Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado NOM 1104 Tasted 3/9/07. With a pale yellow color, Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado has an intense aroma of earth. Moderate aromas consist of floral, fruit, and smoke. The tequila has a bitterness to it and a sweet aftertaste. Initial flavors are intense earth and floral. There are also moderate agave, fruit, and spicy flavors. A hot, numbing alcohol intensity and a medium duration of flavor bring this tequila to an end. This tequila received the rating of B.

Tasted in a rocks glass on September 15, 2008 quick legs down the glass.

Jose Cuervo Tradicional Reposado

Color: light brown hue
Aroma: agave, rubbing alchol
Taste: a cheap blanco stirred with a stick out of a campfire with a light mouthfeel and strong burn in the finish

For the price you can find many better Reposados. My favorite reposado at the time of this writing have to be Chinaco, Sol Azul, Casa Noble & Corralejo.

This is not a bad choice. A reasonably priced 100% agave reposado in an attractive but unassuming bottle.

BTW, what's up with all these whacky "designer" tequila bottles lately? Jeez.

Anyway, Cuervo's Tradcional is a direct competitor to Sauza's Hornitos. Both are value-priced reposados that are decent but undistinguished. I have a slight preference for Hornitos, but if I'm going to be entertaining with Margaritas, either makes an excellent Maggie.

For sipping, it's smooth but rather bland. Certainly not bad, but it won't make you sit up and take notice like a top shelf reposado will.

This stuff really isn't bad. It's not great, but I don't mind it at all. I don't think I'd buy another bottle because I have other tequilas sitting around that I enjoy more in that particular price range (like Muchote), but I wouldn't turn my nose up at it if someone offered me a glass.

Aroma: Straight-forward, agave and alcohol.
Initial taste: A bit sweet, a little bitter, but pretty well balanced. Drier than I expected.
Body: Hardly any complexity. Just agave, some spice, and a light heat that builds.
Finish: Relatively short, semi-heated, but controlled.

Like I said, you can find better tequilas for the price (if you're lucky enough to live as close to the border as I do), but if this is all that's available to you don't hesitate to give it a shot. It's very straight-forward and I agree that it tastes like a reposado with training wheels; eventually you're going to want something with more character.

As far as presentation goes, I don't like the screw cap/pour top on this tequila.

Kind of a Cuervo house nose, that is to say it shares quite a few similarities to the classic gold Jose Cuervo. Off putting at first but it mellowed out and with a touch of water it opened up. Very mineraly agave aroma, soft alcohol, not a lot of depth yet not boring. Nice weighty mouthfeel, almost oily in the mouth, very enjoyable for sipping. Flavors similar to the aroma but with a touch of smoke. Better than expected, probably would choose most other reposados on the market however.