Spirits Archives - Page 11 of 16 - First Pour Cocktails

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

Posted on July 2, 2021January 9, 2023 by Nick

There was a time (and in some states still is a time) when you could walk in and purchase a bottle of Eagle Rare in the mid $20 price point. Depending on where you live, Eagle Rare is now a borderline rare bottle that inspires truck chasers to wait in long lines for a chance to sample it. While one can debate the virtue (and value) of doing this, one thing isn’t up for debate. Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon is in fact very tasty for the MSRP.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

Sight: A beautiful copper that leans toward oloroso sherry.

Smell: Beautiful notes of ripe, red cherries waft out followed by notes of caramel, roasted almonds, and spices ranging from nutmeg to cinnamon. The background has an almost mulled wine like character with cooked berries and orange notes. The nose has just the slightest about of heat and has a good oak backbone that doesn’t shine too aggressively.

Sip: The mouth feel is smooth and the texture is well rounded. The immediate flavor profile starts out with cherries, hints of orange, and touches of caramelized sugar. Hints of plums and spices enter back in before giving way to cigar box, cherry jam, and toasted oak.

Savor: The ending builds on the cherry notes and baking spices. It leans dry, and lingers for a long period of time bringing in more char.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon is delightfully complex and well rounded with a slightly dry finish. The complexity of the nose is matched by the great texture and complex flavor on the palate. The flavor profile is also dynamic, evolving throughout the experience of sipping it. It continues to open up new dimensions of itself. The most impressive part is the value, which at $30 is exceptional.

In Cocktails

Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon plays delightfully in cocktails if you can bring yourself to spare it for the application. The flavors of cherry accentuate the nuances of the sweet vermouth and building on both the spice of the bourbon and the bitters. The net result is a smooth Manhattan that’s well rounded between fruit, spice, and sweetness. In an Old Fashioned, it amplifies the spice elements while providing a red fruit hint from the bourbon.

In Review: Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

Eagle Rare is an exceptionally good bourbon for the $30 price point. The hardest part of Eagle Rare is reliably finding it. While some states are known to have heavy allocations (to the point that it’s regularly available on their shelves), other states [like Ohio] are subject to some fairly out of control tatering. This could unfortunately means you’ll be driving out of state or sitting in lawn chair on delivery day to try to get bottle of Eagle Rare. That said, if you find it at retail, you should absolutely buy a bottle. The tight supply regrettably means that Eagle Rare will not be added to our recommended list of bottles for starting a home bar.

Eagle Rare Website

Western Reserve Distillers Silver Rum

Posted on June 25, 2021June 21, 2021 by Nick

Located in our backyard of Lakewood, Ohio, Western Reserve Distillers has been churning out an assortment of liquors since 2015. Among them is Western Reserve Distillers Silver Rum. Starting life in Louisiana, sugar cane is harvested and converted into Black Pearl molasses. Once brought to Western Reserve, the molasses is fermented with special strain of tropical yeast and then double distilled using a copper kettle. The distillate is then aged in bourbon barrels before being filtered to remove the color.

Western Reserve Distillers Silver Rum

Sight: Clear.

Smell: Vanilla and powder sugar coat a lightly toasted coconut. Touches of tropical fruits and banana hide around the edge with just a hint of spice.

Sip: The sip starts off with predominately toasted marshmallows and vanilla. The flavors gradually expand into notes of oak and spice, with a hint of tropical fruit. The body is smooth and moderate in its weighting. A little heat builds over time.

Savor: The ending contains some of the same oak and marshmallow notes, but the flavors dissipate relatively quickly, leaving more oak notes behind.

Western Reserve Silver Rum is an easy going, well crafted rum for the lightly aged category. It really shines on the toasted sugar side of the spectrum, especially with the vanilla and marshmallow notes. The wood notes can occasionally peak through, especially on the ending, but not unpleasantly. The overall effect is a rum that’s pleasant enough to taste, if not complex enough to sip.

In Cocktails

Western Reserve Distillers Silver Rum makes a fantastic daiquiri. The notes of vanilla and toasted marshmallow are accentuated by the simple syrup, and counterbalance nicely against the brightness of the lime. The net effect is akin to hints of key lime pie and lime popsicles. In other tiki drinks this helps Western Reserve Silver Rum play well, acting as a stand in for El Dorado 3 in our Love Potion.

