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USA Today
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Cinco de Mayo best tequilas: Our look at buttery blancos and cheap wonders
Cinco de Mayo best tequilas: Our look at buttery blancos and cheap wonders Cinco de Mayo is a wonderful excuse to get re-acquainted with tequila or, if the two of you are already intimately familiar, branch out into something new. I wasn't a tequila guy through my 20s (that's on you, hastily downed shots of Pepe Lopez which, naturally, did not stay down), but growing from cheap plastic bottles to properly crafted spirits changed that. While I'm still a relative newcomer to the field, working at FTW has given me the chance to expand my scope greatly -- particularly to brands and types I probably wouldn't have tried in the past. And there were a lot of those this year. Let's talk about the good (and a little bit about the mediocre) I drank over the last year and see if we can't help you figure out your boozing plans for the holiday. Here's FTW's Cinco de Mayo tequila guide, part two. CHECK OUT OUR CINCO DE MAYO TEQUILA GUIDE, PART 1 Looking for a non-traditional May 5 and want THC drinks and gummies instead? We've got you covered. If you're looking for a more traditional, buttery-good blanco: Lost Explorer The smell off the top is warm, buttery agave. It's delightful with just a little spicy sweetness that floats in toward the end. I'm sipping this one over two ice cubes, and while that may dull the flavor a bit it's also how I drink tequila so, here we are. The combination is exceptionally smooth and sweet. It's light agave up front, some butter and vanilla and lots of light dessert flavors. Toward the end, you get just a little bit of wintergreen and cinnamon, highlighting the roasted agave within. The headline across this is cooked agave, gentle but complex. There's just a little bit of spice that plays into that sweetness and weaves the braid of a proper spirit. It's a lovely combination and much smoother and more complex than I'd expect from a $45 tequila. It may not be as robust as some of the heavyweights in its field, but it gets 90 percent of the way there at a third -- or less -- of the price. It's immensely sippable with no mixer needed. It's sweet and tangy and has effectively zero burn. Instead, there's only some minor warmth and a spirit you could drink all night long. If you're looking for something dumb and wonderful: Chica-Chida peanut butter tequila From March's A- review: My first impression after cracking the bottle is... can a drink smell loud? You're immediately overwhelmed by a creamy, Reese's Cup style peanut butter aroma that fills the air. Behind it is a light, salty-spicy vibe you may not clock as tequila on first sniff. It's minorly boozy but more feels like... well, you know when health foods try to make a peanut butter cup analog but it's a bunch of ingredients that don't quite live up to the original? That. It smells like that. Holy moly, though, it is *easy* to drink. This 64 proof shot went down with barely an indication this is liquor. The peanut butter is generic salty sweet. True to form, it sticks a bit to the roof of your mouth after it's gone. It's a little strange, but it goes down easy. At least as easy as it is to rip a shot of Fireball, if not more so. It's never going to replace Rumple Minze as my go-to celebratory shot, but I can understand why people would order this. It's fairly strong but tastes roughly as boozy as Rumchata with a more pleasant aftertaste. I had low expectations coming into this. Chica-Chida soared over them like a half-shaved Italian high jumper with springs in his shoes. If you're looking for a cheap, solid tequila with an absolutely bat[expletive] backstory: Don Gato This is Danny McBride's tequila. Like all things Danny McBride, it's slightly obnoxious, overindulgent and of undeniable quality. From March's B+ blanco review: This is a bit spicier and more agave forward than the reposado out of the bottle. The smell is strong, but appealing. You get a little bit of that earthy spice, somewhere between cinnamon and mint, that comes out of properly aged agave. The opening sip backs this up. There's much more volume to this pour. The flavor is more defined, stronger. There's a gentle fruitiness and a little, almost creamy vanilla that's backed with just a minor spice. That cinnamon/wintergreen agave flavor kicks in toward the end to give you something to linger on, along with a lasting sweetness that sends you off happy. Like the reposado, there's no burn involved. You can drink this all day. I'm not getting the ethanol and sting of other celebrity tequilas. Where it shines is the price point; at less than $40 per bottle you're getting a blanco that offers a little extra complexity. It's similar to Lalo -- backed by a moderately known name (from different worlds) and offering a slightly buttery tequila at a good price. It might not bring as much