Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila

Today's cocktail adventure is a tequila tasting. Specifically, we are tasting an assortment of blanco (also known as silver or plata) tequilas neat. This summer has been a summer of tequila martinis and this is a search for the best to make that scrumptious cocktail. The four tequilas examined here are Don Fulano, G4, Siete Leguas and our house pour Olmeca Altos. On the nose the Olmeca is sweet with mild vegetal and vanilla notes. The 7 is more intense with a notable cooked agave note. The G4 is a bit tamer than the 7, but also adds in some spice notes. The Don is clean and sweet and perhaps the most delicate. On the taste buds the Olmeca is a fine tequila. Slight black pepper, cooked agave, powdered sugar, and leafy green notes make it an interesting pour without any unnecessary rough edges. This is an excellent budget tequila and we buy it by the handle. The Siete Leguas has far deeper flavor than the Olmeca, with a richer and oilier mouthfeel, ample black pepper, cooked agave and cactus notes. The G4 is both smoother (I hate that descriptor but it works here) and perhaps a bit more nuanced. Very nice sipper! Easy on the tongue, lovely on the fade. The Don Fulano adds a bit of licorice (think Good'n'Plenty), some interesting funkiness, the all important agave and a bit more heat. This is expected as this is a higher proof (100 versus 80) but its certainly not evident in perceived ethanol. Silky and rich are apt descriptors. Both my wife and I prefer the Siete Leguas in a tequila martini. Dee also prefers it neat. My wife says that the G4 has a more pronounced finish with some oily, diesel type notes. She says she prefers Olmeca in the second place and is a bit turned off by the higher proof and funkiness of the Don Fulano. I concur with her about the Siete Leguas in a tequila martini, but I LOVE the funkiness and higher power of the Don Fulano when tasted neat. It's my favorite here, with Siete Leguas bringing up second place and a tie between the Olmeca and the G4. This last bit is important as the G4 is nearly twice the price of the Olmeca so this specific expression is unlikely to find its way into rotation again. Having said that, it's really quite good. So what about this tequila martini? Well it's a 2:1 mixture of tequila to Bianco Italian vermouth. We really like the (very inexpensive) MARTINI & ROSSI bianco here. I'd also like to try the Carpano and see if this extra cost brings any extra flavor, but I'm skeptical. I can say with certainty that Dolin Blanc just didn't hit the high notes in this cocktail. Stir the aforementioned ingredients in a mixing glass over ice with a couple dashes of orange, lemon or lime bitters (or no bitters at all, which my wife prefers). Strain and serve over a large cube (Old Fashioned style for my whiskey loving friends) or even better, over a large cube of pressed coconut water (Dee insists on this). Yes, it's as good as it sounds and it will certainly cure what ails you. Cin cin!

Rating: 16/23 N: This has a really smooth smell. Initially, I get minerals, but it quickly fills up with an oiliness that brings in some interesting herbaceous complexity, white pepper, olive brine, a touch of paper, and maybe the faintest mint and lime. It isn't blowing me out of the water, but I like this profile. P: Sweeter than I expected! It's interesting that it has some sweet agave I wasn't detecting on the nose. It's mixed with minerals, oil, and white pepper. Somewhat grassy as well. There's some slightly bitter brine, which may be indicative of lime rind. That's mixed with some interesting herbaceous notes that are a bit difficult to pick out. I'm actually getting very faint cinnamon in with the spices as well. There's even a faint pineapple flavor too. Both of those are very faint though. My overall impression is that this is very nicely balanced with some really good complexity, but that the complexity falls a bit short of what it could be and the standard 40% ABV keeps this less full than it would ideally be. F: That sweet agave layer lingers with some oiliness. The minerals and white pepper remain as well. Breathing through my mouth swirls a bit of herbal aromatics. Late on the finish, there's some lingering mint, which is pretty nice. - Conclusion - Side by side, the fullness, richness, and sweetness. of Fortaleza Blanco Still Strength 2019 (17/23) really impress me more than this does. Still, I have no doubt that this beats Cazadores Reposado. I think that means that this is in the 13 to 16 range. This definitely functions as a sipper, so I think a 13 is out of the question. My inclination is to put this closer to the Fortaleza than to the Cazadores. That pineapple note that this has that the Fortaleza doesn't is a particularly nice point int this's favor. If I had to pick now, I'd probably go with a 15. Coming back to this, I appreciate it a lot more. The bitterness is less pronounced and despite the complexity not being amazing it's has its own personality that is quite tasty. I'm now considering as high as a 17, though I'm skeptical of going all the way there. I think I'll give this a 16.

There is just something overly salty and briny about this that immediately dismisses it as a top Blanco in my collection. Pop the cork and a wallop of truffle butter and ripe olive snack me in the face. So, yes...it has a strong aroma but its also very narrow. No sweetness to be found on the palate until the very end of the short finish and even then, it’s competing with the heavy salinity left on the lips. The baked agave flavor is flat and muted by the heavily mineral notes with no sweetness or fruitiness. It’s really disappointing. I don’t know if it’s the batch I got but it’s a 100% savory profile. Ok spirit but not great, and certainly not outstanding for the price in the premium Blanco category. Very salty with heavy mineral notes, no complexity and has a rather thin body. Very forgettable...

This immediately smells like tequila, with a mix of minerals, sweetness, herbs, and a kick of spice. There are just a few things going on, but the flavors are all quite good. I do wish there were less pepper, but I would sip this as is and be reasonably happy. Pineapple is here, mixed with lime and maybe a little olive. The pineapple presence makes this really refreshing and fun. Some sage gets in there too, but it does not overwhelm. As it is, this is pretty smooth and quite rounded. It's rich without having a bunch of bad flavors. The slightly bitter earthy and smoky notes on the finish play well with the sweetness and minerals. There is a good amount going on. Not a masterpiece, but very good. Note: this review underestimates the sweetness.

Neat from a freshly opened bottle Nose is agave, white pepper, and earthy..faintly funky hay Taste is sweet, agave, tropical fruit, cinnamon candy, minerals, and hint of that hay and some herbs. Moderately rich mouthfeel. Finish is pretty long, most notably that cinnamon, minerals, and that earthy hay. There's a lot to taste here. I think that yeast really sets this apart. It's sweet and fruity from the highland agave, yet has that earthy, rustic, slightly funky side from the yeast. It's a nice contrast that gives it balance and is definitely a sipper to exercise those taste buds. It may not be for everyone..but if you like good tequila and good cheese, I think you'll love it

Nose: Citrus notes are dominant. The agave note is subtle. Stronger than expected ethanol note. Taste: Light on the agave with a decently strong lemon zest note coming through. Good balance of sweetness (hints of vanilla and syrup) and crisp bitterness (maybe part of the citrus note?). Texture is lighter than I prefer, but not too light. Smooth with little alcohol burn. Finish: Short. Notes of citrus and, similar to the nose and taste, light on the agave. Little alcohol burn. Overall, I generally enjoy tequilas with a stronger agave flavor so this fell a little short for me. Balanced and very enjoyable, nonetheless.