In Review: Western Reserve Distillers Silver Rum

Western Reserve Distillers Silver Rum is a fantastic cocktail rum, ready to be employed for lightly aged rums. While it is good, we give a slight hat tip toward El Dorado 3, which achieves a very similar flavor profile at almost half the price. That aside, if you want to splurge and try a very nice rum from the north shore, then we recommend Western Reserve Silver Rum for a place in your bar.

Western Reserve Distillers Website

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto

Posted on June 18, 2021June 9, 2021 by Nick

Based on an 1850’s recipe for the ‘apreritivo di corte’ or drink of kings, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto is a bergamot based apreritivo. Made in the ‘rosolio’ style (think semi-homemade and flavored with herbs), Italicus has been modernized to lean into bitter orange and floral notes. The bottle is appropriately attractive, and enticing with it’s blue glass. Is it worth adding a bottle to your shelf though?

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto

Sight: A straw gold, similar to a young chardonnay.

Smell: A perfumed nose leads off with a mix of floral tones ranging from lavender to roses. As the nose settles, the citrus notes present prominently giving off touches of lemon and orange. The nose of bergamot tea is prevalent throughout.

Sip: The start is sweet and rich on the palate, giving a tea like complexity off the start. The sweetness continues throughout, but is joined by a gradual citrus bitterness. The citrus exists somewhere between bergamot and lemon. Floral notes hint around the edges with rose and lily and a hint of lychee.

Savor: The finish is slightly bitter, but decidedly bergamot orange with hints of perfumed flowers.

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto is delightfully smooth, sweet, and perfectly balanced in its hints of bitterness. The flavor of bergamot leads, but corresponding citrus complexity and floral notes add a beautiful element to this liqueur. The perfumed nature and nature balance lends it to an ice cube if you were so inclined, but Italicus works better in cocktails.

In Cocktails

Italicus is in the vein of creme de violette, you don’t need a lot of it to make an impact on a drink. We’ve found that a quarter ounce addition to a gin and tonic or classic drink can add a complexity that leaves you wanting more. Our favorite application of Italicus is with gin, but it also works particularly well with summer fruits like peaches.

Due to the lack of classic cocktails featuring Italicus – we do not have a testing drink.

In Review: Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto

Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto is honestly delicious. If you’re starting your bar, we recommend you skip this one unless you know you love it. It is a great next choice for those looking to expand their liqueur select and who also enjoy creme de violette or St. Germain Elderflower liquor. Unlike creme de violette, you’ll actually find places to slip Italicus into your favorite drinks. While the price is in the mid-$30s to low $40s, a bottle should last you a while.

Italicus’ Website

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey

Posted on June 11, 2021May 19, 2021 by Nick

While wheated bourbon is incredibly popular, wheat whiskey is still much less common. Among the few wheat whiskeys with broad distribution is Heaven Hill’s Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey. This 51% wheat mash bill based whiskey is aged seven years in new charred oak barrels.

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey

Sight: Somewhere near chestnut / oloroso sherry.

Smell: Honey and vanilla lead off with background notes campfire logs and baking spice. A hint of strawberry cream hides around the edges with a little cotton candy and nuttiness.

Sip: The mouthfeel is well rounded but not overtly full bodied, and there’s a subtle sweetness to it. Caramel and honey lead off with notes of oak, coconut, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. It opens up with hints of dried orange, green apple, dark red fruits, and a bit of lemon as it goes.

Savor: On the finish, the tannins carry through, and notes of cinnamon, oak, and honey all emerge. As it lingers, cloves come forward adding a fruitiness that feels more fresh and suggests a hint of red fruits and apples.

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey is a rather unique as whiskeys go. The flavors that emerge are softer, fruitier, and less spice and oak driven than many bourbons. Meanwhile, without the rye to get in the way, these flavors result in a more delicate, yet distinctly American oak aged offering. The resulting sip gives it a uniqueness that makes it inviting and more interesting than the run of the mill offering.

Bernheim In Cocktails

Due to it’s unique flavor profile Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey doesn’t always fit the mould for classic bourbon forward drinks. While it can make a decent old fashioned or a rather delicate Manhattan, it can seem a little overwhelmed by it’s supporting cast at times. This means that it plays second fiddle when you want it to step up and take the lead. In our testing, we found an affinity with honey simple syrups and liqueurs that emphasize some of the fruitier and honeyed notes found on the palate. For good fun, try swapping out regular simple in your old fashioned for a rich honey simple, and switch the aromatic bitters for walnut bitters.