to the table as a bottle of Gran Centenario, but at half the cost it doesn't have to. It's just a pretty dang solid tequila. If you're looking for an inexpensive, clean organic tequila: Tres Agaves blanco It pours clean and clear over ice. Moving the glass leaves a ring of slow-dripping spirit to gently cascade back toward the drink. It's very agave heavy off the top, leaving the unmistakable footprint of tequila to linger in your nostrils. The first sip stays on task. That agave is front and center before cooling off and giving way to the hallmark sweet and spice of a good tequila. There's some sweet vanilla, a little cream, some pepper and even a little bit of mint -- back to wintergreen maybe? -- that tie everything together. Together that creates a nice, cohesive dram that's easy to sip on its own. It's not especially complex, but you still get the moments toward the end that separate a good tequila from a cheap one. The finish sticks around, but the aftertaste is pleasant -- a balance of sweet and spice that leaves you coming back for more. At $25 to $35 per bottle, this is a spirit punching above its weight class. The "organic" side of things is nice, though not something I'm particularly interested in. The taste is even nicer, presenting a clean tequila that brings bright flavors without getting too far from the basics. If you're looking for a drier, fruitier blanco: Mijenta A pour over ice unleashes a wave of crisp agave. It's not as sweet as similar blancos, instead leaning into more of a briny citrus. Which sounds a little strange but is ultimately appealing. That sets it apart from Tres Agaves. Instead of sweet vanilla you get a heavier (but not hot) dose of pepper and citrus that backs it. That makes it a bit thicker than other blancos, a sipper that takes a little longer between breaks as you process it. The dessert flavors are minimal, making this more of a meal than, say, Tres Agaves or Suerte. If you're looking for a little spice and some chewy agave, this is your spot. While that's the description, it's not harsh in any way. Underneath the pepper and agave are hints of butter and vanilla that reward you for sitting with it a while. It may be a bit of a departure from the other blancos on this list, but it works. If you want a tequila that *tastes* loud: Casa Obsidian reposado Let's start with the most mature member of the group. Reposados are an easy sell for me because I'm down for pretty much anything barrel-aged. This pours with a lighter color than expected, but with enough stickiness down the side of the glass to remind you you're dealing with a high proof liquor. The smell off the top is buttery agave. A little sweet and with a little heat toward the end. There's an almost movie theater popcorn feel to it. The first sip is sweet, and then there's nothing for a while. Obsidian's reposado hits you up front, then takes a little break, then comes on strong at the end. Not with a burn but with some oaky vanilla and some cinnamon and clove and agave. Have you ever listened to The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band all the way through? A Day in the Life ends, and then there's nothing, and then there's that hidden, way-too-much noise tucked in at the end? That's Obsidian's reposado. Nice and melodic, then quiet, then AHHHHHHH. It's unusual. There's a little salt and swirling currents of sweet botanical flavors, but there's also a lingering harshness that doesn't sit right with me. If you're looking for a chewier, smoothly intense tequila: Wild Common Tequila Reposado You know what's weird? I spilled a bit of this and licked the affected drop off my finger. You know what I tasted? Peanuts. Not full Chica-Chida peanut butter, but a little salty, nutty extract at the very least. A pour into a rocks glass makes me feel like that was a mirage. Now I'm getting agave and citrus with a little vanilla and pepper. So, I'm working through a lot of thoughts before even taking a proper sip. And, yep, the sip itself has a bit of salt to it but no nuts. There's some familiarity involved, with cinnamon and pepper like you're making a Cincinnati-style chili (though, unfortunately, not much in terms of chocolate). Underneath that is the gentle current of cooked agave and vanilla. Together, they create a delightful push-and-pull between sugar and spice at the end of each sip. There's an earthy quality to that agave I may have mistaken for nuts up front. Either way, it's one element in a braid of flavor that cuts a wide path from the glass to your gut. There's a good amount happening here, but the finish is a long stretch of cinnamon upon which other flavors have built small dwellings. You hit them all on the way out, and it's a nice little trip. If you're looking for a lighter, ready-made cocktail: Superbird Look, Superbird wasn't my favorite, but I also don't like seltzers all that much. Here's what I thought of the tequila soda and why it shouldn't scare you away. Black