Agave Spirits 101 (Tequila, Mezcal, Bacanora, Raicilla, Sotol) (Page 24 of 25)
| I was on a trip this week and stumbled across a liquor store with Fortaleza Blanco and Anejo on the shelf, around 6 bottles of each....$90 for the blanco and $175 for anejo. I grabbed 3 bottles of blanco and passed on the anejo. I stopped back in a couple of night later and they were sold out of both, so maybe I had lucky timing. |
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Post up what you think of them when you taste them. Also, Rombauer Chardonnay is really good stuff Originally Posted By AZGR: Originally Posted By artimus009: Picked up Extra Añejo and the Knob Creek. Probably will pop one or both open this Thursday along with the few bottles of Rombauer* I picked up. Post up what you think of them when you taste them. Also, Rombauer Chardonnay is really good stuff Loved the Knob Creek. We started the evening drinking bourbon and I grabbed the Knob Creek finished bottle and I was able to taste the bourbon pretty well. Now… what does the hive think of Codigo 1530 barrel strength? The local Total Wine has a barrel pick and a non barrel pick. |
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Has anyone here tried the Siete Leguas Siete Decadas Blanco? It's a special edition to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Siete Leguas and is supposed to be pretty good. https://casasieteleguas.com/en/sietedecadas/ I like it a lot, but it’s no better than the SL blanco, or any other premium blanco out there for 50-60 less. My go to blanco is cascahuin plata 48. This is the gold standard for blanco imo. |
|
It's too bad that woafp isn't here anymore, as he was great at updating this thread and adding info to educate folks on agave. I have been working to try different additive free tequilas lately and am still enjoying the ride. Some notes on a few I've tried over the last few months.. Siete Leguas Decadas Blanco: This is a limited release blanco made from Criollio agave. This is a really good blanco and the packaging is impressive. I bought 2 bottles on an impulse buy. It's really good, but in hindsight I probably would have only bought one bottle. It's a 700 ml bottle instead of 750ml and was a bit pricey at $140. I don't regret it much because it is really tasty. I might end up gifting my 2nd bottle eventually Lalo Blanco: This is quickly becoming my go-to blanco. It's readily available, reasonably priced, and really tasty. Lagrimas del Valle Repo El Sabino: I had never heard of this brand, but after learning that it was from NOM 1123 (cascahuin) and seeing it at a local shop I picked up a bottle. Its 46% abv so a little hotter than std repos. My first sip I wasn't sure about it, but it seems to have mellowed out or I've adjusted to it. I enjoy drinking it quite a bit. Lots of agave forward with a clean finish. I don't know if I'll immediately replenish this once when I finish it, but it's a solid additive-free repo and most things from NOM 1123 are really good. |
| Brief update, I tried a bottle of Wild Common repo - This is really good, maybe the best repo that I have had. Wild Common is from Cascahuin NOM1123 so I expected it to be good. Lots of agave forward, some oak but not overpowering. I get some sweetness but nothing artificial tasting. This one goes down very easy and I will probably keep it in rotation when I want something other than a blanco to sip on. |
|
Originally Posted By Rocco123: I like it a lot, but it’s no better than the SL blanco, or any other premium blanco out there for 50-60 less. My go to blanco is cascahuin plata 48. This is the gold standard for blanco imo. |
Each of us has a rendezvous with destiny…the only question is, will it be by chance or by choice.
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Brief update, I tried a bottle of Wild Common repo - This is really good, maybe the best repo that I have had. Wild Common is from Cascahuin NOM1123 so I expected it to be good. Lots of agave forward, some oak but not overpowering. I get some sweetness but nothing artificial tasting. This one goes down very easy and I will probably keep it in rotation when I want something other than a blanco to sip on. 
|
Each of us has a rendezvous with destiny…the only question is, will it be by chance or by choice.
