Best Premium Blanco Tequila - 2012
TheFiftyBest.com held a private tasting with 17 people experiencing 26 blancos. All tequilas were 100% blue agave. The tasters included spirits journalists, bartenders, chefs, restaurateurs and tequila aficionados.

Tasting Method: Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. The blanco tequilas were served "blind". Each were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water and neutral unflavored bar snacks were available to cleanse the palate. The judges tasted through 3 flights of 7 tequilas plus 1 flight of 6 tequilas; with food served during a rest period after the second flight.
Impressions of each individual product were written down by the judges on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges.
The tasting notes are summaries of the judges’ opinions. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes (or when otherwise indicated). Prices may vary by state and do not include sales tax.
TASTING RESULTS (Blanco/ Plata/Silver):

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DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
1. Corzo - $40
Nose: Orchard fruit salad, fresh fruit, mixed green vegetables, herbal, fresh cut grass, fresh floral, sweet caramel. Palate: Light spice, spicy, nuts, licorice, pine, herbal, menthol, lemon, sweet fruit salad, cream soda, café au lait, nougat, caramel, rich layers, soft, full bodied. Finish: Creamy, spicy toffee, warm peppery, nice, clean, smooth.
Double Gold Medal
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2. Two-Way Tie - Crótalo - $40
Nose: Green vegetal, fresh floral, herbal, mint, papaya, fruity, smoky. Palate: Lemon, citrus, fruit, pear, honey, creamy vanilla, sweet cream, grassy, earthy, peppery, light pepper, smoke, smooth, silky layers. Finish: Smoky, leather character, earthy, minty, anise, pepper, nice, clean, crisp, refined, long.
Double Gold Medal

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Tres Agaves - $28
Nose: Eucalyptus, mint, grassy, agave, toffee, fresh fruit, berries. Palate: Powerful spice, pepper, jalapeño, roasted pepper, nutty, taragon, cinnamon, earthy agave, mint, berries, pear, buckwheat, buckwheat honey, butter, burnt sugar, marshmallow, light bodied. Finish: Peppercorn, pepper, jalapeño heat, earthy agave, dry, clean, crisp, bright, smooth, lingering.
Double Gold Medal

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3. Milagro Single Barrel Select - $40
Nose: Rosewood, vanilla, honey, fruity, floral, mild agave, subtle. Palate: Creamy notes, sweet cream, vanilla, caramel, white toffee, marshmallow, peach, berry, grassy, nutty, anise, agave, nuanced. Finish: A touch sweet, vanilla cream, sweet toffee, sweet anise, clean, smooth, gentle, great.
Double Gold Medal

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4. Four-Way Tie - Don Alvaro - $50
Nose: Toast, cotton candy, creamy vanilla, apple, fruit blossom, rosewater, rich. Palate: Mint, peppermint, fresh-cut grassy, herbaceous, fig, candied fruits, dried fruits, sweet honey, cream soda, spice, oily, full bodied. Finish: Toast, minty, spicy, smooth, light, balanced.
Double Gold Medal

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Herradura - $40 Ultra slow filtration.
Nose: Cola, licorice, cinnamon, poached apple, pear, grassy, light smoke. Palate: Cinnamon, floral, pear, cream soda, pepper, peppercorn, spearmint, herbs, licorice, anise, fennel, earthy, smoky, agave, clean. Finish: Pineapple, vanilla, sweet, lightly toasted, herbs, peppercorns, spicy, clean, smooth.
Double Gold Medal

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Paqui - $45
Nose: Nougat, buttered rum, floral, fresh cut fruits, mild agave. Palate: Vegetal, heavy pepper, olives, spice, citrus, cherry, dates, nougat, honey, toffee, herbal, fennel, juniper, Fee Bros. Bitters, pleasant. Finish: Pepper notes that drop off quickly, spiced Christmas candle, balanced, very clean, smooth, silky.
Double Gold Medal

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Riazul - $45
Nose: Cotton candy, sweet vanilla, caramel, mint, berries, earthy, light herbal, spicy. Palate: Cotton candy, cream soda, carrot cake, caramel, creamy, tropical flavors, melon, citrus, vegetal notes, green vegetables, green olive, oaky, rich. Finish: Grassy, hot pepper, anise, spicy, smoky, oily, smooth, soft.
Double Gold Medal

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GOLD MEDAL WINNERS:
El Mayor - $40
Nose: Vanilla, honey, nougat, jalapeño, agave, light oily, woodsy character. Palate: Vanilla, caramel, cream, sweet, toffee, dates, green bell pepper, peppery, citrus, spice, herbs, soft floral, grassy, pine, smoky elements. Finish: Citrus, fresh, dry, smooth, spicy, earthy, briny, light oily, nice, long.
Gold Medal

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Baluarte - $45
Nose: Subtle citrus, baked pear, agave, cream soda, caramel, honey, peppery. Palate: Citrusy, lemon, mint, spearmint, menthol, licorice, anise, Ouzo, creamy, caramel, tropical flowers, dates, grassy, slightly spicy, peppery, woodsy notes, clean. Finish: Peppery, burnt sugar, oily, clean, crisp, dry, soft, smooth, lingering.
Gold Medal
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Dulce Vida - $40 100 proof
Nose: Fire-roasted peppers, grass, floral, light herbal, sandalwood, vinegar, toasted notes. Palate: Creamy vanilla, cinnamon, nutty, nougat, minty, anise, pepper, herbal, peat, earthy, oily.. Finish: Spicy, hot pepper, anise, fennel, almost woodsy, menthol, wet stone, aggressive, dry, clean, crisp, lingering, has a kick.
Gold Medal

