Lunazul Blanco Tequila

I have never really known any of the background to this tequila or the distillery, but found an interest in it once it began popping up in bars all over as the new "well +" cocktail tequila. Since then, I've had it in many different cocktails with above average flavors, but never alone. At this amazing price point, there must be something to it, eh? The scent travels very well over a foot away from the glass, although is a but of an amalgam and hard to discern individual notes. Up close, a nose of very, very young agave takes hold, with secondary notes that are vegetal and have a harsh ethanol. An air of white pepper is also well present, and I can tell that some citrus is trying to come through, but isn't strong enough to make the cut. An initial sip is a bit ethanol heavy, but doesn't make the body any deeper. The harsh, young vegetal flavors appear while still on the tongue, and start to develop just a bit before the finish imparts a huge punch of both black and white pepper. The pepper truly carries, but isn't unto the realm of overpowering. Having said that, it does taste like the last few spoonfuls of a soup broth that has been marinating in freshly ground pepper. Although very one-sided, this tequila does have both a uniqueness as well as some bite, enough to give former well tequilas a run for their money, and their flavor. If it continues to be sold at the price I found it, it'll be a fairly strong contender for a bottom shelf replacement, but it's still fair enough that I wouldn't purposely choose it in a cocktail if I had anything better around, or had other options at a restaurant.

It smells kind of empty and a bit bitter. The palate is surprisingly robust though. It isn't excessively bitter but it isn't super complex either. This is truly a mixing tequila. There is some substantial mineral presence and also a respectable amount of sweetness and some pepper. A bit of alcohol comes through. There's a little mint and some nice pineapple but nothing too crazy is going on here. I could sip it briefly but it quickly becomes boring. It reminds me a bit of Espolon Blanco, but has less tomato. Frankly, it's not bad and it's flavor does stand out. Some cocoa bitterness reminds me a bit of Casamigos and there's some Herradura minerality, but it is under control. It's fruity with some cocoa and vanilla. The nose has some nice tequila scents: lime, smoke, crispy chicken skin, some salt, a little mint, and maybe a hint of thyme. The palate is nice and smooth up front with some prickliness coming in but not taking over. The flavors balance out with some sweetness treading water amidst light mint, lime, earthy/herbal, and mild vanilla. It tastes good enough to sip but also would be a great mixer. It's a bit on the light side, but it isn't excessively sweet and it doesn't taste too off in any particular dimension. Relative to Cabeza Blanco, the flavors are on the mild side, but they fit together well.

Spicy I know this is out of line with what Distiller says, but this is really spicy to me. When I drink this I get a barrel like spice. The burn from drinking this is similar to the burn from drinking a spicy whiskey, perhaps I'm conflating senses here, but this seems spicy. I actually can't taste the agave that well in this, I taste more of the earthy aspect of it. This was a really cheap tequila, so its almost always worth it. The only thing is that I get more of the earthy notes from the agave than the vegetal ones, and that takes a bit of an adjustment.

Tasting neat. Lime and saline on the nose, with a hint of roasted agave. In the mouth dry and sweet, grapefruit and vanilla, saline and crushed stone. A touch of ethanol. In the finish a little grassy agave and roasted smoke flavor, then a mint tingle. Light mouthfeel and a short finish. Not a bad blanco tequila, but nothing really stands out. Citrus and vanilla. Easy to mix at this price.

A creamy Agave Spirit crafted by Lunazul Distillery in Mexico that is double distilled in stills once used in Cognac production. It has an aromatic birth with notes of agave, fruits, nuts, herbs & spices; while a delicate & creamy life adds notes of citrus, a hint of cinnamon & cloves; that led to a hot & spicy death with notes of pepper & almonds. May 2017

Ive tried about 7-8 different tequilas and for Lunazul's price of 13.99 750ml its definitely a winner in the price dept and great for cocktails. If I did a blind taste test with Patron Don Julio Hornitos and several other on the top shelf it ranks right up there. Definitely a lot better than your average Jose Cuervo.