August 18, 2008 AsomBroso Vintage Extra Anejo (11yr age). Tasted 8/19/08, 1:30pm at Pueblo Viejo in Hollywood from a snifter. I paid $100 for the shot.

The tequila is amber/brown in color and the aroma is very sweet. Intense floral and vanilla scents fill the nose. Secondary aromas include caramel or maybe even butterscotch.

AsomBroso 11yr is very mellow upon entry. It has a medium to oily feel in the mouth - very much in contrast to my expectation of a heavier syrupy consistency. It is VERY sweet with no hint of bitterness. There is more retention of agave notes than I expected, but it is in no way a foreground flavor.

The flavor in this tequila screams vanilla, wood, and caramel. Even with 11 years in the barrel, I have to question the possible use of vanilla extract here as a mellowing agent. I don't know how they could achieve this result without it. It finishes with a long duration of flavor and virtually no trace of alcohol.

This is far and away the smoothest tequila I have ever tried. It is also one of the sweetest. AsomBroso 11yr drinks like a desert and would be at home with the finest cognacs or ports for after dinner. I have to say that this tequila is a triumph and was a big surprise for me.

The availability may put this tequila out of reach for some and the price may put it out of reach for even more. But if you have the opportunity to try this tequila, do yourself a favor and go for it.

 June 12, 2008 Fortaleza Reposado (formerly Los Abuelos): Tasted 6/11/08, at my home in a Riedel. Again, the presentation screams authentic and traditional. This bottle looks fantastic and it one of the favorites in my collection.

For me, a good reposado is the mark of a good master distiller. To balance the flavors of agave with the flavors of the wood - to make sure they compliment without overpowering one another - must be incredibly hard to do. I have found that a solid reposado usually indicates that a brand will be strong all the way through, and Los Abuelos is no exception. But since this review is on the reposado only, I will try to stick to that.

Los Abuelos reposado is a fantastic example of the harmonious balance found in a good reposado. The presence of the agave-rich blanco can be found in both the aroma and initial taste. I find the cinnamon, vanilla, and oak flavors from the resting to be secondary but apparent, adding a subtle complexity.

I recommend this reposado (as well as the rest of the Los Abuelos line) to everyone: blanco and anejo lovers alike. It's a great example of a pure product made from a traditional process.

 June 12, 2008 I tried 1800 Select Silver at El Carmen this past week during a tequila tasting. This was tasted out of a little plastic cup so take it for what its worth.

It is pretty obvious that this tequila was made for shooting. 1800 Select Silver is 100pf. As with other 100pf tequilas, there is a stronger presence of alcohol. The finish is hotter and there is more of a bite. To compensate for this, 1800 Select Silver is triple distilled and rested for 45 days in white oak. This is an attempt to mellow the flavors and the finish.

I think 1800 tried too hard to remove all taste from the tequila, however. To make a good 100pf, you need to have bold flavors in your blanco or else you just taste the alcohol. And if I wanted to drink rubbing alcohol, I would drink vodka.

I cannot recommend this tequila except for possibly doing chilled shots with salt and lime. And if that interests you in the slightest, then why are you reading tequila reviews?

Try Don Fulano Fuerte if you are interested in tasting a well done 100pf blanco.

 May 15, 2008 Don Jose Lopez Portillo Anejo, tasted 5/9/08, 8pm, at El Carmen in a snifter.

The bottle first caught my eye and I had the bartender bring it over. I had never heard of Don Jose Lopez Portillo Anejo and they had just gotten it in, so I figured it was worth a shot. At $13, this was overpriced. At $5 a shot, Don Jose Lopez Portillo Anejo would be overpriced.

After 2 sips, I handed it back to the bartender and told him to dump it. After both bartenders tried it, they took it off my tab.

This tequila had a very smokey aroma. The initial taste was off-putting, although I couldn't quite place the flavors. The finish had a bite to it and flavors that, again, were not wholly pleasant.

Unfortunately, I could find nothing redeeming about Don Jose Lopez Portillo Anejo except that it was 100% agave. I cannot recommend this tequila to anyone.

 April 03, 2008 Pueblo Viejo Orgullo Anejo: tasted 4/1/08, 8pm at my home in a Riedel. Price was $40 for the bottle and presentation is standard, but elegant.

Orgullo Anejo has a deep, rich amber color. The dominant aromas in this tequila are undeniably vanilla and caramel. There are also floral hints adding to the all-around sweetness of the aroma. Mellow and soft, Orgullo Anejo is lighter in the mouth for an anejo. It maintains a remarkable amount of agave flavor for an aged tequila with no trace of bitterness. Mild fruity and moderate wood notes round out this fine product. Orgullo Anejo finishes with an extremely long duration and just a subtle hint of alcohol.

I have to say that, for the price, it may be hard to beat this anejo. The intense vanilla and caramel aromas/flavors make me question the possible use of "magic" here; but it is not overdone and I would absolutely recommend this product.