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey Overall

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey is delicious, and in a straight tasting, offers something to compete with the likes of Weller Special Reserve and Maker’s Mark. When it comes to cocktails though, this is ancillary bottle that’s best added after you setup a core bar. That said, we love the dynamic profile of Bernheim and certainly recommend it to anyone tired of traditional bourbon. Plus, at $30 it won’t break the bank, and as of writing isn’t subject to rampant tatering.

Bernheim Website

Goslings Black Seal Rum

Posted on June 4, 2021May 19, 2021 by Nick

Other than Beefeater Gin, I can’t think of a bottle we have consumed so many of as Goslings Black Seal Rum. Rum purists will argue this rum is dosed (has added sugar), but who gives a damn. You’re not drinking it straight, you’re putting this bad boy in all sorts of Tiki inspired drinks, and you should enjoy it. Plus, it’s cheap, and widely available.

Goslings Black Seal Rum

Sight: A deep cola brown.

Smell: Cola and orange zest leap out, followed by molasses, brown sugar, hints of cherry, and a slightly herbal/medicinal note. Light touches of rum ester join along with a bit of alcohol and caramel.

Sip: The same notes of cola, brown sugar, orange zest, spice, and touches of cherry join in on the palate. The mouthfeel is slightly thick, but very smooth (most likely due to the dosage). It’s a touch sweet, almost noticeably so with a hint of candied sugar.

Savor: The ending carries out more molasses, brown sugar, citrus zest notes. It’s a muddled finish, with a slight burn and drying character.

Goslings Black Seal Rum is unapologetic about being a brown sugar bomb with some fruity flavors. There’s nothing refined going on in the palate, it’s a straightforward smash and grab of flavors. Truth be told, while I could sip it straight, I think I’d get bored and overwhelmed by it’s ‘look at me’ character. That same character makes it a show stopper in Tiki drinks.

In Cocktails

Goslings Black Seal Rum stands up to even the strongest flavors, and unleashes a bombastic hit of brown sugar, molasses, and spice back in return. This results in a warm, inviting flavor profile that syncs well with both tropical flavors and dessert like sweetness. In a Cuba Libre, it takes the cola and lime to another level, adding a caramelized character to the overall flavor profile. A classic Grog also shows off the molasses and spice notes well.

It’s versatile for making your own creations too. In our Lump of Coal, it provides the brown sugar background notes to help carry the linkage between coconut milk stout and other rum funks present.

Christmas Cocktails 2019 - A Lump of Coal — A Lump of Coal

Goslings Black Seal Rum In Review

As you can probably tell, we love Goslings Black Seal Rum. At $17 for a bottle, we recommend you get one to try, specifically in a Dark & Stormy, Smuggler’s Cove’s Piñata, and in a Cuba Libre. If you find you like it, it’s cheap to keep around, and extremely versatile.

Four Roses Small Batch

Posted on May 28, 2021May 16, 2021 by Nick

Four Roses Small Batch is a blend of 4 different blends of bourbons. Four Roses has two different mash bills (E and B), and 5 different yeast strains that allow them to make 10 different bourbon recipes. The mash bills are as follows:

B – 60% Corn | 35% Rye | 5% Malted Barley
E – 75% Corn | 20% Rye | 5% Malted Barley

For this blend, they utilize the slight spice yeast and rich fruit blends from both mash bills to create Four Roses Small Batch.

Four Roses Small Batch

Sight: A moderate gold, somewhere between deep copper and burnished.

Smell: The nose starts a little warm before resting, but opens up into a creamy caramel and spice. Oak begins to show itself prominently, and touches of dried apricot and cherries come through. The nose is inviting, if not complex.

Sip: The mouthfeel is lighter and more delicate than expected, but there’s plenty of caramelized sugars, oak, and spices. Fruits emerge gently, bringing forward touches of summer berries and stone fruits. It’s almost deliberately delicate.

Savor: The finish actually amps up slightly, delivering a punch of spice and browned sugar notes before relaxing back into a mix of ripe fruit, toasted oak, and almost cocoa nib like notes.

