El Tesoro Blanco Tequila

This is quite a tequila! It's flavor is immediately appealing with sweetness balanced by richness and a brilliant smoothness that lets just the faintest hint of side through. The flavor is subtle, but there is a lot going on here. The rich flavor is generally defined by coconut and vegetal notes. It gives a rich impression with some cocoa lurking in the background to provide maybe a tiny bit of smoke. There is a hint of mint in here that balances well with the cocoa. Olives are barely present, but can be found. I do wish it changed over time but barring that (admittedly large) flaw this tequila is excellent. All of the flavors are spot on, though I do wish that some were more pronounced. If you're looking for a price example of a blanco tequila, this is it. Richer but less punchy than Casamigos Blanco. Casamigos has some more lime and a mushroom flavor underlying it, possibly along with a hint of grapefruit. El Tesoro is milder, but more balanced. Honestly, it's a tough call between the two, but El Tesoro might just win out. Espolon Blanco is also good with its interesting sun-dried tomato notes and sweetness, but is not quite on the same level. Definitely not a sweet tequila. The alcohol flavor is a bit strong here and the drink tends toward the bitter side. The flavor is perhaps a bit too mild. There are some unexpected but tasted flavors in here like coconut, caramel, and honeydew. It's creamy. The flavor is good with a fair amount of complexity when it is visible. The mild flavors has smoke and mint with some vanilla. There's some tomato and a little green olive on the nose, mixed with some smoke. There's a little caramel on the palate that balances it out a bit. There are some other vegetal notes hanging out here and there is a little bit of apple and pear. There are hints of pineapple but they are subtle. The complexity is nice and although there are no off notes this is an overly mild drink. It's kind of spicy but manageably so. The flavor is mild and smooth with only a little spice. There is some smoke mixed with stewed agave essence in the form of pineapple and caramel, but those flavors are not too strong. Everything is so mild here that it is hard to pick it apart. The lack of bitter alcohol and medicinal flavors is kind of nice, but there isn't a ton going on here. Yeah, it tastes like tequila, but it's kind of bland with a bit too much of that herbal alcohol flavor. Cabeza is a lot more interesting. It's subtle, but there is some nice sweet umami underlying this, a bit like toffee with added meatiness. There's some nice stewed agave here that is easy to overpower. The flavor is exceedingly delicate and mint quickly comes in with some more pungeant bitter flavors. It's very drying and isn't terribly complex either. It's quite tasty after drinking Del Maguey Chichicapa, but that just means that it is relatively sweeter. The backing is herbal and monotone though. I'd rather have a more rich and complex flavor here. There's some complexity of you can ever get through the oppressively bland overtone. The richness and fruitiness quickly fade though as the alcohol takes over. This is a lot better than Sauza Blue. In comparison, this has much nicer floral notes and is meatier with a more subtle, balanced profile. There are some nice spices and there is a fair bit of oil. It isn't great, in large part due to how mild it is, but it sure blows Sauza Blue out of the water. There's a pretty good balance here with Earth, umami, vegetal, mint, lime, pineapple, green olive and so forth, but it's all very subtle with too much of a bitter overlay. It's a solid enough tequila, but it's too obscured by the bitterness.

Old world style. That’s what they tell me. “They” being a sales rep for a distributor. “What that mean?” was my eloquent response. It means that the distiller uses old equipment and outdated techniques. Whatever. What it means to me me is whatever they use, they use it well. This is not watered down at all, in terms of taste, body and also factually. It’s double distilled to exactly 80 proof. So put that in your fact pocket for later use when wowing the tequila nerd ladies of which there are literally dozens. For you, the tequila nerd drinker, it means more pleasant and present oils in and around the mouthfeel. Earthy, bright, warm but not burny. In fact, unlike the other Bernie, this offering is very fresh and hasn’t sold its soul for a cash grab. Worth every penny. Well, at least worth $38 worth of pennies. In 2021. So by the end of next year it will be worth probably $70 worth of pennies. Not because the cost will increase because of the impending agave shortage due to government subsidizing farmers to switch to corn, but because the Fed continues to devaluate our currency by creating magic money at will. And thusly, ends my horrible inflation joke. This tequila has a much better and lasting finish than this review.

Enjoying neat. Nose is white sugar, herbs, agave, aloe, pear...very little ethanol heat Taste is complex, balanced, delicate. Starts vegetal with cooked agave, cane sugar, then black pepper, mint leaves/tarragon/cilantro, lime pith and leaves. Finish builds and is drying with some fading sugar leaving you with citrus peel. Mouthfeel is balanced, mineral overtones. I believe this is additive free and I don't taste any artificial or masking flavors. Very little alcohol heat. Overall it ticks all my wants as a highland grown, stone oven baked, tahona crushed, open fermented, copper pot distilled, spring water, additive free tequila. Honest, flavorful and all at a nice price point. Tasting with Siete Leguas, which has nearly the same region/process pedigree..and this is more delicate, smoother, and herbal, where the SL is richer and punchier..equally great

I thought I preferred reposados and anejos but a friend told me he liked the Blancos better to truly taste the tequila in its pure form. After trying a few blancos I agreed with this thinking, though I still like aged tequila as well. So this journey led me down the path of trying more blanco tequilas. I really thought that Casamigos was the pinnacle of a blanco tequila, boy was I wrong. After trying these back to back I actually was a bit disappointed with the Casa mainly because it was obvious that sweetener was added to it. Bottom line is this, if you want an unaltered delicious blanco buy this bottle and thank me later. It’s absolutely delicious and now I’m on the hunt for the next amazing blanco. 8/17/22

This is my go to blanco tequila neat. It works great in cocktails too but taking into account the price its probably best to look in another direction as a mixer. I will say though it makes a great margarita. The nose features strong earthy notes with olive brine and sea salt. The palate is where this shines with citrus, bell pepper and a smooth oily feel to it. The finish is pretty long with virtually no burn. If you are looking for a top shelf blanco tequila, this should be up there on your list. It's great neat or in cocktails. Highly recommended.

Nose is lime and mineral, salty and chenin blanc wine. In the mouth I taste earth and minerals, stone (like the smell when two are struck together), roasted celery and fennel root and apple. but without the caramelized sweetness. But there is agave syrup sweetness in the background, along with a dry citrus, vegital, and herbal element that lingers in the finish. This is a different level of tequila, and it surprised me. Best blanco I've ever tasted. Elegant, to be sipped and saveured neat. Hard to see mixing this.