Olmeca Altos Reposado Tequila

The aroma is mild and somewhat sweet, with caramel and light cherry notes that steer clear of tasting like a common brand. It has a subtle brandy-like scent, similar to a certain well-known cognac, but very faint. The palate is unexpectedly thick. The flavor is delicate but pleasant, with a mild tingle in the background and some subtle cherry notes akin to that cognac. There's a hint of mint from the agave, but it doesn't dominate. Regrettably, the flavor is not very intense and remains quite subtle, although the individual tastes are good. Its flavor profile is superior to another blanco, but it lacks a stronger taste. I favor a different reposado because it has more presence. This tastes disappointingly muted, which is unfortunate given the pleasing thick texture. This has a rather bland and subtle nose with some traces of mineral and herbs. More earthy notes gradually emerge. The palate is also light. The flavor is well-executed in character, but it's too delicate. There's some nice spice along with some bitter herbs and a bit of peppermint and cooked agave. The influence of wood adds vanilla, enhancing the peppermint flavor. It's actually quite sweet, but not excessively so. There are some smooth, sweeter baking spices. The finish is rather brief but possesses a nice, lightly sweet floral quality. If its intensity were slightly higher, it could be truly outstanding. The flavor profile is somewhat better than a specific reposado, but it's just far too mild. It's marginally better than another reposado due to its improved balance and character, but with such a faint flavor, it's genuinely challenging to appreciate this tequila. It also surpasses a specific blanco (which is inferior to the aforementioned reposado).

Nose: Sweet honey, mild vegetal scents (like cooked green beans, sprouts, broccoli), a hint of flinty mineral salt, subtle vanilla, and a trace of lemon peel. Palate: A smooth and well-balanced entry featuring brine, spice, and sweetness in good harmony. The flavors develop quickly and fade just as fast, adding little beyond an amplification of the initial tastes, plus some mixed spice and caramel. The texture is pleasing but not exceptional. Finish: Medium. Lightly sweet vegetal notes that fade into a gentle black pepper tingle. I'm not a big tequila fan, and when I crave agave spirit, I usually opt for mezcal. It's not that I dislike tequila, it's just not my preferred spirit profile, and life's too short, as they say. However, a couple of weeks ago, a companion and I were introduced to the "Tommy's Margarita" for the first time. While we don't care much for the standard Margarita, we both really enjoyed the Tommy's version (it uses reposado tequila instead of blanco and omits the triple sec). So, we searched for a reposado and found this at our local store for a very fair price. It's in the same category as El Jimador, and I believe it's at least as good, if not superior, and it definitely shines in mixed drinks. As a neat sipper, it's more than adequate. "Good": 84/100 (3.75 stars)

Tasted neat as part of a flight of all three Altos expressions, rated second, second bottle opened. After six more months of experience. Aroma is clear and vibrant, with a touch of oak, raw sugar/agave, vanilla, fresh green herbs, and mint leaves. Taste matches the aroma. Thin body, sugary sweet, with notes of pear, light green herbs, perfectly balanced by vanilla and oak tannins. The finish is long, with oak tannins, saccharine sweetness, and building black pepper and cinnamon heat over several sips. I truly appreciate this tequila line for its absence of additives and its almost gin-like herbal character. If you like gin, this is for you. I usually avoid reposados because they can be a compromise between the clean, delicate flavors of blanco and the woody character of añejo, but this one strikes a nice balance, retaining the blanco's delicate notes while adding oak and vanilla complexity. For me, it's a regular purchase. In a blind tasting, it was slightly above average, but considering its uniqueness, honest production, and price, it gets a significant bonus.

Tasting neat. The nose presents sweet, bright, sharp ethanol, raw agave, fruitiness, a hint of oak, pepper, and vanilla. While any college student would identify this as tequila, it's far more refined. The taste is crisp with raw agave, fruit, and is powdered sugar sweet. It also has hints of herbal mint, black pepper, with very slight vanilla and some cocoa notes towards the end. The finish is long-lasting and saccharine, with a touch of hot cinnamon and oak tannin. The overall mouthfeel is moderately thin. This one puzzles me. I've consumed a third of the bottle trying to understand it. I love the blanco and its bright, fruity, crisp summer character. Those flavors are still present, but the barrel aging interferes with those delicate notes and doesn't add much. I also recognize that I'm attempting to compare it...

Nose: sweet cooked agave, creamy earthiness, salted caramel, honey, vanilla, lime, apple juice, mushroom, nutmeg, allspice, light smoke, prickly grainy notes, mild ethanol burn. Taste: syrupy sweet agave, salted creamy caramel, vanilla bean, apple, lime, juicy tropical fruit, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, mushroom-like earthiness, black pepper, slight chalkiness, mild alcohol bite, finishing moderately long with lingering sweet agave, caramel, baking spice, and apple juice flavors. Remarkably good for an inexpensive tequila. I procured this for use in Tommy Margaritas, but would be perfectly content sipping it straight. I consider the prominent grain alcohol, syrupy sweetness, and mushroom notes to be drawbacks, but they are subtle and don't significantly diminish the enjoyment.

It's been a little while since I last sampled a Reposado. I appreciate the hammered texture on this container. A sign of things to come for the individual opening the bottle... Nose is sweet, saline, and earthy agave. Hints of vanilla and bourbon. There's a slight burn on the palate, yet it's well-balanced. Notes of green pepper, caramelized onion, and honey. The finish is medium in length and quite sweet, almost like candy. This is an intriguing spirit, as it oscillates between rough and smooth. This tasting was pleasant, but I primarily acquired this for crafting palomas. Time will tell how they turn out.