Don Julio Reposado Tequila

Don Julio reposado tequila was one of the first tequilas I ever bought. I, like most people, only drank the gold tequilas that made you sick in college and so when I finally decided to dig into cocktails I wanted something that was 100% agave. I remember this tequila fondly, but I have to say now that I've had numerous other tequilas, this one isn't as good as I remember, but still solid nonetheless. The aroma is heavy on the caramel and you can tell it's going to be sweet. The palate confirms the aroma and after having El Tesoro this one seems even more sweet than I remember. There is also a pretty heavy oak, pepper and vanilla flavor to it, which isn't all that surprising. Despite this one aging for slightly less time than the El Tesoro, this one is definitely sweeter and more oaky. The finish is a touch hot, with a good amount of spice. I wouldn't say this is bad and if you are a whiskey drinker, this one is probably more up your alley than El Tesoro reposado. Both are pretty similar in price, so if you are a whiskey drinker and want to try a tequila, this would be my choice over El Tesoro. If you are a fan of tequila, stick with El Tesoro. There are obviously other good reposado tequila choices out there, but just comparing these two today, that's how I would decide. You could also probably get away with using Don Julio reposado tequila in place of bourbon for cocktails since they have very similar profiles. In the end though, if you are a whiskey drinker, you can score this closer to a 4, while those that prefer tequila would probably lower this closer to a 3, so I will split the difference.

I wanted to contrast the surprising Herradura Reposado with what's generally considered the standard, Don Julio. Both Jalisco agave distillers, both aged in American oak, their paths diverge here. Unlike Herradura's clay oven roasted hearts, Don Julio is steam boiled and pot distilled twice. One of the first things I note is a milder plant-vegetal presence in the Don Julio. The beautiful smoky aroma holds true, and the agave sugars are less prominent, not as sweet as the Herradura, but certainly sweet enough. More balanced? Quite possibly. In the taste, I detect a better peppery presence, almost like a faint jalapeno. The final note is a minty, warm, sweet sensation. The Blanco Don Julio is certainly smooth – and I detest that overused term as much as anyone – but it's just a really easy-drinking tequila. The Reposado follows suit as a treat for the palate, just with more character and a better range of flavors to savor. Don Julio has been perfecting their craft apparently since 1942, and notes itself as one of the first tequila distilleries to own its own agave cultivation process. For sheer weight of unusual boldness of character, I give the edge to the Herradura by a narrow margin, but if you simply want a well-crafted and still tasty tequila with a good flavor profile that won't cause a stir, Don Julio easily gets the job done.

The aroma is woody, with that characteristic cardboard note found in Don Julio. It possesses more depth than Don Julio Blanco. The sweet toffee is pleasant, though quite sweet. There are nice almond notes, along with hints of peppermint that aren't overpowering. It's fruity, spicy, herbal, and sweet, with a pleasing richness. A subtle smoke is present but not dominant. The flavor is good, well-balanced, complex, and very intriguing. While there are some quite nice flavor hints, some bitter alcohol notes are present which I dislike. It has those mushroom notes reminiscent of Corralejo, but to a lesser degree. The flavor is fairly clean, not overly creamy, with some fruity notes that stand out, including pineapple with vegetal undertones and suggestions of caramel and vanilla. The cocoa bitterness complements the mushroom umami well. That familiar Don Julio taste is there, but it's well-managed. This expression makes a stronger impression than the Blanco, but that doesn't necessarily make it superior. It's sufficiently sweet and reasonably complex. It's an enjoyable sipper that surpasses the Blanco, though not by a significant margin. The pepperiness adds balance, preventing the lack of creaminess from seeming like a weakness. It's balanced but lacks a truly standout element like San Matias Extra Anejo. It's a tasty reposado that manages to be both conventional and innovative.

This is quite smooth, but surprisingly not as good as the blanco expression. There is an unusual taste that I cannot identify. I have been trying to pinpoint it for what feels like ages, but I still can't. Perhaps it's my approach, or maybe I got distracted. What was I discussing? Right, so it has some woody tannins that are slightly bitter and strange. I appreciate weird, but bitter AND weird? Absolutely not. I'm exaggerating, though; it's decent, but for the cost or the label, you can find much better.

Let rest for about five minutes. 👀: Very pale like a white wine with a bit more legs; 👃: The typical vegetal tequila aroma, with whiffs of sugar cubes, a little vanilla bean, oak in the background, the alcohol stings the nose like vinegar; 👅: Some intense sweetness at the start along with a little tartness, that vinegar carries through, white pepper notes; 🏁: There's a little lingering bitterness at the end that remains for quite some time, there's some oak, not too complex or nuanced, pretty straightforward but functional.

A rich, Agave spirit made by NOM: 1449, crafted in brick ovens, fermented & distilled in stainless steel, then aged for 10 months in ex-Bourbon barrels before being bottled at 40% ABV. It has an aromatic birth with notes of cooked agave, citrus, wood & spices; while a complex life adds notes of tangerine, caramel, that led to a rich & spicy death of medium length with notes of oak, pepper & butterscotch. March 2025 A spiced cookie death that I do not remember from before! July 2025