Night 1: My first few shots I was pretty disappointed but like many liquors, if you leave the bottle open while you sip the aeration changes the liquor in the bottle. Night 2: The next day after my first shots I noticed the nose was way more potent on my first shot. Right on the first pour, much more of that lovely creamy buttery bourbon vanilla sweetness, with a faint agave smell that's really only there if you're paying attention. Going down it's smooth enough, but not quite as smooth as better tequilas and better bourbons, definitely a hybrid whiskey/tequila taste. At this price it's something I think is worth a try if you are into whisky and tequila. In cocktails I suppose if it calls for a shot of bourbon and a shot of tequila you could use this for the taste of both, but definitely an interesting sipper, mostly for the nose though. I also agree with the many reviews remarking on rum hints on the pallette, maybe even oak-aged Brandy.
About this bottle
The Hornitos line is 100% blue agave, double-distilled, and presented in a distinctive bottle whose label color, in this case frosted black, reflects the age of the product within. The tequila is first aged 12 months in American oak, then transferred to "deeply charred" American oak for four months, after which it is moved again to "specially toasted" American oak for an additional two months. The resulting spirit, a kind of accelerated añejo, is a deep amber color.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 38 parsed reviews.
The expert notes are spot on. Nose has dusty wood, bourbony-vanilla, peppermint and a touch of sweetness from the agave. Palate is fairly rich, and drinks, well... like a whiskey. More notes from the nose present themselves with plenty sweet agave presence, more dusty charred oak and dry cinnamon. Finish is long with more of that dusty wood flavor; it's sharp at first due to some alcohol but mellows out nicely.
On the nose is sour-sweet agave with oak, vanilla, spice and a hint of smoky barrel char. - To the palate it is caramel sweetness with fruity agave, wood spice, vanilla and a bitter-sour citrus note. - Wood spice and sugar lingers in the finish with a slight musky note.
Hornitos Black Barrel has a clear, burnished gold appearance, with uniform alcohol legs. The aroma is of char and agave nectar. The flavor is of heavy char, ash, oak, sweet agave, and toast crust. The body is medium, and it finishes somewhat quickly. RJT
Agave, more spicy than vegetal, basil, smoke, barrel, distinct black pepper and cedar. Spicy, woody, medium-sweet; black pepper, oak and caramel; the agave is relatively mild. Tasty for sure, but thin.
Very nice sipper. I’m happy with either a whiskey or traditional tequila in my hand. This is a nice combination of both. Can’t believe it’s this good for the price point. Hope other brands follow suit.
32 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
