Corralejo Reposado Tequila

Not as mellow or full-bodied as Clase Azul, but still somewhat smoother. The flavor is rather dry with pronounced earthy, mushroom-like notes that have vegetal undertones, lacking the tomato taste common in blanco tequilas or the smoke found in many scotches. Mineral flavors are also prominent. In the extended finish, hints of chocolate and a touch of sweetness appear. Unfortunately, the aroma is primarily alcohol and the finish is largely a muted version of the same tastes. There's some complexity and slight development, but I see this more as an alternative when I'm not inclined towards scotch or a good candidate for mixing. Its quality is comparable to a $30-40 scotch. Truly, it's not bad at all for the price, and I appreciate its subtleties, but I don't enjoy drinking it straight. Mixed with Kahlua, it really highlights the rich flavors while concealing the artificial sweetness. It also possesses some smokiness. This tequila initially seems bitter and intensely mushroomy, but upon closer examination, it's complex and light with decent balance. The mushroom element is still present in a rather peculiar way, but it adds richness to the flavor. I find myself liking it somewhat. Chocolate and mushrooms with some cinnamon, yet with a generally light palate dominated by minerals. A smooth beverage. It's quite good with a clean, 60% dark chocolate and an additional umami finish. Odd, but enjoyable. I do wish for some sweetness at the end, but mixing it with Kahlua makes it acceptable. There's a significant amount of that mushroom presence throughout, but also some intriguing apple cider and champagne notes. It's fairly mild apart from the mushroom. Some spice introduces a slight harshness, but it's more of a slow warmth than a sharp, prickly sensation. The surprising richness is what truly makes this drink stand out. There's some rough, bitter alcohol and the umami can push it a bit far, but it also introduces creaminess, and the overall flavor is very good. There are some pleasant fruit notes, with pear making an unexpected appearance alongside some astringent orange juice that might be detrimental. It's refreshing yet rich. The drying quality hints at its age but doesn't detract from it. I believe it could benefit from more aging and tastes a bit too much of mushroom, but it's a good drink I'd be content to consume. The cinnamon and vanilla sweetness are pleasant. Somehow, everything just barely holds together. The sweetness is truly what makes this enjoyable. It's not as potent as I recalled. The flavor is light but captivating, with a blend of richness and herbs and orange that evokes cola. It's clean and refreshing, with just the right amount of mushroom essence. It also features cinnamon, earthiness, and ginger. It's quite good, and the mineral flavor is not unpleasant at all. I would be happy to sip this.

I'm endeavoring to broaden the variety of spirits on my home bar. With my collection predominantly featuring bourbon and whiskey as the next most common, I realized the other day the noticeable absence of anything else. Personally, I don't see it as an issue. However, companions who aren't fond of whiskey or bourbon do find it bothersome. So, I should just find new friends, right? Haha. Enter - Corralejo Reposado Tequila. A tequila that is unexpectedly inexpensive and highly acclaimed. I was very eager to try it. The aroma is very subtle and sweet on this Reposado. Yes, the classic agave scent is there, though significantly reduced compared to other Reposados I've experienced. Caramel contributes a rich sweetness, and there's a faint trace of charred oak. There also appears to be some citrus, but it's somewhat difficult to detect from a distance. The initial taste is quite sweet and pleasant. In fact, for the majority of the taste, caramel and simple syrup carry the other flavors. The agave flavor is very subdued in this Reposado. Towards the mid-palate, a touch of tannic charred oak mingles with citrus pith. Towards the end of the taste, the spice becomes more apparent, including cinnamon, which creates a rather dry and spicy prelude to the finish. As the taste subsides, the spice leaves a tingling sensation on your tongue. Inhale through your mouth, and the inherent tannic charred oak and leather are present, but deep within the finish, some of that tart citrus reappears. The finish is almost entirely devoid of sweet notes, which is surprising given how much sweetness was present at the beginning of the taste. Wow! What a complex and delightful drink. This reposado doesn't have overpowering flavors and offers wonderful complexity, but would likely be completely lost in a mixed drink. Proof that price doesn't dictate taste – even for a bottle under $30, I would gladly keep this on my top shelf for sipping neat only.