Four Roses Small Batch is really an interesting bourbon. Not only is it somewhat delicate on both the nose and palate, but it doesn’t fade on the savor. Instead, that amp up makes it even more satisfying since the flavors linger warmly. On its own it’s enjoyable, even if it’s a little straight foward.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan, it unsurprisingly creates a softer drink. The emphasis here ends up on some of the fruitier notes in the whiskey, combining with the vermouth to emphasize a very caramel like outcome. The oaked notes become more subtle, and the spice subsides, linger around the edges. The overall character is softer, allowing more of the wine’s sweetness to play the lead.

Four Roses Small Batch In Review

Four Roses Small Batch is delicate, yet inviting. It allows other elements to play in synchronicity, instead of trying to take over. The result is a bourbon that’s both at home neat and in cocktails. While it is good, and the value is fair in the low to mid $30 price point, it also isn’t quite as versatile as other bourbons. From that stand point, we suggest you try Four Roses Small Batch if you’re a fan of more delicate, subtle bourbons, but don’t necessarily stock it as your primary go to bourbon.

Four Roses Website

Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva

Posted on May 21, 2021May 21, 2021 by Nick

Cognacs and brandies are aged like whiskeys, first distilled, and then aged in oak casks. While the minimum aging is usually around 2 years, many producers extend there aging beyond that point. This isn’t the only way to age a liquor though. Enter Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva, which utilizes the Solera method to craft a brandy utilizing Spanish white grapes.

Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva

Aged in ex-American oak casks used for Amontillado casks for three years, Lustau Brandy de Jerez is produced in the Solera method.

The Solera method is a method of aging multiple vintages and blending them over time. When in a Solera, wine (or in this case liquor) is placed in tiers, where the youngest wine is at the top of scale, the oldest wine is placed at the bottom. The wine is then removed from the lowest level in parts for bottling, and is replenished by the layer above. Depending on the size of the solera, this layer is topped up with the layer above it, until top is reached – where new wine (or liquor) is added. By this blending method, multiple vintages of wine are combined so that the end product is consistent.

Sight: A lovely brownish caramel with hints of aging pennies.

Smell: There’s a beautifully raisined smell that comes off in heady waves. It mixes dark fruits and caramelized, dried fruit sugars. Touches of candied sugars and yeastiness join in with touches of candied orange and dried apricots.

Sip: The caramelized fruit sugars continue onto the palate with a light sweetness that gradually fades. Notes of oak and yeast come in, with a bit of baking croissant. Touches of raisin and an earthiness continue throughout with a hint of spice and nuttiness.

Savor: The ending is gentle, tannic, and dry. Flavors of spice and toast mix with touches of dried dark fruit and a hint of caramel.

Lustau Brandy de Jerez is slightly sweet and delightfully layered. While there is a definite grape flavor going on, there’s also a lot of great dried fruit and caramelized sugar notes that don’t show up in all brandies. The complexity leaves it in a lovely spot below the price of cognac, but with significantly more complexity than basement dwellers. While it isn’t the most exciting sipper, there’s a lot here you can work with in a drink.

In Cocktails

In testing we found that Brandy de Jerez adds a lot of caramelized sugar, bready notes, and hints of fruit. As a result, it helps express complexity with Amaros or other spicy ingredients. In a sidecar it gives a delightful roundness and a dark fruit, spice, and nutty note that plays nicely off the citrus. In our upcoming cocktail book, you’ll be able to find one of our favorites, the Snickerdoodle.

Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva Overall

Lustau Brandy de Jerez was one of my favorite finds of the last year. It’s particularly fun to craft around, thanks to it’s deep complexity. If you need to split a difference between Christian Brothers and Pierre Ferrand 1840, this comes in at a price point that’s certainly worth a try. For these reasons, we feel that Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva deserves a spot on our recommended bottles for starting a home bar list.

Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva Cocktails

Crown Royal Peach

Posted on May 14, 2021May 4, 2021 by Nick

While we’re not particularly inclined to grab the flavor stuff off the shelfs, we know that Crown Royal does some well balanced flavored whiskeys. If you haven’t tried them, you especially owe it to yourself to try the Salted Caramel and Vanilla, both of which are rather delightful, if clearly flavored. This penchant for quality lead us to take a change on Crown Royal Peach. After all, summer is almost here, and there aren’t a lot of readily available peach liqueurs out there.

