Tequila Tapatio Excelencia Gran Reserva Lot 1

Rating: 19/23 N: Spicy and minty, but still fairly full. I'm not getting a lot of other character here. Some bitter herbs with the mint, but that's not super interesting. Hints of brine and maybe faint hints of agave, but I'm reaching. P: There's a lot more here than the nose suggests. I immediately get hit by brine, which brings in some lime, then move into the herbal yet somewhat caramelized stewed agave. This is backed by some wood and those dusty spices that make me think a bit of El Tesoro Extra Añejo. The way the flavors churn over the course of the palate is delightful. I get clean water at moments, but never alcohol and this never tastes thin. Very nice balance and complexity. A bit of dusty earthiness as well. Perhaps a hint of red apples F: As I breathe out, I feel the mint. I get bits of brine and some rich stewed agave with some light caramel and very faint spices. - Conclusion - This is an excellent tequila. It goes right up there in the El Tesoro Extra Añejo range. Actually, they have similar flavors too. The complexity really impresses me here. This has a bit of a bolder profile than the El Tesoro, but the complexity is not on the same level. This has more agave and usual tequila notes, but I think I like the El Tesoro better. Fuenteseca 7 has sweeter, richer notes than this does that make me think more of rum or bourbon. It's another great tequila, but I think I like this one a little better. I'm inclined to give this a 19 seeing as the Fuenteseca has an 18 and the El Tesoro has a 20. If I were to go one way or the other, I'd likely slide down to an 18, but I'm feeling pretty good about this 19. Thanks for the sample @ctbeck11 !

Qué delicia, lo que logra la buena madera y el buen producto. Con paciencia y tiempo se logró uno de los mejores tequilas extra añejos que he probado. Una sedosidad casi perfecta que hace que el tequila pase como agua, ligero, pero dejando un mil de notas de verdor del agave y de chile poblano, terrosidad y mineralidad y las notas dulces a vainilla, toffee, creme brule, frutos secos, higos y dátiles en conserva. Genial en copa Spigelau. What a delight, what good wood and a good product can achieve. With patience and time we achieved one of the best extra añejo tequilas I have ever tasted. An almost perfect silkiness that makes the tequila pass like water, light, but leaving a thousand notes of green agave and poblano chile, earthiness and minerality and sweet notes of vanilla, toffee, creme brule, dried fruit, figs and preserved dates. Great in a Spigelau glass.

I don’t have much experience with tequila, but this one has got to be in the creme de la creme category of tequilas. Grassy , minty and herbal. Smooth without any of your typical tequila bite. This is not meant for mixing —-clearly. Best to have it neat, and maybe with a few drops of water. Thanks @ctbeck11 for the pour! One of the best tequilas I’ve had

An elegant Agave Spirit by the La Altena Distillery in Mexico matured for around 4 years French & American oak barrels. It has an aromatic birth with notes of hot caramel apples, intense agave & flowers; while a rich life adds earthy notes, brown sugar, & spices that led to a long & balanced death with notes of oak & a hint of chocolate. May 2017

This tequila is my favourite by far. The colour is a rich, deep amber, and the aroma is complex and vibrant. The taste though is where this one stands out. Rich, complex and extremely varied. Herbal, fruity, and spicy at the same time. This is a tequila that breaks the mould. A fantastic product.

It is a marvelous display of unique qualities tequila develops when aged. Notes of amaro and dusty libraries and funk, married with stewed agave, orange peel, sage, thyme, and pepper. It is very rich and exciting