Along with blancos, reposados represent some of our favorite tequilas. A light repo goes perfectly with meals, while a more aged repo can serve as a great dessert tequila, for the end of evening.
But “rested” tequilas, which can spend anywhere from one month to nearly a year in oak, can be one of the hardest categories to do well. Balancing the cooked agave flavors with the richer barrel attributes is no easy task, and it seems impossible to please a majority of repo drinkers. Some like a very light repo—almost a blanco with a hint of oak—while others like a richer barrel experience.
That’s why we went through the process of sending a variety of new-to-market reposado tequilas to our tasting panel to see which products pleased which palates. We selected these 4 products because of their different flavor profiles, and because we think they are good quality tequilas worthy of consideration.
Our tasting panel for this lineup was made up of 31 people (74% aficionados, 26% bartenders.) They blind rated 4 new reposado tequilas against 2 established ones (Don Julio and Casamigos), so we could get their honest feedback, stripped of marketing and brand bias.
Here are the results:
(For production details and additional ratings for each, click on the name of the tequilas in this list.)
1. Don Julio Reposado — The Caramel Whisperer
Having been in the market nearly 8 decades, Don Julio seems to have fine-tuned their profile to appeal to a wider variety of sippers. With caramel and floral favors, spiked by a peppery finish, Don Julio scored highest in this group. That said, some experienced drinkers noted a solvent or antiseptic component underneath the initial aromas.
Production Details:
NOM: 1449; Cooking: Stone/Brick ovens; Extraction: Roller mill; Distillation: 2x, Stainless steel w/copper coil; Aging: Used bourbon barrels; ABV: 40%
You can purchase Don Julio Reposado online at Old Town Tequila for $50., or in just about any liquor store anywhere.
2. Ryno Reposado — The Buttery Newcomer
This organic newcomer scored high with drinkers who prefer a repo with more barrel notes, such as toffee, caramel and baking spices, which paired nicely with its buttery flavor. In fact, Ryno’s aromas are so pleasing the some tasters thought it might be due to additives (it’s not!). Ryno Reposado also wins “best bang for the buck”—our panelists awarded it the most points for value than any of the others in the lineup.
Production Details:
NOM: 1480; Cooking: Stone/Brick ovens; Extraction: Roller mill; Distillation: 2x, Stainless steel w/copper coil; Aging: Used whisky barrels (American white oak); ABV: 40%; Other: Organic.
Ryno Reposado is available online at Old Town Tequila for $45.
3. Suave Reposado — The Balanced Traditionalist
Like something not too sweet, balanced with barrel notes such as cherry, caramel and fruit, but with agave notes still present? So does our panel. Some noted that its profile was more like a “traditional tequila,” which is great for drinkers who like complexity and natural agave flavor, but beginner tequila drinkers may go for a sweeter option. Suave Reposado, an organic tequila, scored the most points for finish than any of the others in the lineup.
Production Details:
NOM: 1522; Cooking: Autoclave; Extraction: Roller mill; Distillation: 2x, Stainless steel w/copper coil; Aging: Used + new bourbon barrels (American white oak); ABV: 40%; Other: Organic, kosher.
You can buy Suave Reposado online at Old Town Tequila for $54.95.
4. Terralta Reposado — The Agave Champion
This lightly aged repo from the Arandas region was admired for its bold agave flavor, earth and mineral notes, and punchy, peppery finish. Perfect for the agave enthusiast who likes signature Los Altos flavors. But, for those that like more aged and floral tequilas, this repo didn’t fit the bill.
This tequila is made by Felipe Camarena at his distillery, “El Pandillo“, located in Jesus Maria, Jalisco.
Production Details:
NOM: 1579; Cooking: Stone/brick oven; Extraction: Tahona (mechanical); Distillation: 2x, Copper pot; Aging: Used American white oak; ABV: 40%; Water source: Deep well.
You can buy Terralta Reposado online at Old Town Tequila for $46.
5. Tromba Reposado — The Soft Talker
For a gentle and easy-to-drink repo, Tromba scored high marks, boasting notes of butterscotch, vanilla, and a slight hint of pepper. But for drinkers who like bigger, bolder agave and barrel flavors, Tromba appeared a little too mild. Perfect for entry-level tequila drinkers, but a little less interesting for some aficionados.
Production Details:
NOM: 1107; Cooking: Stone/brick oven; Extraction: Roller mill; Distillation: 2x, Copper pot; Aging: Used American white oak; ABV: 40%.
You can buy Tromba Reposado online at Old Town Tequila for $43.
6. Casamigos Reposado — The Sweet Talker
This brand, started by George Clooney and Randy Gerber in 2013, has scored admirers for its sweet, vanilla, caramel, and baking spice profile, but for our panel it was rated too sweet. Some noted that it tasted “manipulated”. It may be a success in the wider market, but all 4 of our reposado newcomers scored higher.
Casamigos is made at NOM 1416, Productos Finos de Agave, in Jesus Maria, Jalisco.
Casamigos Reposado sells for $40 at Old Town Tequila.
You can also read our review of Casamigos, here.
The Takeaway
There’s no one reposado that everyone seems to love, but there does appear to be two distinct camps: 1) Barrel heads who like tons of barrel notes and sweeter flavors, and 2) Agave addicts who appreciate a lighter touch when it comes to age, and stronger agave notes. Thankfully, our newcomers had something to offer both camps.
Which repo style do you prefer? Let us know!
Many kudos are due you for your new “4 New Tequilas To Put on Your Reposado Radar”.
1) – It was insightful to compare and contrast the four with two tequilas that are known to a huge proportion of tequila aficionados whether they are newer or more experienced.
2) – Who came up with your bar graph comparison, needs a lot of recognition in that that one graph presents such an abundant amount of information in a clear, concise, readily comprehended and appreciated manner.
Great job from inception, tabulation and presentation. Excellent. Thank you for another job well done.
PS: With your definition: Agave addicts – who appreciate a lighter touch when it comes to age, and stronger agave notes. I’d fall into that bunch as I’ve not as yet found any agave alcohol product that has had too much agave flavor. If I ever discover such a tequila (or mezcal) I’ll certainly let you all know of that fact, but I do not expect that day to come. Now again if we were to discuss experiencing too much Oak or too much Sweetness or too much Artificiality . . . that happens too often for most all of us!
Were you surprised don Julio went #1
Nope. Don Julio Blanco usually performs well in blind tastings.