Herradura Tequila Reposado

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.

This repo was ok, but to be fair I have been told that batches bottled prior to 2000/2001 are superior. Mine was bottled in 2010. It was a little harsher than I expected for a repo from such a respected name, and there was a hint of chemical in the nose.
Not terrible, but not great.