1800 Silver Tequila

The aroma carries an unexpected scent of seaweed. It smells bitter, herbaceous, and vegetal in a somewhat muddled fashion. There's a bit too much squash on the nose. The palate is surprisingly sweet and slick, with an intense grassy character and chalky dust that is quite off-putting. The squash flavor is present, combined with unpleasant stale bread in an intriguing yet unappealing manner. There's an earthy element, akin to Sauza Blue, thrown in as a last resort. While there's a fair amount happening and it's certainly intriguing, the outcome is jarring and unpleasant. A peculiar, sharp spiciness persists throughout. What can't be faulted is its viscous texture. My goodness, that awful bread – it tastes so musty! Balcones Baby Blue is more engaging, offering a few more refined flavors reminiscent of Green Spot. This falls short in every aspect. It's remarkable how little this has going for it – a truly terrible tequila! It almost resembles a poorly made Martinique rum. This is so actively difficult to consume that it's impressive, musty cardboard and rubber dominate. The alcohol is clearly noticeable. There are faint hints of other elements like fruit, minerals, and unaged sugarcane spirit (squash), but it's awful.

I'm open to trying any spirit. I feel lucky about that, as I know many people who've had to give up a whole type of alcohol after a wild night. While I usually prefer whiskey, tequilas and mezcals have recently caught my attention. Today, I tasted 1800 Silver Tequila. The nose has lime and salt. It's almost like a margarita on its own! The citrus scent becomes fruitier over time, with hints of smoke. Drinking it neat, I detect a mild, consistent smoky taste with a slight sweetness and an afterburn on the tongue. It has a medium, dry finish with faint mineral notes. To me, this doesn't come across as a harsh, cheap tequila you have to force down. It's quite straightforward, and its smooth, simple character and affordable price make it a solid choice for a Paloma or other tequila-forward mixed drinks. 7 out of 10

There were very different opinions in a blind tasting alongside Patron Silver and Olmeca Altos. The initial taste offered buttery pepper, citrus, and minimal alcohol flavor. It had a long finish with pepper and a silky texture. After trying the other two thinner-flavored tequilas, a cheap plastic taste, like electronics from China, emerged. I didn't find the unique sipping tequila flavor I was seeking in these three.

This is excellent for a standard margarita, tequila sunrise, Paloma, and other tequila-based drinks. Sweetness, fruit, citrus, and agave notes are present in the cocktail. If you prefer a sweeter margarita, this is the tequila for you. I would not use this for shots or sipping; I'd save that for a quality reposado. It's comparable to Patron Silver but sweeter and half the cost.

The definitive tequila for mixing. It possesses all the grassy, sweet, and salty notes needed at a great price. Likely not compelling enough for sipping straight, but you won't grimace if you do. Excellent for homemade margaritas and palomas.

It's not bad. I've not tried many budget tequilas before. I'm curious to compare it with Cazadores and Jimador Silver to see which I prefer, but I enjoyed it after 50ml. I'll need to get a smaller bottle or a fifth to really explore it further....