggressive, so it could be a good stepping stone from Espolon for somebody leaving the shelter of the mixto realm. The finish has a bit too much oil and not enough of the other flavors for my taste. Overall, it's quite a balanced tequila with solid complexity and flavor. It isn't my favorite, but I'd be fine drinking it and the only reason I'd hesitate to recommend it is the fairly high price tag. I'm going 14 to 17 here, so a 15 for now based on the nice nose and palate, but general weakness and lackluster finish.