All around Mexico City, tucked among the usual tequila fare, we’ve seen a new contender – Alacrán tequila. The brand is based here, which explains its ubiquity, but it has been making its way far and wide, and we were curious to find out what was in its mysterious matte black bottle.
The brand only offers a blanco, so we picked up a bottle and eagerly opened its screw top. It has a mild alcohol aroma when you first pour it, but it opens up nicely over time. That’s when you start to smell its faint coconut, raw agave and butter aromas.
In the glass, its legs are thin and that plays out as a somewhat watery mouth feel. There isn’t a lot of oils in this tequila presumably because of the fast cooking process the makers chose by using a column still (also called a continuous still). Slow cooking retains more oils from the agave, and the oils carry aromas and flavors.
But the proof is in the mouth, and once we tried it we had a draw: I didn’t like it and Grover thought it was “okay.”
Alacrán, which means “scorpion” in Spanish, is made at the Tierra de Agaves distillery in Tequila, Jalisco, where they also make Luna Azul and La Certeza. They promote the brand as an “authentic” tequila for independent people.
Whether it is considered authentic or not, my real problem with the scorpion was its sting. It left me with a strange bitterness at the top of my palette/back of my throat that lingers unpleasantly. As it turns out, the sting was the one element that Grover didn’t mind, especially compared to the typical tequila found here in Mexico City. Go figure.
So, what you think?
-Scarlet
Hit my gag reflex around where Scarlet had the same problem. Almost puked and threw the rest down the drain. Nice bottle.
I did get the burnt vanilla/coconut feel, but there were also a bunch of “small little things” that seem out of place: the thin body, the olive tingle on the sides of the tongue, a weird palate attack that leaves the upside of the mouth all puffy…The agave presence is never allowed to go live, and just as Scarlet did: the “swallow” part leads to this “gag reflex” kind of reaction that I simply dislike too much. I think it has too much attitude and too little personality, IMO.
Congrats on the NICe bar! (guess the cats were sleeping, ?)
I have tasted Alacran from 5 different bottles over the past weeks.I was very impressed when I first tasted it. I think it has a fruity sweet flavor of agave with a touch of citrus and pleasant finish.I find it very exciting to drink!
We got 2 bottles at agave after I tasted it and went through them in 1 week because one of the bartenders and myself have been sipping it constantly.Then we got 2 more and those are mysteriously light as well!
There was one night when I poured a newly opened bottle for someone to try where it let me down, but overall I think its great for what you can find in NYC.
Scarlet,I would encourage you to give it another shot at some point.
BTW the bar is amazing!! love the seats!
I should be embarrassed to live in MX City and know nothing about tequila.
Additives? Well, the bottles are recycled Drakkar Noir bottles!
Love the bar, congrats!!
Nice work as always guys. My two cents: if it’s column distilled, thin AND you’re getting coconut and butter aromas, I would also think it was probably manipulated, as Grover suggested. Salud!
I think the distillers would prefer it, if you used the word “Infused”
(with a [possibly natural] flavor), rather than manipulated, adulterated, etc.
Of course, me being a Tequila purist, I don’t think I would like infused
Tequila or anything other than the natural flavor of the Agave plant.
definitely watery with not allot of pop, but not exactly a tequila that should make you gag…thats if you truly like tequila
Really like your reviews. I was wondering what you guys think of Deleon Anejo?
It really packs a sting! Makes a mean Margarita.
Hell ya it does one of my top 5 picks now and i dont usally drink tequila
It is curious how Tequila has changed during the last 30 years.
In the beginning was a raw, very strong liquor and also cheap but with a very unique taste that can not be overshadowed even in cocktails (the only liquor in the world with this characteristic is important to say).
Sad to realize that the tequila has been used by the culinary posers (and unfortunately commercialized by Americans companies mainly) making the Tequila soft and trying to make it a gourmet product. Mexico has, without any doubt, the most diversified and rich gastronomy in the world, doesn’t need any label or try to degustate Tequila as a french vine, it’s stupid. For Mexicans it’s simpler: It’s yummy or not.
Food in Mexico is a celebration and it’s kind of funny how foreign influences try to adapt original Mexican flavors.
So have to say that the best tequilas are the originals that only can be found in local labels. Forget Patron (it is an insult the price of this Tequila), try Pueblo Viejo for example, 100% agave and 0% hangover, but the main reason: because is rico, yummy.
I tasted this at a benefit last night, and it was actually quite smooth…the taste doesn’t linger, and as far as liquor goes there was not “STING.” The bartenders did have trouble opening the bottles, but this was probably just the anxious anticipation of properly crafted, and chilled tequilla waiting to hit the dance floor ;)
I don’t know what you guys are belly aching about, unless you’re trying to compare tequila to a fine wine. I just came from an authentic Mexican restaurant in Canandaigua, NY owned by Mexicans that offers many choices of tequila and great authentic Mexican food. I had the pleasure of tasting Alacran Blanco for the first time. It happened to be in the best Magaritta I have ever had. It was incredibly smooth, full of flavor and with no alchohol burn what so ever. It made Patron Silver taste like rot gut by comparison. It was the perfect accompanyment to the Burro Chipotle Chicken dish I ordered and made for a most enjoyable alfresco dining experience tis afternoon. BTW, for those in the greater Rochester, NY area, the restaurant was Rio Tomatlan. As for Alacran, I would advise that you stop over analysing it and have another tequila. Salud!
We don’t ever compare tequila to wine, or anything other that other tequilas. But yes, tequila deserves to be treated with respect, like wine is. And the entire point of this website is for us to be “over analyzing” tequilas. We’re thrilled that this tequila made a great margarita for you. We were drinking it straight, which is a big difference.
The trick with this tequila its the first 2 caballitos… Jaja after dat you get a very pleasant fruit taste , but the first two are tequila for man very acidic-burning like and then heaven,,.. Just try it out ;)
It’s not bad. Does have a sting at the end. Highly overpriced though there are way better more affordable options.