Blind tastings are the best way to find out what you really like, free of marketing hype, bias, and previous experiences. They also give you the opportunity to experience tequila in a whole new way—using only your senses.
That’s why we conduct regular “Tequila Challenge” blind tasting events that are open to the public. If you’re curious about our recent tastings, and the results, you can find them here. We will update this page with new results as they roll in. (Here’s how to get notified when this page updates.)
Take a look, below, and let us know if anything surprises you!
Are you up the challenge? Take a look at our tasting event calendar and reserve your spot.
Sept 30, 2019 / Quinta Don Jose Hotel
Which Are the Tequilas Regular People Prefer?
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Participants: 17
Participant Types: Aficionados/Consumers
Special Toast: Hacienda Los Alamos (La Cata) Single Barrel Extra Añejo
Summary:
- There were no tequila industry people or bartenders at this event (just a few adicionados), so we believe the results reflect a little more of what regular consumers think. That said, San Matias Gran Reserve Blanco, which is a relatively new product from Casa San Matias, scored the most points. As far as we can tell, this is only available in Mexico, and sells for about $373 MXN (about $19 USD) for a 750ml bottle. It’s not overly complex, but has cooked agave and black pepper in the aroma and flavor. In second place was Casamigos Blanco (NOM 1416), a brand that is getting a lot of attention in the USA. The participants responded favorably to the intense vanilla aroma and sweet flavor of this product. The third highest-scoring was Tequila G4 Blanco, which is usually one of those products that is liked by both the consumer/aficionado and bartender/industry crowds alike. Honestly, we were surprised to see that it finished where it did. The top three were pretty close in points, but then the bottom three really dropped off. Herradura Silver scored an average of 80.703 points, and Casa Dragones Blanco collected an average of 79.141 points. The lowest ranking went to Gran Reserva de Don Alberto Blanco. People mentioned that it had a smokey, and somewhat plastic aroma that reminded them of mezcal. Perhaps it would have done better in a lineup with mezcal, but it was not preferred by tequila drinkers.
| Place | Name | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Matias Gran Reserva Blanco | 87.266 |
| 2 | Casamigos Tequila Blanco | 86.406 |
| 3 | Tequila G4 Blanco | 85.956 |
| 4 | Herradura Silver | 80.703 |
| 5 | Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco | 79.141 |
| 6 | Gran Reserva de Don Alberto Blanco | 77.206 |
Aug 19, 2019 / Quinta Don Jose Hotel
Felipe Does It Again; Bartenders vs. Consumers
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Participants: 18
Participant Types: Tequila Industry; Aficionados/Consumers; Bartenders
Special Toast: Fortaleza Reposado – Winter Blend 2019
Summary:
- Once again, Felipe Camarena, and his distillery “El Pandillo,” grabbed the most points from the three main groups of participants: bartenders, consumer/aficionado, and tequila industry people. Terralta Blanco scored highest of all the products by an impressive margin. Second place was another traditionally-made product, Cascahuín Tahona Blanco (a tequila that scored the highest in a previous tasting.) Tres Generaciones Plata scored higher than it did in previous tastings this time around. Both Tres Generaciones and newcomer brand Cierto Blanco were popular with the consumers/aficionados in the group. Cierto Blanco, which is made at NOM 1146, scored an impressive 84.25 with the consumer/aficionado segment. It was not, however, popular with bartenders, who felt the product was too clean and simple. (They tend to like products that have a prominent character.) This illustrates the difference between the palates of bartenders vs. consumers. Casa Dragones, a diffuser product, got low scores from all segments. The special toast was Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2019, a brand new, limited release, product soon to be made available to the market, which features a blend of American and French oak aged tequila at a slightly higher proof. (It is delicious!)
| Place | Name | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terralta Tequila Blanco | 86.838 |
| 2 | Cascahuín Tahona Blanco | 84.236 |
| 3 | Tres Generaciones Plata | 81.597 |
| 4 | Cierto Blanco | 80.556 |
| 5 | Casa Noble Crystal | 78.603 |
| 6 | Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco | 77.708 |
July 29, 2019 / Quinta Don Jose Hotel
Newcomer Wins Top Scores; Different Diffuser Products, Same Sad Results
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Participants: 19
Participant Types: Restaurant owners; Tequila Industry; Aficionados; Tequila Newbies
Special Toast: Cierto Tequila Añejo
Summary:
- Diffuser products finished in the same position as in previous blind tastings — last. Huge praise for the highest-rated tequila, newcomer Volans Blanco, a very small batch product made at El Pandillo (NOM 1579) by Felipe Camarena. Second highest rated was another San Matias Tahona Blanco, revealing that tahona-made products were the most popular with this crowd. In third position was another traditionally-made beloved Camarena family product, Tapatio Blanco, from the La Alteña distillery (NOM 1139). The Special Toast tequila, Cierto Tequila Añejo, is brand new to the market. It is made by Enrique Fonseca and Sergio Mendoza at La Tequileña (NOM 1146). Each of our blind tastings finish with a toast in honor of those who are still creating exceptional products.
