BEST REPOSADO TEQUILA 2012 RESULTS by Philip S. Kampe and William Rosenberg

Best Reposado Tequila - 2012 Reposado is fast becoming the most popular of the three NOM standard types of 100% blue agave tequilas (Blanco, Reposado, or Añejo). The reason is simple: Reposado (also referred to as "rested" and "aged") is Blanco tequila that has been stored in wood barrels for between two and eleven months. The aging gives Reposado its pale color, a pleasing bouquet, and a mellowed taste that is gentler to the palate— perfect for sipping as well as for cocktails. The Tasting: The Fifty Best held a “blind” tasting of 14 reposado tequilas with 18 pre-qualified judges. Strict tasting rules were applied. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the tequilas were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at slightly above room temperature. Only ice water and neutral unflavored nuts and crackers were available to cleanse the palate. The judges tasted through two flights of seven tequilas each. The judges, which I was one of,  wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges. The tasting notes are summaries of the judges’ opinions. TASTING RESULTS: DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS: 1. Two-Way Tie Luna Nueva Aroma: Vanilla, butterscotch, toffee, toasted sugar, pineapple, melon, sweet, light agave. Palate: Orange peel, citrus, banana, tropical, rich fruit, toffee, vanilla, cotton candy, floral, smoky, some oak, spicy, jalapeño, great flavor, very nice, comforting, dreamy, enjoyable. Finish: Toasted sugar, woody, herbal, gentle, balanced, smooth, elegant, medium. Double Gold Medal 1. Tres Agaves Aroma: Mild, sweet, fruity, holiday spices, hints of vanilla and caramel, cola notes, oaky. Palate: Citrus fruit, lemony, grapefruit rind, sweet, vanilla custard, honey, vanilla, slightly vegetative, bell pepper, spicy, pepper, peppercorn, earthy, herbaceous spice, tobacco, nutty, wood, bold, refreshing, well-rounded, well-balanced, satisfying. Finish: Spicy, jalapeño, very clean, soft, smooth, gentle, lingering. Double Gold Medal 2. Crótalo Aroma: Buttery, toffee, burnt sugar, brown sugar, mixed fruit, geranium, honeysuckle, almond, hazelnut, cocoa bean, woody, earthy, root beer, hints of coffee. Palate: Buttery, caramel, butterscotch, toffee, dried fruits, floral, pepper, almond, smooth, gentle, mellow, a pleasure. Finish: Slight wood, light, smooth, clean, medium. Double Gold Medal 3. Two-Way Tie Ambhar Aroma: Light, subtle floral, melon, honey, buttery, oak, coffee, hints of caramel & maple. Palate: Hint of butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, honey, custard, creamy, maple, hints of coconut, nutty, earthy, woody, tobacco, grassy, spicy, crisp fruit, citrus, soft, sweet, smooth, delicious. Finish: Minty, herbaceous fruits, incredibly smooth, clean, lingering. Double Gold Medal 3. Celestial Aroma: Light, sweet, fruity, coconut, honey dew, melon, citrus, dried fruit, notes of geranium, piney, spearmint, hints of mint, spice. Palate: Citrus, hints of lemons, honey, sweet, slight vanilla, creamy, floral, tropical fruit, peppermint upfront, slight nuttiness, walnut, earthy notes, woody, oak notes, fresh, soft, smooth, subtle. Finish: Very mild, woody, slight menthol, balanced, rich, silky, lingering, delicious. Double Gold Medal Excellia Aroma: Mango, apricot, pineapple, floral, orange peel, pepper, spice, nutty. Palate: Agave, bell pepper, cucumber, asparagus, spicy, mint, woody, earthy, mineral notes, grassy, dried fruit, floral, toffee, vanilla layers, slightly sweet. Finish: Rich, creamy, smooth, medium. Double Gold Medal Riazul Aroma: Lemon, citrus, pear, coconut, fruity, floral, custard, bread pudding, hint of vanilla, fresh. Palate: Lemony, citrus, caramel, maple, raisin, floral, creamy, coconut, almond, nutty, agave, herbal, maritime, smooth, balanced, well-rounded, yummy. Finish: Citrus, black pepper, clean, very smooth, lingering. Double Gold Medal GOLD MEDAL WINNERS: Karma Aroma: Toasted marshmallow, vanilla, toffee, agave, pineapple, melon, floral, violet, earthy, lightly herbaceous, pleasant. Palate: Hints of dried fruit, fruity, peach, agave, toffee, cotton candy, sweet, tangy, pepper spice, woody notes, soft, velvety, very smooth, delicate. Finish: Caramel, citrusy, woody, very smooth, medium. Gold Medal Agave 99 Aroma: Citrus notes, dried fruit, raisin, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, minty, grassy, floral, light woody, intense. Palate: Raisin, bell peppers, woodsy, sweet, pine, orange, citrus, sandalwood, spicy, nutmeg, almond, cloves, cinnamon, licorice, balanced. Finish: Sweet, oily, earthy, herbaceous, woody, soft, smooth, lingering. Gold Medal Gran Centenario Aroma: Vanilla hints, sweet, dried fruit, citrus fruit, honey, taffy, earthy, hay, vegetal, mushrooms, leather, oily. Palate: Peppery, bell pepper, vegetal herbs, hints of mint, clove, woody, earthy, light smoke, fresh agave, creamy layers, vanilla extract, brown sugar, gentle, light bodied. Finish: Walnut, almonds, smoky, soft, oily, smooth, mellow, clean, fresh, medium. Gold Medal Corzo Aroma: Light, floral, lemon rind, vanilla, eucalyptus, cantaloupe, roasted almonds. Palate: Buttery, sweet toffee, vanilla, toasted marshmallow, cinnamon, banana, raisin, dark cocoa, bell pepper, herbaceous, vegetative, smooth, enjoyable. Finish: Almond notes, coffee, toast, peppery, smoky, oily, light, dry, lingering. Gold Medal Dulce Vida Organic Aroma: Fresh orange zest, green apples, lightly roasted almond, caramel, floral, leathery, briny. Palate: Woody, agave, very earthy, mineral notes, lemon grass, lime, light citrus, melon, dried fruit, honey, caramel, molasses, cola, peppermint, viscous, gentle, very different, refreshing. Finish: Wood, cedar, pepper, lingering. Gold Medal SILVER MEDAL WINNERS: Kah Aroma: Vanilla, melon, fruity, dried fruit, red grape, popsicle stick, cider, toffee, subtle rose petals, earthy overtones, clay. Palate: Lemony, spicy, rosewood, woody, oak, hint of smoke, fennel notes, vanilla, peppery, strong, harsh, rich, full-bodied. Finish: Agave, oily, lingering. Silver Medal Buen Amigo Aroma: Light, fruity, slightly floral, vanilla, woody, hint of pepper, peppercorn, minty, faint citrus. Palate: Hints of vanilla, marshmallow, hint of butterscotch, toffee, honey, nutty, pepper, herbaceous, grassy, earthy, bitter herbs, hint of mint, smoky notes, pungent spice. Finish: Dried raisin, fig, oak, oily, warm, dry, smooth, strong, lingering. Silver Medal  PHILIP S.KAMPE WILLIAM ROSENBERG