Rating: 15/23 Aroma: Initially, some sweet, musty agave (in the style of Don Julio) with a hint of chocolate, a subtle mineral quality, a bit of lemon, and brine. Curiously, these are not the characteristics I typically associate with this tequila. The complexity and individual scents are appealing. Palate: Mushrooms, sweet but light agave, that same mustiness from the aroma, a bit of brine. The palate is light with distinct minerals, but it's quite good. I detect some chocolate here as well. This isn't quite how I recall this tasting. It's much sweeter with less overwhelming mushroom and a nice balance with some brine, spice, and faint floral notes. I'm enjoying this. However, Partida is light, and this is certainly lighter than Partida. When tasted alongside Partida Blanco, more of the bitter mushroom funk emerges, diminishing its appeal. Finish: Minerals, mushrooms, a touch of agave sweetness, perhaps some earthy terroir. - Conclusion - This is solid, but it's not bold enough for my preference, and the mushrooms are somewhat odd. Still, I was really enjoying it initially during this tasting. I'm assigning it a 15, but I could certainly see myself rating it lower. Side note: this was the final tasting of a heavily aerated bottle, so it's not entirely representative.

Served neat in a broad tulip glass. The blue container and yellow label catch the eye, though they possess a somewhat cheap appearance and feel. It evokes an 80s style with gold trim, potentially needing modernization to align with current authenticity trends. Nevertheless, the contents are what truly matter. The liquid presents as a light pear juice, exhibiting a pleasant, viscous weight. Slowly forming, the legs eventually trace down the glass. The aroma is a classic, enjoyable aged agave profile: sugar syrup, vanilla, roasted bell pepper, a hint of salt, and squeezed lime. Ethanol is barely perceptible. At times, it hints at tropical fruit notes. On the palate, it's light and somewhat bright. Beet sugar quickly gives way to black pepper, followed by caramelized onion. Vanilla syrup contributes noticeable thickness and body. Roasted bell pepper and occasional tropical fruit notes reappear. A touch of metallic character and mineral tang create a slight pucker and a pleasant tingle, which persists despite the relatively low alcohol content. Some of this is typical for agave spirits to my taste, while some is definitely due to skilled production. It's exceptionally easy to drink. I perceive this as less complex than some reviews suggest, but I'm certainly not complaining. It's delicious and accessible. In my region, it goes on sale for as low as $25 (for large bottles).

Due to the current global health situation, I'm not traveling and have decided to document some of the bottles I've been overlooking in my collection. Corralejo Reposado is the sole tequila I currently possess, and it's a fantastic spirit to drink. I can enjoy it neat (as I am while writing this) or mixed into cocktails; I just love its smoothness. I've encountered reports of some individuals receiving subpar bottles, which is always a possibility, but I personally have never had a bad experience. Served neat, this tequila has a subtle peppery taste with a hint of woody notes appearing initially. The flavors are substantial enough to linger in my mouth for several seconds, and the warmth is very mild. As I've mentioned, this is my preferred tequila, and while I'm open to trying others, they face a high bar to surpass this one. Additionally, it retails for $23 per bottle in my region. Enjoy.

The smell is incredible; oily, earthy, sweet and slightly savory. Like mushrooms sautéing in duck fat, grilled bamboo shoots, and thick wafts of indescribable heady, buttery muskiness. The taste starts off slightly sweet, fresh, with a little spice and hint of sun-dried golden raisins that twists into a blend of earthy cooking mushrooms, light wisps of smoke, with a drop of herb-infused butter somewhere in the middle that disappears as the cumulating spices take over then dissipate as everything rewinds and fades away. However, it does leave me wishing that silky, mysterious oil and musk from the aroma was more present in the flavor, and that the finish was a little longer. Still, phenomenal, mouth-watering.