To say I feel strongly about Tequila is an understatement. What does Tequila mean to me? Special occasions. It means sipping a very expensive Don Julio, Reposado of course, listening to great tunes, eating local guac and ceviche on vacation. Expensive and rare.
I’ll admit something to you all. I’m a “Woo-Hoo” girl. And cheap Tequila makes me “Woo-Hoo.” It also “makes my clothes come off.” In fact, Baltimore has seen more than one of my raggedy, so called cute bras on many dumb occasions. Stop it, don’t judge, you’ve done it…right? And good lord did I need to stop hugging all the new best friends I met while enjoying the dirtiest nectar of all the gods.
So one day, I met a fine fellow from Cozumel that introduced me to the fine pleasures of a good Tequila buzz, while enjoying the taste, and at the same time stopped making me show my latest Victoria Secret purchases to all of the world. I’ve been hooked since.
I like Reposados because of their complexities. Vanilla, caramel, sometimes bourbon, a little agave and always aged. They are often stored in American, French or Canadian oak barrels. These Tequilas aren’t meant to be mixed, although you can, with pleasure.
Funny story. I went to my* liquor store. Saw a bottle of Don Julio Reposado that was priced at $14.99. Um what? Of course I’m all over that. My husband had other purchases and paid for everything. When I got home I looked at the bill and wondered why we spent over $80! Welllll, apparently the price gun they were using was a little short on ink. We enjoyed that bottle with very little guilt.
This brings me to Espolón Tequila Reposado. In this economy one should be able to get a nice Tequila for less than $45, right? Actually,I do enjoy Jose Cuervo’s 1800, and then there’s Hornito’s, which I know is a popular one around here. But both, are kinda meh, (sorry guys, Hornito’s is so very meh) especially when you hold Tequila as an occasion as opposed to as, well, no offense, a “Woo-Hoo.”
Espolón is priced at $22 to $25 for a 750 ML bottle. The artwork on the bottle is quite interesting. If you get into that stuff, the artwork on the bottle is illustrated in traditional “Dia de los Muertos” style. If you aren’t familiar, Google the history.
My first taste was two big sips. I wanted to see if it burned. Something I always was turned off by on the cheaper brands. It did not. I do not chill my Tequila, nor do I chase it with “training wheels” (lime or salt). Then I sipped. It wasn’t overly complex, but I was able to detect some oak, a bit of agave and just a tad of caramel. But mostly it tried. It truly tries to keep up with the big boys, which is a tall order. I can see mixing it as a Margarita, especially if you like a strong Tequila flavored Margarita. The Blanco advertises itself as a better mixer, so if you prefer a milder Tequila in your mixed drinks, you may want to go in that direction.
I will say this. It has legs. Like wine, you can judge a Tequila by what is known as “legs.” The more “legs” or clinging to the glass, the better. The legs are slow and thin, which means it’s flavor will coat your mouth, and it does. I like that. I object to the primarily oaky taste then the agave finish, as opposed to a milder oaky flavor and stronger caramel agave finish, however, price wins out. Again, no offense, but Espolón is a sophomore that blew a senior at the prom. It knows where it’s going, it knows what it wants to be one day. It’s just not quite there. But I think it could be, as long as it doesn’t wear Cavalli.
Espolón Tequila Reposado is made from 100% Blue Agave and is aged for six months in American barrels. It is produced in the Los Altos region of Jalisco. It received a 90 from Wine Enthusiast Magazine and won the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It is available nationwide in the US.
Overall I’m okay with Espolón as a decent sipping Tequila. After three drinks, clothes still remain on and not one “Woo-Hoo” to be heard in house. It doesn’t quite hold up against the more expensive brands, but it isn’t bad for a mid-priced brand at all.
Crass Product Rating – B-
*you know you own your own neighborhood liquor store.
Photo: Flickr
