Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila

Today's cocktail exploration involves a tequila tasting. Specifically, we're evaluating a selection of blanco (also called silver or plata) tequilas neat. This summer has been dedicated to tequila martinis, and this is a quest for the finest to craft that delicious cocktail. The four tequilas examined here are Don Fulano, G4, Siete Leguas, and our house selection, Olmeca Altos. On the nose, the Olmeca is sweet with subtle vegetal and vanilla notes. The Siete Leguas is more robust, showing a distinct cooked agave aroma. The G4 is a bit more restrained than the Siete Leguas, but also includes some spicy elements. The Don Fulano is clean and sweet, possibly the most delicate of the group. On the palate, the Olmeca is a solid tequila. Hints of black pepper, cooked agave, powdered sugar, and green, leafy notes make it an interesting pour without any harshness. This is a superb value tequila, and we purchase it in large quantities. The Siete Leguas possesses a much deeper flavor profile than the Olmeca, with a richer, oilier texture, ample black pepper, cooked agave, and cactus notes. The G4 is both smoother (a descriptor I dislike but it fits here) and perhaps more intricate. A very pleasant sipper! Gentle on the palate, with a lovely lingering finish. The Don Fulano offers a touch of licorice (reminiscent of Good'n'Plenty), an interesting funkiness, the essential agave, and a bit more heat. This is expected given its higher proof (100 vs. 80), but it doesn't come across as overly alcoholic. Silky and rich are fitting descriptions. Both my wife and I favor the Siete Leguas for a tequila martini. Dee also prefers it neat. My wife notes that the G4 has a more prominent finish with some oily, diesel-like characteristics. She ranks the Olmeca second and is somewhat put off by the higher proof and funkiness of the Don Fulano. I agree with her regarding the Siete Leguas in a tequila martini, but I absolutely love the funkiness and higher proof of the Don Fulano when tasted neat. It's my top choice here, with Siete Leguas in second place and a tie between the Olmeca and the G4. This last point is significant as the G4 is nearly double the price of the Olmeca, making this particular expression unlikely to become a regular purchase. That said, it is genuinely quite good. So, what about this tequila martini? Well, it's a 2:1 ratio of tequila to Bianco Italian vermouth. We really enjoy the (very affordable) MARTINI & ROSSI bianco for this. I'd also be interested in trying Carpano to see if the increased cost brings any enhanced flavor, though I'm skeptical. I can definitively say that Dolin Blanc did not achieve the desired impact in this cocktail. Stir the aforementioned components in a mixing glass with ice, adding a couple of dashes of orange, lemon, or lime bitters (or no bitters at all, as my wife prefers). Strain and serve over a large ice cube (Old Fashioned style for my whiskey-loving companions) or, even better, over a large cube of pressed coconut water (Dee insists on this). Yes, it's as delightful as it sounds and will undoubtedly cure what ails you. Cheers!

Rating: 16/23 Nose: This has a really mellow smell. Initially, I detect minerals, but it quickly becomes oily, bringing in some interesting herbaceous complexity, white pepper, olive brine, a touch of paper, and perhaps the faintest hint of mint and lime. It's not mind-blowing, but I enjoy this profile. Palate: Sweeter than anticipated! It's interesting that it has some sweet agave I didn't notice on the nose. It's combined with minerals, oil, and white pepper. Also somewhat grassy. There's some slightly bitter brine, which might indicate lime rind. That's mixed with some interesting herbaceous notes that are somewhat hard to identify. I'm actually detecting very faint cinnamon within the spices. There's even a faint pineapple flavor. Both of those are very subtle, though. My overall impression is that this is very well-balanced with good complexity, but the complexity falls a bit short of its potential, and the standard 40% ABV makes it less full than it ideally would be. Finish: That sweet agave layer remains with some oiliness. The minerals and white pepper are still present. Breathing through my mouth swirls some herbal aromas. Late in the finish, there's some lingering mint, which is quite pleasant. - Conclusion - Compared side-by-side, the fullness, richness, and sweetness of Fortaleza Blanco Still Strength 2019 (17/23) really impress me more than this does. However, I have no doubt this surpasses Cazadores Reposado. I think that places it in the 13 to 16 range. This definitely works as a sipper, so I believe a 13 is out of the question. My tendency is to place this closer to the Fortaleza than the Cazadores. That pineapple note this has, which the Fortaleza lacks, is a particularly nice advantage for this one. If I had to choose now, I'd probably go with a 15. Revisiting this, I appreciate it much more. The bitterness is less pronounced, and despite the complexity not being amazing, it has its own distinct character that is quite tasty. I'm now considering as high as a 17, although I'm hesitant to go that far. I'll give it a 16.

This tequila has an overly salty and briny quality that immediately disqualifies it as a premium Blanco in my collection. Opening the bottle releases a powerful aroma of truffle butter and ripe olives. So, while it has a strong scent, it's also very focused. There's no sweetness on the palate until the very end of the short finish, and even then, it's overshadowed by the strong salinity left on the lips. The baked agave flavor is muted and flat, dominated by mineral notes with no sweetness or fruitiness. It's quite disappointing. I'm unsure if it's the specific batch, but it presents a completely savory profile. It's an acceptable spirit, but not great, and certainly not outstanding for its price in the premium Blanco category. It's very salty with prominent mineral notes, lacks complexity, and has a rather thin body. Quite forgettable...

This immediately smells like tequila, with a mix of minerals, sweetness, herbs, and a kick of spice. There are just a few things going on, but the flavors are all quite good. I do wish there were less pepper, but I would sip this as is and be reasonably happy. Pineapple is here, mixed with lime and maybe a little olive. The pineapple presence makes this really refreshing and fun. Some sage gets in there too, but it does not overwhelm. As it is, this is pretty mellow and quite rounded. It's rich without having a bunch of bad flavors. The slightly bitter earthy and smoky notes on the finish play well with the sweetness and minerals. There is a good amount going on. Not a masterpiece, but very good. Note: this review underestimates the sweetness.

Tasted neat from a recently opened bottle. The aroma is agave, white pepper, and earthy, with a faint hint of funky hay. The taste is sweet, featuring agave, tropical fruit, cinnamon candy, minerals, and a whisper of that hay and some herbs. The mouthfeel is moderately rich. The finish is quite long, most notably with cinnamon, minerals, and that earthy hay. There's a lot to experience here. I believe the yeast truly distinguishes this spirit. It's sweet and fruity from the highland agave, yet possesses an earthy, rustic, slightly funky character from the yeast. It's a pleasing contrast that provides balance and is certainly a sipper meant for engaging the taste buds. It might not appeal to everyone, but if you appreciate fine tequila and good cheese, I think you'll love it.

Nose: Citrus is the main scent. The agave is subtle. The ethanol note is stronger than anticipated. Taste: The agave is light, with a fairly strong lemon zest flavor present. It has a good mix of sweetness (hints of vanilla and syrup) and sharp bitterness (perhaps from the citrus?). The texture is lighter than I prefer, but not excessively so. It's smooth with minimal alcohol burn. Finish: Short. Flavors of citrus, and like the nose and taste, it's light on the agave. Very little alcohol burn. Overall, I tend to prefer tequilas with a more pronounced agave flavor, so this was slightly lacking for me. However, it's balanced and quite enjoyable.