Our new year began with a departure from our usual whiskies to delve into an entirely different spirit – and exploration of tequila and mezcal!

We began our evening with a trio of Tequilas:

• Leyenda del Milagro Silver Tequila 40% ~£22
• Ocho Single Estate (2014) Tequila 40% ~£55
• Casamigos Reposado Tequila 40% ~£57

For those not familiar, tequila is a protected Mexican spirit made exclusively from Blue Weber agave, distilled primarily in Jalisco and surrounding regions. While often associated with cocktails and shots, high-quality tequila is a nuanced sipping spirit, shaped by agave maturity, regional terroir, and production choices.

Unlike mezcal, tequila agave is typically steamed in brick ovens or autoclaves, rather than roasted, resulting in a cleaner, sweeter agave profile with less smoke. From unaged Blanco expressions that showcase pure agave character, to Reposado and Añejo styles gently influenced by oak, tequila offers a spectrum of flavor driven by balance rather than intensity.

At its best, tequila reflects patience, precision, and respect for raw material — a spirit best appreciated slowly, with attention to structure, texture, and finish.

So what did we think?

Leyenda del Milagro Silver Tequila 40%

Leyenda del Milagro Silver is an unaged Blanco tequila that highlights the pure character of Blue Weber agave. Crisp, vibrant, and expressive, it serves as an excellent reference point for understanding agave-driven flavor without oak influence.

• Nose: Fresh floral aromas greeted us, agave, grapefruit, and herbal notes
• Palate: Lime, white pepper, clean agave, minerals too
• Finish: Crisp, dry, refreshing

It was a terrific starting point and Ideal as a baseline tequila in our tasting flight. I could see why they suggest it makes a great Margherita, with its fresh, fun, floral, and flavourful character!

Tequila Ocho Single Estate 2014 40%

Tequila Ocho’s single-estate, vintage approach treats tequila much like fine wine, emphasizing terroir and harvest variation. The 2014 release reflects its specific estate through expressive agave, minerality, and balance.

• Nose: Cooked agave, citrus oil, pomelo, fresh cut grass, mineral notes
• Palate: Like sipping a fruit salad – including tinned pineapples! It had an earthy agave, subtle spice of cloves, even a bit woody
• Finish: Long, dry, mineral-driven, perhaps a puff of wood smoke?

If the Milagro Silver was floral, the Ocho was fruity on the nose! For a few folks, this was a clear winner. For others, the contrast between the delightful fruity fresh aromas vs the fruit joined by metallic and mineral elements on the palate was a bit too contradictory. For me, this is one to sip slowly and revisit — giving the tequila time to evolve in the glass.

Casamigos Reposado Tequila 40%

Casamigos Reposado Tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave and aged for approximately seven months in oak, resulting in a smooth, approachable profile that emphasizes sweetness and balance over intensity.

• Nose: Caramel, pistachio paste, chocolate-covered rummy raisins, baked agave, ripe dates
• Palate: Like chocolate mocha liqueur! Lots of vanilla extract, dried fruit, mild oak spice
• Finish: Soft, mellow, gently sweet

With a light golden colour, it was clear we had progressed to a different style of Tequila with the Reposado. I could imagine just sipping this neat – like dessert in a glass!

Not being familiar with tequila, I found the reaction to Casamingo interesting as it was considered a bit “down market”, yet I thought it more than held its own!

Ready for our next part? Tune in soon for our focus on Mezcal with:

• Ojo de Dios Joven Mezcal 45%
• Casamigos Mezcal 40%
• Ilegal Mezcal Reposado 40%
• The Lost Explorer Mezcal (Espadín) 40%
• Ilegal Mezcal Añejo (Special Edition) 40%

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