Aguamiel Blanco Tequila 750ml

Aguamiel is the sap of the agave plant. It’s the stuff they actually make pulque out of, not tequila, but let’s put that aside, since it’s still a pretty good name for a spirit.

Aguamiel the tequila is made from a mix of Highlands and Lowlands agaves — 100% Weber, of course — from plants a minimum of 8 years old. The operation currently has a reposado and a blanco in its arsenal; here we review the blanco on its own.

Herbal and sharply citrusy on the nose, Aguamiel presents as a classic blanco, hinting at vanilla and studded with notes of white pepper. The palate has a modest sweetness, with more of that white pepper character and just a hint of bitter bell pepper in the mix. But overall, the palate comes across as silky and moderately sweet, with a brown sugar note dominant. The experience sweetens up further as the finish approaches, taking on a lightly candied character that moves from lemon to orange over time. Bright and fun, this is a solid, versatile mixer that also drinks well on its own.

-- Christopher Null, drinckhacker.com