| Place | Name | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volans Blanco | 81.974 |
| 2 | San Matias Tahona Blanco | 80.972 |
| 3 | Tapatio Blanco | 80.724 |
| 4 | 123 Organic Tequila Blanco | 79.342 |
| 5 | El Jimador Blanco Tequila | 76.389 |
| 6 | Cazadores Tequila Blanco | 74.408 |
July 02, 2019 / De La O
Tough Crowd: Industry Pros and Bartenders
Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Participants: 29
Participant Types: Bartenders; Tequila Industry; Aficionados
Special Toast: Suave Tequila “V.S.B.” Extra Añejo
Summary:
- Once again, the diffuser products scored lowest. The crowd was an even mix of tequila industry professionals and bartenders, with a few aficionados sprinkled in. This group of industry pros seemed to be hard to impress, and rated the products much lower than usual. This is usually common for people who have never rated blind before. (We see low rating as clear evidence of the huge effect that marketing can have on consumers’ perceptions! On average, we believe that marketing contributes about 10 points to the final score.)
| Place | Name | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siete Leguas Blanco | 84.583 |
| 2 | Don Fulano Blanco | 81.202 |
| 3 | Arette Blanco | 79.955 |
| 4 | Los Abuelos Blanco (Lot 76) | 79.352 |
| 5 | Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco | 76.413 |
| 6 | Cazadores Tequila Blanco | 72.5 |
May 27, 2019 / Quinta Don Jose Hotel
Diffuser vs. Everything Else
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico
Participants: 19
Participant Types: Aficionados; Bartenders; Tequila Industry; Hotel Owners
Special Toast: Cascahuín Extra Añejo (French Oak Finished)
Summary:
- This blind tasting lineup included a wide array of production processes. When the results were revealed, the 2 diffuser-made products finished last, and all non-diffuser products were in close proximity to each other.
| Place | Name | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Tequileño Platino (Square Bottle) | 84.079 |
| 2 | Don Fulano Blanco | 83.958 |
| 3 | Los Abuelos Blanco (Still Strength) | 83.056 |
| 4 | Roca Patrón Silver | 82.941 |
| 5 | Tres Generaciones Plata | 78 |
| 6 | Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco | 75.417 |
April 28, 2019 / Quinta Don Jose Hotel
Mixto Surprise!
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico
Participants: 33
Participant Types: Aficionados; Bartenders
Special Toast: Volans Extra Añejo
Summary:
- These participants were seasoned tequila aficionados, so we included 7 in the lineup. The brand-new Cascahuín Tahona scored the highest (no surprise there), but El Tequileño Blanco, a mixto, finished in 2nd place. Surprise!! Not all mixtos are bad! This got the group talking—which is better, a mixto, or a diffuser-made product? The group felt that the results spoke for themselves.
| Place | Name | Avg. Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cascahuín Tahona Blanco | 82.617 |
| 2 | El Tequileño Blanco (mixto) | 82.056 |
| 3 | Tezcazul Tequila Blanco | 81.935 |
| 4 | El Tequileño Platino Blanco | 80.313 |
| 5 | Don Fulano Blanco | 79.637 |
| 6 | Ocho Tequila Plata - El Bajío 2018 | 79.583 |
| 7 | Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco | 73.083 |
Do you want to participate in one of our “Tequila Challenge” blind tasting events? Check our tasting event calendar and reserve a spot.
Why include the Still Strength Los Abuelos and not the blanco? How about doing a taste test of Still strength tequilas?
The tequila lineup is different for each one. In that one, we wanted to compare Los Abuelos Still Strength with Roca Patron. Both have the same production processes, and have nearly the same ABV.
Interesting to see how they cluster or “tier” when tasted blind. Definitely want to drive down this road further, nice work!
I remember enjoying El Tequileño Blanco for the first time followed by my shock that it was a mixto.
Great research, Grover!
Not a single one of theses are available in any local stores or bars near me.Guess Im sticking with Cabo Wabo,Huradura,Don Julio and Hornitos !
Hi Steve, where are you located, you can buy Volans Tequila online at siptequila.com
Is volans available anywhere for purchase
Thanks Grover! I always like to read the recaps of the Catas. I was particularly interested this time, knowing that some of my Ajijic neighbors were participating. Everyone always learns a lot at these events, and it is a great opportunity to test your sensorial prowess! Gracias!