Crown Royal Peach

Sight: A beautiful mix of tawny and auburn.

Smell: There’s an amazing mix of fresh cut peaches and subtle more spicy, tea like notes. The peaches have only a hint of candied nature to them, and line up more with the smell right next to the pit of a fresh peach. The tea like elements are both herbal and slightly brown sugar like.

Sip: The sip is instantly sweet, but with a good amount of brightness and a tempered oak. The flavor of fresh peaches predominates, but brings in more of a candied element. Notes of sweet tea and woody elements creep in, giving a beautiful character.

Savor: The finish continues it’s balanced sweetness and leans into a black tea and peach character. It lingers longingly without being cloying.

Crown Royal Peach is decidedly peach forward, yet also extraordinarily well balanced. The brightness to the peach is natural and inviting. The whiskey elements lend some spice and herbal notes that decidedly compliment the whiskey. These elements make it a great option on ice, but also for mixing. It also should have better availability than some other liqueurs due to Crown’s distribution network.

In Cocktails

There are no obvious cocktails for a peach flavored whiskey, but in crafting originals, it’s well balanced and not overwhelming. It plays particularly well with lemon and honey syrups, leaning on it’s tea like elements. The subtle sweetness also helps it blend in. It’s worth noting that it’s not so sweet as to imbalance a drink. For these reasons, it may work as a stand in for Giffard Peche de Vigne, but keep in mind the underlying whiskey notes will make a difference.

Crown Royal Peach Overall

Crown Royal has most likely hit a solid triple with their Crown Royal Peach. The whiskey is very good and well balanced. The flavors are also natural and inviting. There’s a solid balance as well, but there’s something that leaves it rather one note. The success will depend on people finding easy obvious uses. With that said, we certainly hope Crown Royal Peach can stick around.

Giffard Curacao Bleu

Posted on May 7, 2021May 4, 2021 by Nick

Blue curacao is not necessarily a required ingredient in your home bar. At its core, it’s orange liqueur with blue coloring added. That coloring is the core of its charm, giving drinks an electrically colorful charm. Blue Curacao’s troubles stem from low quality producers that make poor quality curacaos, with bitter, chemical flavors. Thankfully, Giffard isn’t a low quality producer. So does Giffard Curacao Bleu do it better?

Giffard Curacao Bleu

Sight: It is undeniably blue. Somewhere between cobalt and azure with a hint of teal.

Smell: A bright smell of freshly zested oranges ranging from clementines to tangerines floats up. There’s a compliment of some vanilla notes and a hint of powder sugar. A slight tang of alcohol exists as well.

Sip: Sweet and thick to start, it brings in a slightly sour, candied orange flavor. The cloying sweetness has a hint of vanilla and other tropical orange zest notes to it.

Savor: The ending is cloyingly sweet, but leaves a light to moderate lingering tropical orange flavor palate.

Why anyone would want to drink Giffard Curacao Bleu straight is not for me to ponder. Suffice it to say that unless you a fan of saccharinely sweet liqueurs that are primarily orange flavored, then you will very little here to enjoy on it’s own.

In Cocktails

Lest we be too hard on Giffard Curacao Bleu, as it works wonderfully in cocktails. The two things you want blue curacao to do well are:

Be Blue
Impart a lightly-tropical but ultimately orangey flavor into a cocktail.

The first two things it passes with flying colors. It is, in fact, blue. It also happens to be orange flavored. More importantly, it passes another unspoken rule, it doesn’t impart any strange cheap flavoring or chemical flavors. This last one is the kiss of death of most of the Windex colored liqueurs you see gracing the bottom shelf.

There is a third, semi-unspoken objective that blue curacao also has (which Giffard passes), which is to add sweetness. The third is obviously optional, but something that always needs to be considered when making drinks with any orange liqueur. Overall, even though Giffard’s blue curacao is sweet, it’s not overwhelmingly sweet, and thanks to that, it replaces well with 1:1 simple. As a result of its good behavior and modifier characteristics, we’ve used it in both our original Frankenstein and Slimer cocktails.

Giffard Curacao Bleu Overall

Giffard Curacao Bleu is somewhat more expensive than it’s competitors, ranging from the low to mid $20s. We feel that based on the smooth characteristics, natural flavors, and balanced sweetness that it’s one of the best blue curacao options out there, and highly recommend it for any bar looking to add a blue curacao to their cocktail kit.

Giffard Curacao Bleu Cocktails

Halloween Inspired Cocktails 2019 - Slimer — Slimer

Mezcal Vago Elote

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Nick

Cinco de Mayo is almost upon us, and while everyone around you might be screaming for tequila, we want to remind you of the oft forgotten Mezcal. Mezcal Vago prides itself on its process. In the case of Mezcal Vago Elote, it’s made by Aquilino Garcia, the father-in-law of Mezcal Vago’s co-founder. He produces his own Mezcal in small batches from mature, ripe agaves (in this case Espadin), that are roasted, crushed under a tohana (big stone wheel pulled by a donkey), and then fermented in pine vats before being distilled. The process is honestly fascinating, and they’ve done an amazing job of demonstrating it on their website (which I encourage you to look at if just to see the donkey pulling the tohana).

With all the work that goes into making Mezcal Vago Elote, the price is understandable. Is it worth it though?

Mezcal Vago Elote

Sight: Clear.

Smell: Honeycomb, jalapenos, and fresh cut flowers waft out of the nose. Hints of herbs, smoke, and citrus run down the edges. Touches of tropical fruits join in giving a levity. There’s also a woodsy sort of perfume. as well.

Sip: The start is light, bright, and with a slight salinity. The elements of green peppers and honeycomb combine with smoke and perfume like notes. There’s not really any sweetness, but the body has a thick weight. There’s quite a bit of citrus and pepper here.

Savor: The ending is perfumed, laced with citrus, smoke, and herbal notes. There’s a touch of bitterness here that lingers.

Mezcal Vago Elote is much less smoke forward, and much more perfumed. There’s some beautiful floral and woodsy flavors that mix heavily with citrus and green herbs. The overall profile is really complex, and is enjoyable to not only sip on it’s own, but strong enough to stand up to other flavors.

In Cocktails

In our Rising Sun testing cocktail, Mezcal Vago Elote is the star of the show. The citrus, honeyed notes, and smoke all come to the forefront balancing beautifully against the richness of the maraschino spice and brightness of the lime. The grapefruit gives a punchiness and the entire experience rounds out with touches of herbs. The balance is actually perhaps better than our run with Bozal Ensamble thanks to a reduced penchant for smoke, but both end up being very good.

Rising Sun Cocktail — Toro Bravo’s Rising Sun

Mezcal Vago Elote Overall

At almost $50 a bottle, once could argue that Mezcal Vago Elote is expensive. However, considering the smoothness, the complexity, and overall sippable nature of this agave based spirit, it’s right in line with some of our top priced tequilas – like Casamigos and Siete Leguas. Unlike the tequilas, there aren’t as many down range mezcal offerings that will make as balanced a cocktail. For that reason, we recommend Mezcal Vago Elote if you’re looking for a reasonably priced mezcal that offers great value and a genuine handcrafted personality.

First Pour Cocktails’ 2021 Blanco Tequila Rankings for Cinco De Mayo

Posted on April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 by Nick

We haven’t spent as much time with tequila as we should, and it’s time for us to remedy that. So we took all our tequilas and decided to test them side by side for our 2021 Blanco Tequila Rankings for Cinco De Mayo. We put them through their paces, testing them on their own for sipping and in Margaritas. All of our Tequilas are blancos (sometimes refered to as Plata), and their price points range from $25 to $50, and most of these tequilas are widely available (depending on your state’s liquor controls).

The Tequilas

Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila
Casamigo Blanco Tequila
Gran Centenario Plata Tequila
Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila

Before We Start – Don’t Buy The Other Stuff! (Mixto / Non 100% Agave)

Prior to our round up, there was exactly one tequila on our site, a mixto. If you wanted to have a last place finisher on our round up, it’s that one.

Mixto tequilas are made up of a minimum of 51% blue agave by law. That sadly means that up to 49% of the bottle can be something else. Additives, neutral spirits, etc. The resulting products lack the depth, smoothness, and depth of flavor that exists from their 100% agave relatives. While it makes a serviceable cocktail, it’s not going to give you the special depth you’ll find with the rest of our list.

If you buy a bottle of a great tequila, you can still find other uses for your mixto. We’ve been slowly using up ours in margarita cheesecake bites and making peppers and onions for tacos.