|
Originally Posted By KILLERB6: Someone recommended Wild Common and I picked some up…but have yet to open it. Post up what you think after you give it a try. I've only had the repo, but I like it a lot. At some point I'll try their blanco and high-proof blanco. I tried some of the G4 108 proof blanco and really liked it. I've liked everything I've tried from G4, especially the Madera blancos when they come out |
| A coworker is going down to Monterrey and asked if I wanted anything. I said Fortaleza. She checked online and thinks the liquor store near where she stays has it for $50-60. Hoping I can get her to bring 3 of each blanco and repo back for me. |
Joined:
Sep 2022
Posts:
312
EE: 0% (0)
USA
| People like me? I don't neckbeard stuff, but if I find something that's hard to find at a fair price I will buy a few bottles and drink through them over time. I first bought Fortaleza blanco when it was pretty easy to find and $40, and it's gone crazy over the last couple of years. |
Joined:
Sep 2022
Posts:
316
EE: 0% (0)
USA
|
Originally Posted By LamentConfig: a few bottles or as much as possible? get your story straight bro. gotta have back ups for the back ups of bottles you'll never open to flex on the 'gram, right? To me, stocking up is buying 2-3 bottles of something, so I don't get what you are going after here. Go through this thread and give me some examples of my posts where I am trying to "flex" buying back ups for back ups of bottles I'll never open. There are plenty of threads in GD to shit on if that's what you are looking to do. Maybe you should go post there instead of killing this thread which has been around for years |
|
After a 6-month relocation time-frame I finally got to dig into some Stash of liqour that I brought back from Phoenix over a year ago - actually almost 2-years now. There was a pretty prominent liquor store there that got bought out by a Convenience chain (because of its location I think) and they were clearancing out all of their slow selling Mezcal. Which happened to be the high-end stuff. I must have walked in at the right time . She let me have 10-bottles at 80% off. I should have bought all they had - which would have been about 25 bottles but I couldn't fit them in the car with our luggage. Among the best were the Carreno Mezcal's. Average MSRP was $100 - i got them for $20. All (5) expressions are fantastic. A couple others i have yet to try but the prices were crazy cheap. |
|
Originally Posted By bondservant2: After a 6-month relocation time-frame I finally got to dig into some Stash of liqour that I brought back from Phoenix over a year ago - actually almost 2-years now. There was a pretty prominent liquor store there that got bought out by a Convenience chain (because of its location I think) and they were clearancing out all of their slow selling Mezcal. Which happened to be the high-end stuff. I must have walked in at the right time . She let me have 10-bottles at 80% off. I should have bought all they had - which would have been about 25 bottles but I couldn't fit them in the car with our luggage. Among the best were the Carreno Mezcal's. Average MSRP was $100 - i got them for $20. All (5) expressions are fantastic. A couple others i have yet to try but the prices were crazy cheap. |
|
Lalo blanco has become one of my favorite blancos, and I've managed to get a couple of friends to switch from Casamigos to Lalo so I'm happy with that. I picked up a bottle of Lalo high-proof blanco today, but haven't tried it yet. I really enjoy the G4 108 blanco and I'm looking forward to comparing the Lalo and G4 high proofs. |
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Lalo blanco has become one of my favorite blancos, and I've managed to get a couple of friends to switch from Casamigos to Lalo so I'm happy with that. I picked up a bottle of Lalo high-proof blanco today, but haven't tried it yet. I really enjoy the G4 108 blanco and I'm looking forward to comparing the Lalo and G4 high proofs. Looking forward to your tasting notes.....love me some G4. Haven't seen that around here in YEARS. |
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Lalo blanco has become one of my favorite blancos, and I've managed to get a couple of friends to switch from Casamigos to Lalo so I'm happy with that. I picked up a bottle of Lalo high-proof blanco today, but haven't tried it yet. I really enjoy the G4 108 blanco and I'm looking forward to comparing the Lalo and G4 high proofs. I compared it blind against two other 108 proof blancos: G4 108 and Ocho Puntas '24. My wife and I both prefered the Ocho out of the three which is interesting bc I wasn't as impressed with it initially. High proof blancos really open up in the bottle and change after a few pours and a few weeks. |
|
Keeping this wonderful thread alive-my go to lately has been Casamigos Anejo. It’s really tasty neat with either a hickory or pecan cocktail smoke on it. |
The most important thing to be learned from those who demand “Equity/Equality For All” is that all are not equal
| This thread has really slowed down. I wonder if the tequila craze has slowed also. I'm still buying and trying new blancos as I can, it feels like there are tons of new brands. Been drinking more mezcal in the last 6-8 months than usual. Also have been enjoying a lot of Oaxacan rum recently which is a whole other thing. |
|
Originally Posted By wiseanhyzer: This thread has really slowed down. I wonder if the tequila craze has slowed also. I'm still buying and trying new blancos as I can, it feels like there are tons of new brands. Been drinking more mezcal in the last 6-8 months than usual. Also have been enjoying a lot of Oaxacan rum recently which is a whole other thing. I haven't had a mezcal in ages. The hotel I stayed at in Denver last weekend had 6 or 7 different mezcals, some of them highly recommended in this thread, but I was running around town with old jarhead buddies drinking beer so I never made it down to sample the mezcals there. I've been cycling through Lalo, G4, Mijenta and El Tesoro blancos lately. The one store the other town over had the G4 at $15 cheaper a bottle than the nearest town, but that store quit carrying it so it's back to paying full price I guess. I've got a bottle of the Cascahuin Tahona Blanco on the shelf for special guests. I was in Kentucky for work for a while and I've gotten back into bourbon lately. The corner store gas station there in the town I was staying in had Eagle Rare, Blanton's, EH Taylor and some other bottles that are all allocated where I live sitting right in a case at MSRP. Might try a pour of Rowan's Creek later tonight. |
