G4 Reposado - 9/11/17 - 40%
My tequila tastings have been on a ridiculous run of rare and old-school bottlings. A couple months of unicorn blancos, the discontinued fan-fav Muchote, and last week's Winter Blends. My palate is getting spoiled. It's exciting to sit down here with a standard off the shelf repo and remember the quality available these days without much hassle.
Felipe Camarena uses a blend of traditional methods and contemporary creativity to create an exceptional product at El Pandillo. The distillery is focused on sustainability, utilizing rainwater, conserving energy, and remaining environmentally conscious. Those aren't just buzz words at El Pandillo, they're practiced. Felipe Camarena cultivates biodiversity on the property, planting cinnamon trees, strawberry, guava trees, fig trees, and several citrus trees to attract birds and other natural pollinators. And the tequila byproduct (potentially harmful to the soil) is adjusted with calcium carbonate so it can be used as sustainable fertilizer.
Nose: Agave and orchard fruit driven. Very earthy. Baker's chocolate. Baking spice. Light touch with the background oak.
Flavor: Citrus forward. Honey. Oak. Florals dominate on the back end.
Structure: Great length. Satisfyingly mid-palate spike. Honey grounds the pour. Citrus, spice, oak, and florals mostly play high and bright on the palate.
Alcohol Integration: It's got some bite, but frames it well.
Score: 6 (Solid) Light and complex. Tequila has helped me gain an appreciation for more delicate and nuanced profiles. This one is a touch lighter than I prefer, but the complexity and clarity of the notes is impressive.
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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
Sources: Vice