2021 Blanco Tequila Rankings for Cinco De Mayo

4. Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila

Coming in at 4th place is Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila. Despite it’s ranking, this is a great tequila for the price and our go to bottle for cocktails. While Olmeca’s isn’t quite nice enough to sip on it’s own, it does great at standing up to citrus and liqueurs. This balance allows it to convey it’s tequila characteristics to a drink without getting lost.

Tasting Notes:

Sight: Clear

Smell: Roasted pepper – with salinity. Hints of hay and lime pith. Heavy on the lime – touches of minerality.

Sip: Smooth body, mildly flavor, agave hangs out as a base. Layers of lime and earthiness come forward.

Savor: The finish is short lived, but gives a smooth agave character with a hint of vanilla and black pepper

Olmeca is smooth if perhaps a little underpowered. In a margarita, Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila gives off its earthiness, agave notes, and green layers evenly against the brightness of the lime and the sweetness of the orange. The result is a balanced and tasty margarita that meets the ideal expectations, but doesn’t highlight the tequila or add anything extraordinary.

Price: $25

Website: https://us.altostequila.com/our-tequilas/

3. Gran Centenario Plata Tequila

Gran Centenario Plata Tequila just edges out Olmecas Platas, but there’s not a lot of daylight between these Tequila. The process is somewhat different than the other tequilas on our list. Blended in oak, there’s a subtle imparting of oak character not typically found in blanco tequilas. The resulting tequila is nicely balanced, a little edgier and certainly tinted with a hint of oak.

Sight: Slightly tinted yellow, but ever so lightly.

Smell: Salinity and fruity caramel play out. Agave hides in the background with spices and lime zest.

Sip: The body is a little coarse feeling, with a bit of edginess. A darker sort of woody character leans into salted agave. There are aggressive notes of minerality, hints of ferrous, and char.

Savor: The ending is a bit more burnt wood and agave.

Although Gran Centenario Plata isn’t the most appealing tequila to sip, it does well in cocktails. Peppery and more floral in character, it brings touches of spice and minerality. There’s a hint of bitterness, and the lime stands out more prominently than orange notes. The overall experience is a little less smooth, but makes up for it by showcasing the tequila in an enjoyable way.

Price: $29

Website: https://grancentenario.com/our-tequilas/

2. Casamigos Blanco Tequila

George Clooney’s Tequila pulls up in the ‘if you’re not first, you’re last’ position on our rankings. Casamigos Blanco Tequila loses out on the top spot not for being short of delicious, but just because of how un-tequila like it is. The heavy notes of non-tropical flavors and vanilla give this tequila a character unlike many others.

Made of blue agave aged 7-9 years, their pinas are roasted for 72 hours before a longer than usual 80 hour ferment. Casamigos also claims propriety yeast blend and rests the tequila for two months.

Sight: Clear.

Smell: Smells like George Clooney’s musk (don’t ask how we know – we know a guy). Just kidding, there’s a little bit of a nuttiness, leaning into walnut /almond. There are touches of vanilla, citrus, and other fruits layered behind a moderate lime and agave note. The nose is layered and shifts slightly.

Sip: The flavor starts off – shallow – then builds into coconut and black forest cherry with agave mixed with lime and a hint of burnt vanilla sugar and cedar. The body is smooth and thinner than might be expected.

Savor: The finish is kirsch cherry and vanilla with hints of agave, citrus, and black pepper.

In a margarita, Casamigos Blanco Tequila is beautifully balanced with a natural salinity. The vanilla and fruit flavors noted in the tasting notes come forward, working harmoniously with the Cointreau’s orange and fresh lime juice. The finish is somehow almost caramel like. As margaritas go, Casamigos produces one that’s head and shoulders about the others on our list – if not the most traditional.

Price: $47

Website: https://www.casamigos.com/en-us/our-tequilas/blanco/

1. Siete Leguas Blanco

It took us seven years to find a bottle of Siete Leguas Blanco. This is ironic given the name of the product translates to seven leagues. This is commonly known as the name of General Villas horse, which according Siete Leguas’ website, would fearlessly traverse the distance. Further compounding the difficulties of locating a bottle of this tequila is the change of importer. While the box claims it’s Sazerac Company, they list no mention of Siete Leguas on their site. There’s also no English version of their site readily available.

