Review: El Tesoro Platinum
Updated: Jan 21, 2021
El Tesoro Platinum Tequila
Anyone who's glanced at my tequila notes knows that I'm heavily biased toward El Tesoro. While I find their current offerings very good (the XA is exceptional), it's pre-2009 Olive Oil bottlings that I can't get enough of. I don't know exactly where the profile shift occurred, but by 2009, El Tesoro reposado and blanco were missing the tropical fruit forward profiles that I fell in love with. However, I have had anejos from 2011 that still delivered a ton of pineapple. The current profile is more mineral driven, earthy, and spicy. I enjoy it. It's clearly well-made but more in line with profiles I can find in other contemporary tequila. The fruit sets the older ones apart, making them easily identifiable in blind tastings.
El Tesoro Platinum - NOM 1139 - B-1079 - 2010 - 40%
Nose: Crisp with minerality and green/vegetal notes. Snap peas. Under-ripe mango. Light parmesan cheese. Faint black pepper and earthy notes.
Flavor: Mineral and chalky. Honey. Nuts. Faint citrus. Minerality persists and is slightly bitter.
Structure: Linear and light. Finish is long and chewy though.
Alcohol Integration: El Tesoro rarely screws this up.
Score: 6 (Solid) Nose is fantastic. Palate takes a while to open, but once it does there’s a soft complexity present. You get a hint of mango on the nose (not like the old stuff), but recent Ocho Platas can mostly deliver this profile.
El Tesoro Platinum - NOM 1139 - B-1077 - 40%
Nose: Black olives. Floral mint. Anise. Honey. Pine. Agave. Mild savory spice.
Flavor: Minerality. Jicama. Floral notes. Juniper. Pine needles.
Structure: Good weight. Starts fat, thins out and then expands back out w slightly bitter notes.
Alcohol Integration: Great again.
Score: 7 (Highly Recommend) Nose and structure are top-notch. This profile is more in line with Fortaleza blancos I've had, but the back of the palate does a really unique, almost gin-like twist. Great pour.
El Tesoro Platinum - NOM 1139 - B-1039 (~2004/2005) - 40%
Nose: These are the Tesoro noses I love. Tropical fruit galore - pineapple, melon. Spearmint. Light honey.
Flavor: Moves sweet and fruity to crisp and dry. Watermelon. Pineapple. Mint toothpaste. Gentian.
Structure: Slow, full, and chewy. Beautiful. Long finish.
Alcohol Integration: Best of the best. Full, clear, long - low heat.
Score: 9 (Stash Two) These early lot numbers deliver a profile that I haven't been able to find in contemporary tequila.
Are They Worth The Hunt?
Haven't had a bad Olive Oil bottle yet. If you see them, and they're a good price - grab one. Just know that there are fantastic contemporary blancos, requiring less hunting, that deliver similar profiles at fair prices. If you're looking for a truly unique profile, you'll want early lot Olive Oil bottles. I haven't tried any pre-2003 White Labels yet. But I'm curious to see whether they are as fruit forward as early Olive Oils.
Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour