39 Selected recent Reviews on Whiskey, Brandy, and White Spirits

© 2001 F. Paul Pacult
All rights reserved.

CASA NOBLE Reposado
100% Blue Agave Tequila NOM-1137 CRT La Cofradia, Jalisco
40% Alcohol $49.99
Matured in French oak for a full year; the light amber/yellow shade is really gorgeous and pure; the nose is seductive and compelling right from the first nosing pass after the pour as mature scents of brine, forest herbs, and lead pencil enchant the olfactory sense the second sniffing features more of the herbs and pepperiness than the lead pencil with further exposure to air, the third whiff offers deepening yet graceful aromas of soft caramel, mild oak, herbal agave, and sea salt (I especially like the bouquet at this stage of 5-7 minutes of aeration) with further time in the glass, the final sniffing sees the dill/brine element come to the forefront a genuinely elegant and top-of-the-category bouquet; the intensely sweet taste at palate entry is more vegetal than oaky or caramelly the midpalate stage is laden with sweet light toffee and candied nut flavors, which while tasty, don't necessarily match-up to the elegance of the aroma; the finish is long, toasty/caramelly, and resiny from the oak; highly recommended, but could have gone even further in the ratings department had the taste phase equaled the superb quality found in the bouquet.
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CASA NOBLE ANEJO
Special Reserve Extra Aged 100% Blue Agave Tequila NOM-1137 CRT La Cofradia, Jalisco
40% Alcohol $79.99
Aged in French oak for five years; the brilliant amber tone is impeccably pure and clean; the nose at opening is rich, almost brandy-like, and oaky with time in the glass, the aroma becomes a bouquet as the oak influence is joined by a mild vegetal component and a background pepperiness the third sniffing pass reveals a soft brininess that complements the pillowy oakiness in the fourth and final whiff, the delicate, perfumy scents of oak resin and vanilla, mature agave, and nut butter unite to form an atypically biscuity tequila bouquet while I actually prefer the nose of the reposado, this one is very pleasing and well-structured; the palate entry is mildly sweet and oaky, but then the midpalate stage explodes with firm, meaty tastes of nut butter, pepper, and light caramel; the finish is long, spirity, and elegant; very nice indeed.
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