Cherry tequila soda: C+ It pours a sparkling not-quite-clear. It smells like the artificial black cherry of my childhood -- the kind of off-brand, local-grocery-store soda that also brought us classics like Mountain Thunder and Dr. Taste. This sounds like a bug, but for someone with a deep sense of nostalgia and a dire inability to escape a terminal case of poor brain, I assure you it is a feature. The first sip is much more tequila forward than I expected. Superbird only clocks in at five percent alcohol, but unlike High Noon's vodka sodas or tequila sodas, the spirit here is front and center rather than hiding behind bubbles and fruit flavor. The black cherry kicks in like a shot of syrup added after the fact, ringing a simple cocktail with a little sweetness and just enough tart to cut into that. It's the finger on the scale, tilting the balance back from bland to something a bit more interesting. The tequila is mostly agave, a little peppery and dry. It's more of a tequila water than a seltzer or soda, which is less up my alley but not a problem. You smell the cherry more than you taste it, and it's more of a La Croix idea of fruit than anything you'd get from actual soda (and not the soda water at the base of the cocktail). The end result is a drier canned cocktail that leans heavily into the spirit rather than trying to cover it. That's gonna make it divisive. Personally, it's not my jam. But I can appreciate the approach. Interestingly, the Superbird tequila sunrise goes in the other direction -- but juicy flavors that can be a bit overpowering. If either of those make sense to you, you'll have more luck than I did. If you're looking for a more traditional, familiar and poundable cocktail: Suerte Margaritas It pours with a little more effervescence than you'd expect from a margarita, but that's a feature, not a bug in the world of canned cocktails. It smells strong. The first whiff off the top is buttery tequila blanco. Even though it's only seven percent ABV, it feels heavier. Fortunately, the first sip leans in a different direction. The tequila is prevalent, but not overwhelming. Instead, the headliner is crisp, tart lime. This isn't citric acid, which leaves a bready aftertaste behind. This is the real thing, which gives the impression of a fresh made cocktail. That tartness fights with the agave nectar a bit, releasing a sweet-and-sour braid that serves as the barge that floats the Suerte tequila along. That tequila is clean and tasty, a light rush of baked agave and minor hints of spice. By those powers combined, you get a refreshing, easy to sip canned cocktail that offers something poundable for someone looking for a quick pre-game drink and a little complexity for someone looking for something to drink over the course of a half hourIt loses a bit of its charm out of the can -- pouring it over ice allows the lime and tequila to shine a bit brighter. Sipping from that aluminum is more of a "B" experience. But with a little preparation this is an A- cocktail -- not quite elite, but pretty dang good.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
Are Fuenteseca's aged tequilas great? Absolutely, yes. Are they worth $700-plus? Well...
Are Fuenteseca's aged tequilas great? Absolutely, yes. Are they worth $700-plus? Well... Welcome back to FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey. Despite my recent turn toward agave, I remain a relative tequila neophyte. A decade-plus of avoiding the spirit thanks to the same kind of bad experience most of us have with it (thanks, Pepe Lopez!) left me to play catch-up while churning through beer and whiskey and developing my palate there. That's changed thanks to my role as FTW's resident drinks expert, but despite expanding my horizons I'd never had anything like Fuenteseca before. While the añejos I'd tried had the spirit's standard one-to-three years of aging, I hadn't seen a tequila maker who leaned into long, Scotch-esque barrel times like the Jalisco-based distiller. Fuenteseca sent airplane bottles of its seven, 18 and 21-year expressions for sampling. I was excited to dig in. Here's how it turned out. Extra Añejo Reserva 7 years: A I typically drink tequila with ice. But I typically don't drink tequila that's spent more than a couple years aging, let alone the long-enough-to-develop-back-pain stretch Fuenteseca has made its identity. I'm expecting the same effects you get from whiskeys, where there will be nice oak influences -- a little caramel and vanilla with a little sweetness -- and a mellow spirit. It smells like a typical añejo. A very nice añejo with warm agave and those sweet notes you'd expect from a tequila that got all the way to second grade inside a barrel. But there's also a minor spice; a little cinnamon and clove that gets me pretty excited about the whole deal. The first sip is extremely mellow up front. You're left wondering where the flavor went when, whoosh, it all clocks in toward the end. This is a *dense* finish, one that rushes through cinnamon and sugar and vanilla and maybe even a little wintergreen. That all works against a backdrop of agave and oak -- that's the low-key start and the foundation that carries everything along. It's a great sipper and undoubtedly unlike anything I've had before. The flavors are familiar, but the sudden rush at the end is not. At $300ish (I saw it as low as $177 online) it's not cheap by a long shot. But it brings an extra layer to your anejo that makes it more than a conversation piece. Is that worth the price? Man, I dunno, probably not for me -- but if you've got the cash and you love tequila, absolutely go for it. Extra Añejo Reserva 18 years: A- So on we move to an $800-ish bottle. Cool, cool. Totally normal stuff. It pours maybe a smidge lighter than the seven year, which wasn't what I'd expected but also, I'm colorblind. It's possible I'm wrong. The smell has a little more dessert flavor to it, with some cherry and chocolate with that agave and oak. There's also a little bit of boozy warmth toward the end. The opening impression is sweet up front but tame. That vanilla is more pronounced up front before a brief agave and oak interlude. Then we get the tempest; swirling cinnamon and spice and a little bit of that chocolate sweetness. It's a little more intense than the seven year. Probably not worth tripling the price for, but the result is another exceptionally smooth tequila with some wild and complex bursts of flavor. As you'd expect, there's a little warmth but nothing that approaches burning. Dig in and you get some interesting herbal notes -- clove, anise and more -- but the general vibe is a soothing hard candy through and through. Extra Añejo Reserva 21 years: A- $1,200 for 750 milliliters of this one. Good lord. My first impression here is a bit unique. I didn't seal the bottle tightly enough and spilled some on my hands. Because I was born with terminal poor brain my first instinct was to lick it up and... dang. No harshness, no burn, nothing but the agave to let you know you're dealing with something boozy. To which, hell yeah. This pours similarly light as the 18 year but smells lighter. The soft agave and sweet oak are there. There's a little bit of the cinnamon and some spice that gives off a mild apple pie vibe. Without the apples, obviously, but that's an interesting place to start. Despite two decades in a barrel, there isn't an overwhelming oak influence here. It's noticeable, but it doesn't dominate the spirit underneath. The first sip opens with a little cinnamon and carries more spice throughout the gulp. That cinnamon is the headliner this time around; spicy and a little fruity. Then the vanilla and oak come into play, giving you a well rounded but immensely drinkable dram that ranges back toward the "fancy hard candy" that came into play with the 18-year. It all gives the vibe of a weekend at grandma's house except, whoops, grandma not only loves the sauce but is capable of spending tons of money on it. This is a lovely drink. Not one I would pay $80 per glass for just to drink at home, but that's me. The vanilla, cinnamon, oak and agave weave a braid other tequilas can barely turn into a knot. Would I drink it instead of a Hamm's? This a pass/fail mechanism where I compare whatever I'm drinking to my baseline cheap beer. That's the standby from the land of sky-blue waters, Hamm's. So the question to answer is: on a typical day, would I drink Fuenteseca's specially aged tequilas over a cold can of Hamm's? Let's start with the conversion rate. The cheapest I can find the Fuenteseca seven-year online is $177. That puts it at about $12 per 50-millililer pour. For that same $12 I can go to Woodman's and buy at least 24 cans of Hamm's. So the math is not in Fuenteseca's favor. But it was never supposed to be. It's a luxury; a unicorn that applies Scotch scarcity to the minimally aged arena of tequila. The end result is a unique, satisfying expression that brings big complex flavors that hit my tongue in a way unlike any tequila I've ever had. The quality and novelty of the seven-year carried over to the older, more expensive expressions. Those were great, but there's a sliding scale of diminishing returns on that flavor. The 21-year is better than the seven-year. It's not four to six times better, as the price would indicate. The Fuentesecas old enough to fight for their country are more conversation starter than must-have spirit. That's totally fine! There's room for that! But that recommended seven-year is still a bottle that approaches $200 at your local, fancy, liquor store. So, it's not for everyone. I wouldn't have sought it out other than to review it. I probably won't be buying it because, you know, poor brain. But I'm glad I tried it. If you're the kind of person who likes impressing your friends with fancy stuff, each bottle is an opportunity. It's very good tequila. Whether that's worth the price is entirely up to you.
