Lunazul Blanco Tequila

I wasn't familiar with this tequila or its distillery, but I became curious when it started appearing in bars everywhere as the new premium cocktail option. I've since had it in many cocktails with better-than-average flavors, but never by itself. For this fantastic price, there must be a reason for it, right? The aroma carries more than a foot from the glass, though it's a bit of a mix and hard to pick out individual notes. Up close, the smell of very young agave dominates, with secondary vegetal notes and harsh ethanol. There's also a strong presence of white pepper, and I can tell some citrus is attempting to emerge but isn't strong enough. The first taste is a little heavy on the ethanol, but it doesn't add depth to the body. The harsh, young vegetal flavors are still on the tongue, developing slightly before the finish delivers a massive burst of both black and white pepper. The pepper truly stands out but isn't overwhelming. It does, however, taste like the last few spoonfuls of a broth that's been marinating in freshly ground pepper. While very focused, this tequila offers both uniqueness and a kick, enough to challenge former well tequilas in terms of flavor and status. If it remains at the price I paid, it could be a strong candidate for a budget shelf replacement, but it's still good enough that I wouldn't deliberately pick it for a cocktail if other options were available at a restaurant.

It has an empty and slightly bitter aroma. However, the palate is surprisingly full. It's not too bitter, but also not very complex. This is definitely a tequila for mixing. There's a significant mineral character, a respectable amount of sweetness, and some pepper. A hint of alcohol is present. There's a little mint and some pleasant pineapple, but nothing extraordinary. I could drink it for a short while, but it quickly becomes dull. It reminds me somewhat of Espolon Blanco, but with less tomato. Honestly, it's not bad and its flavor is noticeable. Some cocoa bitterness is reminiscent of Casamigos, and there's some Herradura minerality, but it's well-managed. It's fruity with some cocoa and vanilla. The nose has some nice tequila characteristics: lime, smoke, crispy chicken skin, a bit of salt, a little mint, and perhaps a hint of thyme. The palate is nice and smooth initially, with some prickliness appearing but not dominating. The flavors are balanced with sweetness holding steady amidst light mint, lime, earthy/herbal notes, and mild vanilla. It's enjoyable enough to sip but would also make a great mixer. It's on the lighter side, but not excessively sweet and doesn't taste off in any particular way. Compared to Cabeza Blanco, the flavors are milder, but they complement each other well.

Pungent I realize this is contrary to what the official source states, but I find this quite pungent. Drinking this gives me a spice reminiscent of a barrel. The heat from consuming this is comparable to the heat from drinking a spicy whiskey; perhaps I'm mixing perceptions, but it seems pungent. I struggle to detect the agave's flavor clearly in this; I perceive more of its earthy quality. Given that this was a very affordable tequila, it's almost always a worthwhile purchase. The only drawback is that I get more earthy agave notes than vegetal ones, which requires some adjustment.

Smells like lime and salt, with a whisper of charred agave. The taste is dry and sweet, featuring grapefruit and vanilla, salt, and pulverized rock. A faint ethanol presence. The finish has a fleeting grassy agave and smoky char flavor, followed by a mint tingle. It has a light body and concludes quickly. It's an acceptable blanco tequila, but not particularly memorable. Citrus and vanilla notes are present. It's suitable for mixing, especially considering the cost.

A smooth Agave Spirit from Lunazul Distillery in Mexico, twice distilled using stills previously employed in Cognac production. It presents an initial aroma with hints of agave, fruits, nuts, herbs, and spices; followed by a smooth and creamy middle with notes of citrus, a touch of cinnamon, and cloves; concluding with a warm and spicy finish featuring notes of pepper and almonds. May 2017

Having sampled around 7-8 different tequilas, for Lunazul's price point of $13.99 for a 750ml bottle, it's a definite winner in terms of cost and is excellent for cocktails. If I were to conduct a blind taste test against top-shelf brands like Patron, Don Julio, and Hornitos, it would hold its own. It's certainly much better than your typical Jose Cuervo.