|
I'm still drinking tequila and trying new ones now and then. I'm really enjoying Lalo blanco both for cocktails and as a sipper. G4 108 and Don Fulano are my favorite high-proof blancos and Wild Common repo is my favorite repo at the moment. Some friends had Chamucos anejo and it was tasty but I just had a sip. I'll probably buy a bottle sometime and give it a try. Still can't find Fortaleza on the shelf in AZ, but there are a lot of good tequilas that are usually available |
|
In an attempt to keep ‘er alive: If you’re looking for something to try, these are pretty good, especially the high proof:  I’m not a reposado/anejo guy, but Trevor’s (AZ) recommended this one and it’s pretty good: 
|
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
Visiting Paris, stopped in to a liquor store and what did I find..... The old lady thinks I'm crazy for going to France and buying tequila, but she also understands these aren't available at home, so.... Already cracked the Blanco, it'll never make it to America. |
|
Originally Posted By KILLERB6: In an attempt to keep 'er alive: If you're looking for something to try, these are pretty good, especially the high proof: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/18716/IMG_1372-3589335.jpg I don't know when the XA (Excelencia) will come back. |
|
Originally Posted By Elvis121: Visiting Paris, stopped in to a liquor store and what did I find..... https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/70083/1000012515-3589630.jpg The old lady thinks I'm crazy for going to France and buying tequila, but she also understands these aren't available at home, so.... Already cracked the Blanco, it'll never make it to America. |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
|
Originally Posted By wiseanhyzer: I recommend picking up the Siembra Alteno if you run across it. It's a tasty blanco! I get a lot of lime on the nose and the palate. From 1139 (La Altena) like Tapatio and El Tesoro. Fermented in wood tanks similar to G4 Madera. |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Has anyone here tried the Siete Leguas Siete Decadas Blanco? It's a special edition to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Siete Leguas and is supposed to be pretty good. https://casasieteleguas.com/en/sietedecadas/ Very good. Not as good as Fortaleza (my fave), but as good as Artenom. |
|
Bev Mo! has Lalo on sale (buy one, get one for 5¢). Very agave forward tequila and a pretty good deal at $50/L (on sale). @AZGR |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
| Speaking of Lalo, I saw that they have sold a majority share of the business to Tito's vodka. Supposedly Lalo will remain on board and nothing will change in quality, but I have some doubts. Time will tell on this one. From a business perspective, Lalo did a great job of starting and building a brand and then selling all in around 5 years. |
|
Turns out the Corazon repo that was aged in old Sazerac barrels was a limited thing and my store ran out. Went to a bunch of places while I was waiting for my old lady to get done with an appointment to see if anyone had any. No luck. At least locally it looks like it's long gone. On the other hand, the second to last place I went had a bottle of Fortaleza blanco on the shelf behind the register for $70. Told the clerk I'd take it, asked if it was the only one and he said yes. Went back to the tequila shelves to check for the Corazon, nothing. Got back to the counter and the clerk said he saw a bottle of Fortaleza repo under the counter, asked if I'd like it as well. Yes. Yes I would, thank you. $160 out the door for both after tax. So this has turned out to have been an unexpectedly good day. |
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: I think Lalo is doing a great job. It's a really good Blanco and seems to be available everywhere. Walmart by me has 750ml Lalo for $40 which is a great deal. |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
|
FYI: Someone’s list of top 50 tequilas. I haven’t cross referenced their choices for additive free and I definitely dis/agree with some of their rankings, but overall they mesh with what we think! |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
|
That's a pretty good list overall. I think the top 10 on the list are some of the best for sure. As I was reading down the list I was starting to wonder what happened to El Tesoro and G4, but was happy to see them both ranked pretty high. I was surprised that the "new" Pasote was ranked as high as it was. I was a big fan of the Pasote from NOM1579, but don't care for the new version. |
| We discussed Pasote a while back; I still have a couple of the old NOM and agree, the new NOM seemed musky to me. |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Happy New Year everyone - I picked up a bottle of El Tesoro Mundial Anejo aged in Yamazaki barrels at my local Costco. I'll probably give it a try tonight and see how it is. Update: This one is really good. It's aged for 12 months in 12 year old Yamazaki sherry and wine casks. I'm not the best at describing the nose, etc, but I'll say that this one does a great job of bringing some sweetness that doesn't overpower the agave, so it still tastes like tequila and not whiskey. It's really easy drinking with some vanilla, cinnamon, and oak coming through and a smooth, clean finish. So far, this is the best sipping tequila that I've tried |
|
Originally Posted By AZGR: Update: This one is really good. It's aged for 12 months in 12 year old Yamazaki sherry and wine casks. I'm not the best at describing the nose, etc, but I'll say that this one does a great job of bringing some sweetness that doesn't overpower the agave, so it still tastes like tequila and not whiskey. It's really easy drinking with some vanilla, cinnamon, and oak coming through and a smooth, clean finish. So far, this is the best sipping tequila that I've tried Are there any other reviews about this one? |
Brownells has great quality components at low prices with fast shipping and excellent customer service.