Herradura Tequila Reposado

Tasted 02/11/15 from a Riedel Tequila Glass.

These tasting notes are from 3 different tastings. The first time I tried it from a new bottle I just opened it had a strong odor of alcohol and perhaps acetone. The initial taste was compromised by this odor. I thought this was rather unbelievable for a popular premium tequila that has garnered so many awards. I tried it two more times on successive evenings and it was a completely different spirit.

The bouquet of a spirit is the complex, vaporous scent(s) released when a bottle is opened. It is derived from volatile esters, ethers, acids and other organic compounds formed during fermentation and aging. The bouquet may rapidly dissipate or be slowly released, but when gone the spirit is left with aroma, the fragrance of the fruit the spirit was made from.

Volatile organic compounds found in tequila include different alcohols, esters, aldehydes, acids. The amount and type depends on the fermentation process and on the type of oak barrel used in the aging process, the length of aging, and whether or not the barrel was “charred or toasted” first. (Ref. “The Chemistry Of Using Wooden Oak Barrels To Age Spirits’” by Steve Mayes on July 17, 2013). By the way, it is the ester compounds that give tequila its various flavors such as vanilla, orange, pear, mint, floral, etc.

What apparently happened here (and with some other tequilas I’ve had) is the volatile organic compounds were released when the bottle was first opened and during the subsequent tasting, hence the alcohol and acetone odor. These volatile compounds had apparently dissipated by the time of the second tasting leaving the true aroma of the tequila. The tasting notes below are based on the later two tastings.

Appearance: Clear amber color
Aroma: A very nice complex aroma of sweet agave, oak, caramel, orange, ginseng (earthy wood) with a slight scent of alcohol.
Initial Taste: Rich flavors of roasted agave, caramel, and spices with smoke and earth notes and pleasant alcohol heat.
Body: Medium body with slow tears on the glass that formed beads and a light buttery mouth feel which nicely blended the flavors. Overall, a nice rich flavor profile.
Finish: A medium finish of earthy agave, oak and spice that lingers on the tongue, with a pleasant agave kick.
Price: RRP of $41.99
Presentation: A nice heavy decanter shaped bottle and stylish lettering.

This is a nice premium reposado widely available and often at a price discounted from the RRP of $41.99. However, if the bottled has just been opened make sure to let the drink breath for a while before tasting it to get the true aroma of the spirit.

Tasted in a Reidel glass on 3/27/14. Bought at Costco for $32. This is a very full-bodied tequila as measured by swishing it in the Reidel glass (not the taste test). I taste hints of vanilla and caramel, but those tastes are standard for me. The aftertaste is good, but doesn't unnecessarily linger too long. It's a very versatile tequila and I can use it for sipping or in margaritas. It's not an outright star, but it's very enjoyable at a reasonable price point and certainly better than the most inexpensive tequilas.

Since this juice hasn't been reviewed much the past two years, I thought I'd add my two cents. I tasted it in a Reidel glass on 2/28/2014. It was purchased at Total Wine and More for $32.

It clings to the glass well, indicating a full bodied tequila by one measure although the "Body" rating of this review is an indicator of taste. It has a clear gold color, like a fine gem. It has a warm after taste but not to alcohol-ish. It's enought alcohol to warm the belly, but is quite pleasant. I could use it to sip, although it might not be my first choice. It has a good strong hint of caramel with some vanilla, but the later is not a dominate taste.

I find the bottle nothing too special, but still has a quiet elgance to it. I think it's a solid entry to a well-stocked bar and a solid competitor in its price range.

As referenced in previous reviews, NOM 1119 and Casa Herradura are strange for me. You'd figure with a beverage giant like Brown Forman that consistency would be a hallmark, but it's been the opposite for me. Granted, I've had expressions from different years (this repo was purchased in 2011), but the swings have been large. That's not to say that I haven't liked some because I have. Let's see if I like this reposado.

Price: $35-45/bottle

Aroma: An interesting nose with some raw agave, honey, smoke and vanilla.

Initial Taste: A fairly basic entry. Some agave, vanilla and honeyed sweetness.

Body: Medium to thick body with decent oils. The raw agave flavor is still there. The sweetness is light, but still present. The wood flavors are there as well, but not too heavy. Everything is basic, but in a nice balance.

Finish: A little bit of vanilla combined with oak and smoke on the finish. Medium to short finish. Good, but not memorable.

While the rest of the brand has had some wild swings for me, this was a basic and run of mill tequila. Solid flavors, but nothing too bold. For under $40, it's a solid buy based on the fact that you can almost certainly find it.

Smokey vanilla on the nose with lots of alcohol. The initial taste was a mix of light caramel with vanilla and cinnamon and plenty of alcohol burn.The mouth feel was a bit too thin for my liking, lacking body. Finish was thin with lots of alcohol, at least no bitterness.
Overall i wasn't impressed with this reposado. It had a lot of alcohol burn for a 100%agave, for my liking, really lacked in body. I'm wondering if this is something to do with the 11 months resting, i would have thought the body would have been amazing, sadly not. I gave price at 87 cos i got it in the sale. If i paid the regular price i would have scored lower. Maybe their Anejo would be better.