El Tesoro Blanco Tequila

This is quite a spirit! Its flavor is immediately appealing, with sweetness balanced by richness and a brilliant smoothness that allows just the faintest hint of something else to come through. The flavor is subtle, yet there's a lot happening. The rich flavor is generally defined by coconut and botanical notes. It presents a rich impression with some cocoa lurking in the background, possibly providing a tiny bit of smoke. There's a hint of mint in here that pairs well with the cocoa. Olives are barely noticeable but present. I wish it evolved over time, but apart from that (admittedly significant) drawback, this spirit is excellent. All the flavors are accurate, though I do wish some were more prominent. If you're looking for a benchmark price for an unaged tequila, this is it. Richer but less intense than another popular unaged brand. That brand has more lime and an underlying mushroom flavor, possibly with a hint of grapefruit. This one is milder, but more balanced. Honestly, it's a close call between the two, but this one might just win. Another unaged option is also good with its interesting sun-dried tomato notes and sweetness, but it's not quite on the same level. Definitely not a sweet spirit. The alcohol taste is a bit strong here, and the drink leans toward the bitter side. The flavor might be a bit too mild. There are some unexpected but discernible flavors like coconut, caramel, and honeydew. It's creamy. The flavor is good, with a fair amount of complexity when it's apparent. The mild flavors include smoke and mint with some vanilla. There's some tomato and a little green olive on the nose, mingled with some smoke. There's a little caramel on the palate that provides some balance. There are other botanical notes here and there, and a little bit of apple and pear. There are hints of pineapple, but they are subtle. The complexity is nice, and while there are no off-putting notes, this is an overly mild drink. It's somewhat spicy but manageably so. The flavor is mild and smooth with only a little spice. There is some smoke mixed with cooked agave essence in the form of pineapple and caramel, but those flavors aren't too strong. Everything is so mild here that it's difficult to distinguish. The absence of bitter alcohol and medicinal tastes is kind of nice, but there isn't a lot happening. Yeah, it tastes like tequila, but it's kind of bland with a bit too much of that herbal alcohol flavor. Another brand is much more interesting. It's subtle, but there's some nice sweet umami underneath, somewhat like toffee with added savoriness. There's some nice cooked agave here that's easily overpowered. The flavor is exceedingly delicate, and mint quickly emerges with some sharper, bitter notes. It's very drying and not terribly complex either. It's quite tasty after drinking a smoky mezcal, but that just means it's comparatively sweeter. The background is herbal and monotonous, though. I'd prefer a richer, more complex flavor here. There's some complexity if you can get past the oppressively bland overtone. The richness and fruitiness quickly fade as the alcohol takes over. This is much better than a specific budget brand. In comparison, this has much nicer floral notes and is more savory with a more subtle, balanced profile. There are some nice spices, and there's a fair amount of oil. It isn't great, largely due to its mildness, but it certainly surpasses that budget brand. There's a pretty good balance here with earth, umami, botanical, mint, lime, pineapple, green olive, and so forth, but it's all very subtle with too much of a bitter overlay. It's a solid enough tequila, but it's too obscured by the bitterness.

They describe it as an old-world style. That's what I was told by a sales representative from a distributor. My insightful question was, 'What does that mean?' It signifies that the distiller employs vintage equipment and traditional methods. Whatever. To me, it means they do what they do effectively. This is not diluted in any way, in terms of flavor, body, or actual alcohol content. It's twice distilled to precisely 80 proof. So, keep that fact handy for impressing tequila enthusiasts later. For you, the tequila aficionado, it means more pleasant and pronounced oils in the mouthfeel. It's earthy, bright, and warm without being hot. In fact, unlike some others, this offering is quite fresh and hasn't compromised its integrity for profit. It's worth every penny. At least, it was worth $38 worth of pennies in 2021. By this time next year, it will likely be worth about $70 worth of pennies. This isn't due to rising costs from the upcoming agave shortage caused by government incentives for farmers to grow corn, but rather because the Federal Reserve continually diminishes our currency by creating money out of thin air. And that concludes my terrible inflation joke. This tequila has a much better and longer-lasting finish than this review does.

Enjoying this neat. The aroma consists of white sugar, herbs, agave, aloe, and pear... with very little ethanol heat. The taste is complex, well-balanced, and delicate. It begins with vegetal notes, cooked agave, and cane sugar, followed by black pepper, mint leaves/tarragon/cilantro, lime pith, and leaves. The finish intensifies and is drying, leaving a lingering citrus peel sensation. The mouthfeel is balanced with mineral undertones. I am confident this is additive-free, and I detect no artificial or masking flavors. There is very minimal alcohol heat. Overall, it meets all my criteria for a highland-grown, stone oven-baked, tahona-crushed, open-fermented, copper pot-distilled, spring water, additive-free tequila. It is honest, flavorful, and all offered at a fair price point. I am tasting this alongside Siete Leguas, which shares nearly the same regional origin and production methods... and this is more delicate, smoother, and herbal, whereas the SL is richer and more robust... both are equally excellent.

I used to think I liked aged tequilas more, but someone convinced me that unaged varieties are better for truly experiencing the spirit's authentic character. After exploring a few, I've come to agree, although I still enjoy aged options. This exploration led me to try more unaged tequilas. I was convinced that a certain brand was the best unaged tequila, but I was mistaken. Tasting these side-by-side, I was actually quite disappointed with that other brand because it was apparent that sugar had been added. The main point is this: for an unadulterated, delicious unaged tequila, get this bottle and you can thank me later. It's incredibly tasty, and now I'm searching for the next amazing unaged tequila. 8/17/22

This is my preferred blanco tequila for drinking straight. It also works wonderfully in cocktails, but given the price, it's probably better to consider other options for mixing. I must say, though, it makes a fantastic margarita. The aroma is characterized by strong earthy notes, olive brine, and sea salt. The palate is where this truly excels, offering citrus, bell pepper, and a smooth, oily texture. The finish is quite long with almost no heat. If you're seeking a top-tier blanco tequila, this should be high on your list. It's excellent served neat or in cocktails. Highly recommended.

The aroma is lime and mineral, with a salty, chenin blanc wine character. The palate offers earthy minerals, the scent of struck stones, roasted celery and fennel root, and apple, but without caramelization. A background sweetness of agave syrup is present, along with a dry citrus, vegetal, and herbal quality that persists in the finish. This tequila is on another level and was a pleasant surprise. It's the finest blanco I've ever encountered, elegant and meant to be savored neat. I can barely imagine mixing it.