Lot 12-TC. This must just have been an off batch, because it was WAY off. This just smells like pure diesel fuel exhaust on the nose and it tastes like diesel fumes on the palate. It’s almost as if someone was running a diesel generator next to the cooked agave for several days. This was borderline undrinkable.

Lot IN41BF. Smells really good. Aromas of sugar cane, tobacco, and red grapes. This is tasty! Palate has caramel, sponge, melon, and kiwi. Short finish with a bit of burn but overall this is a great value.

HNYIBJ. Smells spicy with hints of cinnamon, anise, and gin botanicals. Taste of butterscotch and spearmint. This is a bit soapy with short finish. It’s not my favorite Jabali, but it’s a really good value.

Why is their label designed like an Ed Hardy T-shirt? I’ll never understand that label. Fortunately, the juice inside the bottle is pretty good. A little peppery on the nose. This is nice. Very round on the palate with perfumed notes of candied red apples, sweet corn, and ripe red strawberries. I enjoyed this one much more than their regular release.

Lupe López. Lot 1. Bottle 34. March 2018. 47.9% ABV. 60% Churique. 40% Dasylirism Wheeleri. Smells cheesy and a bit moldy but not in a bad way. Mouthfeel is slippery, not quite viscous, but slippery like a wet mossy rock that is hard to keep your balance on. Flavor notes of blueberries and cheddar cheese.

Lupe López. Feb 18. 47.4%. Lot 1. 17 bottles. Very faint aromas of orange peel, grapefruit, and mango. Tastes muddled in comparison to others in the Clande lineup. Still good! But more subdued. Flavor notes of dark fruit… grapes and overripe mango.

Jan 2017. 53.4%. Lot 2. Bottle 20. Strong sweet aromas! More hints of spearmint, cilantro, and lemon on the nose. Smells awesome! A bit numbing on the palate with notes of perfume, spearmint, cane sugar, flan, grape skittles, and cleaning supplies. This is awesome! This and the yellow CLande are my favorite of the Clande line so far.

Batch PM-03. 44.5%. Bottle 132/256. Subtle aromas of meat and uncooked flour but very light on the nose. Super thick and viscous on the palate. I’m swimming in this stuff. Great mouthfeel! Palate has notes of aloe vera, green tomatoes, old leather, and decaying raw meat, like the smell of a dead animal (but in an oddly pleasant way!)

Lot 6. Bottle 36. Distilled in March 2018. 46.5%. Phenomenal! This is my favorite sotol I’ve tried thus far. It’s pure magic in aroma and flavor, and it’s my favorite of the Clande line (which is all great, but this one is my favorite. The nose is grassy with notes of raw potato, dry hay, and dry tobacco. There’s also a bit of caramel sweetness on the nose that’s really nice. The palate follows a similar path as the nose, with notes of caramel, dark chocolate covered cherries, dry hay, uncooked potatoes, and a bit of beach wood.

Aromas of fresh red and pink flowers, cinnamon candy canes, coconut, rose pedals, and perfume. The palate is 100% cinnamon Altoids. For those that don’t eat cinnamon Altoids, you’ll probably taste Red Hots candies on this, which are similar, but cinnamon Altoids are an overwhelming note in this and definitely closer in describing this taste. Fortunately, I love cinnamon Altoids and often eat them in traffic as a stress reliever when driving home from work. So this is all positive for me. It’s a strong single sweet note of sugar and cinnamon, but I enjoy it.

SMA-112. Super excited to see this older bottle at Barzon in Austin. Nose of lemons, peach, green asparagus, and chlorine. Tastes like rotten bananas, and aging wet leaves. Notes of of old vanilla beans, souring orange juice, figs, and dry stale dates. This just tastes like it’s a hundred years old. Like an old dusty library full of old rotting fruit, but in a kind of delightful way.

Clean nose. A bit of anise aroma with dry oranges. The palate is super complex. Notes of green peppers, flan, leather, grape seed, sesame, and raw flour. More anise and black licorice on the back of the palate. Medium, balanced viscosity. Slightly hot dry finish.

Lot 2. Medium smoke on the nose. A hint of alcohol aroma that is very faint. The palate is a bit astringent. A bit hot as well. notes of sage, white pepper, lemon oils.

Lot 6. Clean nose with a bit of straw. Notes of coffee, chocolate, sweet peanuts. Semi viscous. This round and I enjoy this. Low smoke and balanced.

Lot 2. Sweet aromas of caramel, green grass, sweet corn. Tastes of vanilla bean, toffee, and cake frosting. This is sweet and round with some hints of bitters. Semi viscous.

Lote 020-18GS. Aromas of geraniums, fresh tomatillos, mildew, chalk, and sea salt. The palate is light and approachable. There are some green vegetal notes of dry green tea leaves, asparagus, and olives. There’s nothing in this that would be offensive or off putting. The ABV is too low for my liking, but others may enjoy that, especially if you’re accustomed to lower ABV tequila.

Interesting! There’s quite a bit going on here. Aromas of sour apples, distilled vinegar, blue cheese, more blue cheese, raw okra, and sweet corn. The palate has notes of sourdough, yogurt, brie cheese, roast beef, and boiled white onions. Dry, cheesy finish. There’s really no shortage of flavor on this, especially if you like cheese.

Batch TB01-18. Wow! This thing is bursting at the seams with flavor and aroma. Notes of plantains, apricots, cherries, and strawberries on the nose. The palate is incredibly soft and delicate, like holding the hand of a newborn. Tasting notes of caramel, toasted fennel, honey, molasses, and butter melted in brown sugar. All finely settled and arranged on the palate. This is really exquisite and a must try.

This tastes more like an Americana, not a Karwinskii, but the producer definitely used Karwinskii agave. Very few végétal notes…some bright fruit of oranges, tangerines, blueberries, and grape with mineral water. Dry. This has a bit of heat but has some good flavors and texture. This is one of my favorite of the Noble Coyote line up.

Batch ETZTX01-18. Incredible! Pungent aromas of dates, wet leaves, raisins, and a touch of lactose. The palate has a fruity bite up front, moving into notes of leather, tobacco, grilled broccoli, smoked potato skins, and brisket. This is really, really nice all the way through with a long finish. It keeps opening up more and more each time I uncork the bottle, so I think it might have a bit more settling ahead of it, which is exciting because it’s already stellar.