Stoli Group Archives - First Pour Cocktails

Cenote Blanco Tequila

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Nick

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and that means it’s Tequila season! Last year we went through four tequilas, and this year we’re adding in a newcomer, Cenote Blanco Tequila. Named after the swimming holes that are created by the collapse of limestone, Cenote features reverse osmosis filtered water from an artisan well by the base of a Volcano on their property. The water is paired with 100% blue agave that are grown to a minimum age of 6 – 7 years, and distilled in both copper and stainless steel pot stills. For their blanco tequila, the resulting spirit is aged 3 weeks in American oak to help mellow it.

Cenote Blanco Tequila

Sight: Clear

Smell: Notes of black pepper, green bell pepper, agave, and citrus come together in a harmonious and bright mix. Notes of vanilla and resinous pine hide in the background with a plethora of other green vegetable hints.

Sip: Starting off smooth, it opens with lime, black pepper, and agave notes. A touch of vanilla and a bit of cedar get together, and give way to some additional spice. The citrus notes continue to evolve as it goes adding earth, char, and a touch of yeast.

Savor: The ending is more citrus and pepper and char. The length continues with a dry yeastiness and charred agave.

Cenote Blanco Tequila is definitely leaning into the drier, citrus and green vegetable side of tequila. Ultimately, the flavor profile is very balanced, and the smoothness keeps it easy to drink. The flavors aren’t super in your face either, so you can pensively explore each sip. This is a nice set of flavors for those looking to upgrade and try something more conservative.

In Cocktails

In a Margarita the Cenote boosts the lime and citrus notes to the forefront while letting the sweetness stay balanced. The agave notes play around in the background and give it a distinct flavor. Despite the sweetness that’s present on palate, it’s very dry on the finish. There’s a very pointed agave funk kind of ending with a healthy dose of black pepper. This flavor profile can make it a little challenging in cocktails, especially for those used to fruitier, less agave and vegetable forward tequilas.

In Review – Cenote Blanco Tequila

Cenote Blanco Tequila is a balanced tequila with a drier profile than other mass market offerings. The no additive nature and moderate price point makes this an attractive choice for tequila fans looking to branch out into more restrained tastes. We recommend this as an expansion bottle for your bar, but it might be a little intimidating as a starter.

Stolichnaya “Stoli Vanil” Vanilla

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Nick

As a general rule, flavored vodka’s (and other spirits) are an anomaly in our collection. It’s not that people don’t enjoy the flavors that manufactures can infuse into their product, but rather that we prefer our ability to use natural ingredients or other modifiers to achieve similar results. Even so, we keep a bottle of Stolichnaya “Stoli Vanil” Vanilla around – because my mother likes it for her chocolate martinis.

Stolichnaya “Stoli Vanil” Vanilla

Stoli Vanil is made from a mix of wheat and rye. To make it vanilla they use a mix of natural vanilla flavors.

Sight: Clear

Smell: There’s a subtly ethanol note and plenty of cake like vanilla / frosting that pulls through.

Sip: The body is syrupy yet thin, while pulling in plenty of vanilla and mild grain / grape ethanol notes.

Savor: The ending lingers with a touch of creamy character and a more bitter ethanol component, while the vanilla hangs out – heading toward extract.

Stoli Vanil ends up being something of a simplistic vodka – heavy on the vanilla and cake like notes. The slight ethanol characteristic isn’t the nicest counterpoint against the sweetness of the vodka. It’s not really great for sipping on, but fortunately – that’s not the point.

Stoli Vanil In Cocktails

That said, for making certain dessert cocktails – it gives a nice little bump to other flavors like chocolate and nuts. It really downplays the sharper notes in a chocolate martini, playing more background. To see how it behaved in a more vodka forward application, I made a simple play on a creamsicle. The combination of Stoli Vanil, orange bitters, simple syrup, and club ends up feeling like more than the sum of it’s parts. A creamy body with subtle bubbliness plays off the vanilla notes and opens up lightly floral with a touch of orange. The richness is palpable, but somehow also feels refreshing.

Final Thoughts

Stoli Vanil is a good vodka to craft cocktails with. While you can create similar flavors with a vanilla syrup and vodka, Stoli Vanil provides a solid creaminess in it’s character that elevates it. It’s certainly not a must have, but there’s no shame in keeping it in your bar.

For more information, head over to Stoli’s Website.