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Luna Nueva - $40
Nose: Smoky bacon, roasted pepper, herbal. Palate: Herbaceous, spicy, cinnamon, creamy vanilla, toffee, caramel, anise, soft. Finish: Caramel, light pepper, spicy, earthy, smoky, creamy, sweet, soft, smooth.
Gold Medal

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Alma de Agave - $30
Nose: Lemon, 7up soda, fruity, earthy, agave, light. Palate: Herbal, lemon, peppercorns, sandalwood, spicy, buckwheat honey, creamy vanilla, creamy, oily, rich body. Finish: Sandalwood, baked apple pie, fruity, spearmint, peppery, crisp, smooth, easy.
Gold Medal

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Kirkland - $22 - 1.75ml
Nose: Herbaceous, agave, grassy, coriander, dried herbs, herbal, anise, popcorn buttery. Palate: Spicy, hot jalapeño, peppercorn, buttery caramel, toffee, creamy vanilla, creamy, smooth. Finish: Bourbon barrel notes, woody, light spice, spicy, peppery, sweet, crisp, smooth.
Gold Medal

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Puro Verde - $30 Organic
Nose: Spearmint, citrus, orange blossom, lemon grass, cinnamon, nutmeg, toffee. Palate: Cola, coffee, mocha, peppercorns, woodsy notes, smoky, oily, vegetal, herbaceous, rose, pineapple, fruity, citrusy. Finish: Cola, nutty, peppercorns, earthy agave, sweet, crisp, smooth.
Gold Medal

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Corazón - $30
Nose: Cherry, mango, banana, cake batter, floral, agave, wood, vanilla, creamy. Palate: Berries, citrus, papaya, fruit, cinnamon, touch of tobacco, creamy, smooth, crisp, pleasant. Finish: Tobacco, cigar, sandalwood, cloves, spice, clean, soft, smooth.
Gold Medal

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El Jimador - $25
Nose: Faint pineapple, melon, papaya, light citrus blossom, lemon pepper, wet grass, mineral, wet stone. Palate: Dried fruit, rosewood, mint, anise, fennel, taragon, grassy, soft light citrus, pepper, roasted pepper, mineral oil, woody, rich. Finish: Pepper, woody, earthy, crisp, dry, acidic, soft, oily, smooth.
Gold Medal

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SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:
Amate - $40
Nose: Mint, green pepper, smoky agave, light agave, sandalwood. Palate: Herbaceous, floral, herbal, spiced fruit, spice, jalapeño, smoky, creamy, light. Finish: Mint, cinnamon, spicy, pepper, a touch tannic, sweet, rich, clean, crisp, gentle, awesome.
Silver Medal

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Ambhar - $40
Nose: Earthy, agave, floral, citrus, vanilla, minty. Palate: Bell pepper, fruity, berries, honeysuckle, sweet caramel, hibiscus, tarragon, earthy, anise, angostura bitters. Finish: Adobo chiles, spice, oily, clean, dry, crisp.
Silver Medal

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El Sagrado - $25
Nose: Citrus, caramel, buttery, sandalwood, woody. Palate: Layers of caramel, tobacco, peppercorn, spice rack, citrus, olives, herbal, licorice. Finish: Spicy notes, jalapeño, sweet, soft, smooth, harsh, bright.
Silver Medal

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7 Leguas - $40
Nose: Herbaceous, herbal, sour cherries, fruity, minerally, licorice, oaky. Palate: Spices, herbal, grassy, dried fruits, smoky, fennel, mineral oil, peat, creamy. Finish: Pepper, bit spicy, tobacco, smoke, smooth, fresh, light.
Silver Medal

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Chamucos - $42
Nose: Vegetal notes, citrus, orange, wet stone, oily, woody. Palate: Tropical flowers, citron, apricots, melon, honey cream, cinnamon, almonds, toasted nut, woodsy notes, mineral oil, peppery, rich, oily, sweet, creamy. Finish: Anise, jalapeño, spicy, buttery, dry, smooth.
Silver Medal

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El Decreto - $45
Nose: Herbaceous, woodsy, light floral, pure agave, vanilla, perfumy, slight cola, sweet. Palate: Floral, minty, honey, vanilla, pear, pine tree, grassy, pepper, cinnamon, spicy, earthy, gentle agave, light toast, wet stone, sweet. Finish: Slight pepper, spicy, dry, crisp, complex.
Silver Medal

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Kah - $45
Nose: Anise, licorice, spearmint, juniper, light fruity, peppery. Palate: Sweet mint, honey, fig, praline, vegetal, caramelized onions, woody cream, oily, earthy, herbal, spice, fennel, sandalwood, soft. Finish: Rich layers, caramel, fruit, clean, smooth, easy, gentle.
Silver Medal

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Cazadores - $30
Nose: Cream soda, vanilla, floral, grassy, woody. Palate: Heavy mint, jalapeño, spicy, dried herbs, wet stone, fruity, overly citrus, sweet cream. Finish: Citrus, light, peppery, minerals, oily, dry, crisp, spicy bite, rich, smooth, long.
Silver Medal

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Agave 99 - $40 99 Proof
Nose: Vegetal notes, grassy, grapefruit, lime, anise, vanilla, peppercorn, woodsy. Palate: Vegetal, green olive, ginger, spicy, oily, wet stone, mineral oil. Finish: Honey, caramel, hot pepper, agave, spicy, woody, dry, oily, rich, full.
Silver Medal

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