Corralejo Silver Tequila

It almost feels too late in the year to review tequilas but we recently had a very late autumn heat wave that made this vertical tasting worthwhile before the cold and rain set in. While tequila will get shelved for a bit in my seasonal rotation, it makes another resurgence around the holidays when I bust out my holiday spiced cranberry margaritas. If this sounds weird to you, I promise they are quite delicious, they are merry and bright, and they make your house smell amazing after mulling the spices and fresh cranberries on the stovetop. In any case, this review of Corralejo Blanco Tequila is the first of a three-part vertical tasting of Corralejo’s core tequilas. Could Corralejo Blanco be featured this year? Primer: Corralejo is one of few remaining family-owned tequila producers that manages to hang in there with the big boys. While the rest of the tequila market is swamped with offerings from international spirits conglomerates (in part spurring the rise in mezcal’s popularity), Corralejo aims to stay true to its roots as an hacienda, employing those in the community to do things by hand rather than automating. They produce their tequila by steaming the blue agave hearts in clay ovens for 27 hours, then fermenting the must, and double distilling. As with all blanco tequilas, this blanco offering from Corralejo is unaged and showcases the quality of the agave employed and the distiller’s skill as there are no casks to hide behind. Nose: Bright, crisp, and chalky. Fruity agave, limestone minerality, orange blossoms, lemon meringue, and buttercream frosting. And not the stale, mass-produced, store-bought, preservative-laden buttercream frosting tubs. The kind of fresh, homemade buttercream frosting you justify needing to lick the bowl for and spread on everything because it’s so good. This is a tequila nose you want to nose all day. Palate: Light-bodied and a bit thin, but at the same time creamy. The minerality leads with limestone water essence. Lots of vanilla and cream with faint fruity citrus and floral. It’s smooth and tasty, but slightly under-delivers given that exquisitely fresh and layered nose. Finish: Smooth and chalky, but on the short side. Moderately sweet with the profile similar to coconut sugar and no apparent heat. Perfectly sippable neat. Verdict: It’s good. Even better if you factor in the cost. And while it won’t dethrone the Fortaleza Blanco I had recently ($39.99), the VFM with the Corralejo Blanco is excellent ($21.99). Highly recommended for the quality, VFM, and “small” producer aesthetic. ¡Salud! 3.75 ~ 84 ~ Good

Introduction: I’ve never been a huge tequila fan, so I wouldn’t call myself a purist. The herbal, grassy agave flavor isn’t usually my thing, so my taste in tequila is definitely skewed. That said, a few bottles have really impressed me — one being Corralejo Reposado, which I find wonderfully complex, sweet, and delicious neat. So, I decided to branch out and try both their Blanco and their Añejo. This pour focuses on the Blanco to see if it holds up as strongly as the Reposado. Nose: Like most Blancos, this one hits with pure agave right away — unmistakably sharp and herbal. Where the Corralejo Reposado had light sweetness and more depth, this Blanco leans drier and more straightforward. With a deeper smell, subtle notes of salty ocean air and lime appear, followed by a faint spice between cracked black pepper and jalapeño that adds a touch of liveliness. Taste: Agave leads the way with a bit of alcohol heat and a soft, spicy tingle on the front of the palate. By mid-palate, an unexpected burst of tropical fruit — mango and papaya — adds a gentle sweetness not hinted at on the nose. As those notes fade, the flavor brightens with lime and light citrus, mingling with that persistent tingle of spice. Finish: The finish dries up quickly, showing raw mint leaf and grassy agave with a touch of tannins and peppercorn. It’s short and clean, typical for a Blanco, fading before it can overstay its welcome. Conclusion: Aside from that surprise of tropical fruit mid-palate, this is about as classic a Blanco tequila as they come. It’s better than many mainstream budget options — it doesn’t taste harsh or “cheap” — but it’s fairly standard. Fine for sipping, though it really shines as a cocktail base. Compared to the beautifully rounded Corralejo Reposado, this one feels basic and dry. I probably wouldn’t buy it again for neat pours, but for mixing, it’s a solid, inoffensive choice that gets the job done.

I've been trying to branch out a little in my spirits journey and thought I'd gravitate towards rum, but I believe I've decided to explore tequila. Tequila is something I previously considered just a shot or mixer, but think I might be selling it short. Let's try this one. NOSE: I sampled It neat in a glencairn and was rewarded with a great nose of Rich Buttery Vanilla Cream Icing with a Hint of Lemon and a Lightly Floral note. It seems Crisp and Refreshing and smells delicious. NEAT: The Mouthfeel is is Thin but Oily. The flavors are a bit of a letdown compared to the nose. Light Vanilla sweetness backed by Black Pepper spice. Not complicated, but it is very good. This is easy to sip. No burn initially, but you do get a nice accumulating warming effect in the chest. The Vanilla and Black Pepper linger and coat the palate. VERDICT: My preferred way to drink tequila is on the rocks with just a small splash of tonic, a squeeze of lime, and a dash of salt. This one should perform well in that capacity, or sipped plain on the rocks. I'm looking forward to trying the Reposado version of this which is very highly rated on the Distiller App.

It smells rich, sweet, fruity, vegetal, minty. The palate is soft and rich with sweet raw pineapple, lime, and mint. There's something a little peppery here but it isn't terribly strong. The bitterness is a bit much, but the other flavors are quite good so it's acceptable. This is surprisingly sippable but really tastes more like a great mixer. It has notes of those Herradura mineral flavors but they are balanced by the bitterness and complexity. It's a bit out of balance with the excessive bitterness and mineral, but it still has those sweet undertones that balance it out a bit. It reminds me a bit of El Tesoro Blanco.

Bought this on a fishing trip to Lake Whitney, so I could have something to end the day without draining my whiskey stocks (too much). I tend to prefer aged spirits, but this really hits the spot. No complicated tasting notes. It's slightly sweet, a bit peppery, viscous, and just plain good. I haven't had a disappointing Corralejo product yet. The best is the reposado, but this is a strong contender. Definitely my favorite clear spirit.

Sipping neat. The nose is slight, crisp, clean. Light salty, fresh agave. Mouthfeel is medium light, Taste is moderately sweet with cane sugar and a little saccharine, some fresh agave fruitiness and slight black pepper. Not particularly complex, but it's clean, balanced, delicate, smooth, and honest.