Difficulty in finding this tequila aside, the actual tequila itself is wonderful. The nose is perfumed with spices and smooth agave notes. On the palate it dances gracefully, with touches of floral and nutty notes mixed with agave. Sipping it is quite nice, if a little spicy.

Sight: Clear

Smell: Pure vanilla extract and strong soaked cherrywood come to the forefront with hints of spice, honey, and pecan wood.

Sip: The body is moderate. It shifts gradually to a nutty and floral laced body with touches of agave. It runs slightly hot, and brings in a good about of spice and wood.

Savor: The ending lingers on the woody side, bringing in touches of cigar box and vanilla.

In a margarita Siete Leguas worked gorgeously. Cinnamon and spice leap off the page with hints of candied oranges. Touches of herbs and bell peppers gradually emerge. The end result is slightly sweeter than expected, but extraordinarily fragrant and spicy. The end result is an exceptional margarita where Siete Leguas really shines.

Price: $50

Website: https://tequilasieteleguas.com/

The Tequilas Overall and the Margarita

To be clear, even the lowest ranking tequila on our 2021 Blanco Tequila Rankings for Cinco De Mayo is good in our opinion. In fact, we happen to recommend you keep any of them on your shelf as your go to tequila as part of our recommended bottles for beginning a home bar. While there is a definite connection between price and quality here, don’t let that dissuade you from trying Olmecas or Centenario. Both offer a lot of value for the price, and are delicious in cocktails without doubling the price per cocktail.

Final Ranking:

Siete Leguas Blanco Tequila ($50)
Casamigos Blanco Tequila ($47)
Gran Centenario Plata Tequila ($29)
Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila ($25)

Don’t forget to make a margarita – click on the picture for our recipes, and have a great Cinco de Mayo!

Wild Turkey 101

Posted on April 19, 2021April 18, 2021 by Nick

Finding good bourbon can be such a chore. If you’re seeking a rare bottle, you could be doing anything from paying 5-10x market price or chasing trucks to deliveries. While many of these bourbons are incredible, you don’t need a 10 year old bottle of Pappy to make a great drink. In fact, one of the best cocktail / sipping bourbons is probably sitting on you liquor store shelf waiting for you to take it home – since even before the taters went nuts. The one, the only, Wild Turkey 101.

Wild Turkey 101

Sight: Primarily russet in color, but leaning into tawny.

Smell: Notes of brown sugar, toasted oak, and spice waft out of the glass. Touches of vanilla and toffee mixed with nuts join in. They’re followed by touches of polished leather, a hint of heat, and a touch of cereal. The nose is well layered and rotates the notes adding complexity.

Sip: There’s a prickle of heat that builds as you go, but the start is very smooth and full bodied. Elements of spice begin to build, adding in toasted oak and caramelized sugar. Hints of char and light caramel join in with a touch of tobacco. The full experience is spicy, woody, and layered.

Savor: The finish carries through notes of caramelized malt and cereal layered with peppery spices. The finish lingers well, giving a hint of oak and vanilla as it extends.

Wild Turkey 101 is well balanced, full flavored, and layered in it’s complexity. The start is smooth, toasted and caramelized without being sweet. The elements of spice, nuts, and subtle cigar box notes build as it opens up. The finish carries this though, keeping it’s smooth character and building in a toffee-oaked combination that makes it inviting.

In Cocktails

One of the tricks you can use to help bring up the flavor of a cocktail is to use a higher proof spirit. If you use too much, and you risk overwhelming the drink. Wild Turkey 101 sits in the perfect spot where you can use the full amount of Wild Turkey and not worry about the drink becoming to spiritous or losing any of the elements. In a Manhattan, it is a rock star, giving spicy and toffee like notes that compliment the fruitiness and sweet notes of the vermouth. It works just as well for crafting or in simple drinks like an Old Fashioned – lending flavor without overwhelming the other elements.

Wild Turkey 101 Overall

Wild Turkey 101 is absolutely stellar. The additional proof gives it the body to stand up beautifully in cocktails. The juice itself is well balanced, not overwhelming, smooth, and loaded with flavor. When you throw in the price point and availability, Wild Turkey is an absolute steal. For all these reasons, we’ve add Wild Turkey 101 to our list of Recommended Bottles for Starting a Home Bar.

Looking for a drink to make with Wild Turkey 101? Check out our Cocktail List for Originals and Classics.