Tasting Tequila with Brad

Bourbon + Orange Bitters in Tequila?! | Tierra de Ensueño Añejo Review What happens when a good tequila spends almost two years in a barrel that previously held bourbon and was later used to make orange bitters? Does the unusual barrel create something exceptional, or does it overpower the tequila's natural agave character? In this review, we explore the **Tierra de Ensueño Orange Bitters Single B...

SIEMPRE Supremo: NOM 1137 vs. NOM 1414 — Better or Worse? Did SIEMPRE Supremo get better after changing distilleries, or did the change alter what made it special? In this video, I compare two versions of SIEMPRE Supremo produced at NOM 1137 and NOM 1414 to explore their differences in production methods, aroma, and flavor. The NOM 1137 version from La Cofradía uses agave from the valley region, w...

This Is NOT Tequila! The Truth About Cielo Azteca Reposado What happens when you buy a bottle labeled Cielo Azteca 1950 Reposado, thinking you're getting tequila, only to discover that it isn't tequila at all? In this video, I explain how I came across this bottle in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and what I discovered after taking a closer look at its label. This bottle was purchased at Walmart in Mexic...

3 Calvados-Aged Tequilas in a Blind Taste Test… I Got Them All Wrong! What happens when three añejo tequilas from different distilleries are aged in French apple brandy barrels? In this video, I put three Calvados barrel-aged tequilas through a three-way blind tasting to discover how they compare in aroma, flavor, minerality, cooked agave, apple, cinnamon, and barrel spice. The three tequilas come...

110 Proof vs 80 Proof Tequila: Which Has More Flavor? | SOCORRO Blanco Does 110 proof tequila deliver more flavor than 80 proof, or can the lower-proof version reveal flavors that are harder to notice at higher strength? In this video, I compare two SOCORRO Blanco tequilas produced using the same yeast profile: SOCORRO 110 Singular Edición and the standard 80-proof SOCORRO Blanco. Both tequilas co...

Why Does Socorro 110 Have a Green Sticker? | Brian Ashcraft Interview Why does Socorro 110 Singular Edición have a green sticker covering part of its label? In this interview, Brad Niccum sits down with Brian Ashcraft, Senior Director of Brands at Socorro Tequila, to discuss the story behind the bottle, its high-proof tequila, and the effort to create a more transparent tequila label. Brian explai...

DOS LOCOS Blanco Tequila: Can 2% Traditional Production Change the Flavor? What happens when 98% of a tequila made using modern production methods is blended with 2% made using traditional techniques, including crushing cooked agave by hand with wooden mallets? In this video, I explore DOS LOCOS Blanco and its unusual production process. Made at NOM 1459, Tequila Seleco de Matatlán, in Amatitán, J...

Montagave Showcase Single Barrel Reposado Review: 98 Proof & Worth $125? In this review, I’m tasting Montagave’s Showcase Wine and Spirits single barrel reposado, bottled at 98 proof and aged in a Bordeaux wine barrel. This special release comes from NOM 1123, Cascahuín, in El Arenal, Jalisco. Montagave takes a different approach to barrel aging, using French oak wine barrels from Bordeaux, Fr...

Escalón La Tahona Blanco Review: A Stunning Bottle with Serious Tequila Flavor Can a tequila have a beautiful, high-end bottle and still deliver the traditional flavor that serious tequila enthusiasts are looking for? In this review, I’m tasting Escalón Selección La Tahona Blanco, a tequila whose flavor profile I had a small part in helping select during its development. One of the founders, Alex...

Where Do You Really Learn Tequila? 2 Educational Resources You Should Know Where do you really learn about tequila? If you want to understand more than whether a bottle tastes smooth, it's time to explore the production methods, agave cultivation, fermentation, distillation, aging, and terroir behind the spirit. In this video, I share two educational resources for anyone who wants to learn more ab...

Montagave Tequila: The Story Behind Its Unique Flavors | John Melvin Interview What makes Montagave Tequila different? In this interview, Brad sits down with John Melvin, co-founder of Montagave, to explore the story behind the brand, its partnership with Cascahuín, and its commitment to creating distinctive tequila through quality ingredients, thoughtful experimentation, and unique barrel selecti...

Is Your Glass Changing Your Tequila? The 20-Minute Experiment Have you ever poured a tequila that tasted fantastic, only to come back 20 minutes later and find that it tastes flatter, softer, or almost watered down? Could the glass you're drinking from be changing your tequila experience? In this video, I explore the science behind tequila aroma and flavor by testing the same SIEMPRE tequila in fo...

SANTO 110 New vs Old: Can You Taste the Difference Blind? Can changing distilleries change a tequila enough that you can tell the difference in a blind taste test? Today, we're putting the OLD SANTO 110 head-to-head with the NEW SANTO 110 to find out which one comes out on top! Both bottles are 110 proof (55% ABV), but they're produced at completely different distilleries. The original SANTO 110 w...

MIJENTA Maestra Selection No. 3: Seed-Grown Agave & 100 Proof Tequila MIJENTA Maestra Selection No. 3 is a 100-proof Tequila Blanco that takes a different approach to traditional tequila production. Made with seed-grown Blue Weber agave, volcanic stone, wooden fermentation tanks, copper pot stills, and clay pots, this limited-edition release brings traditional techniques back into the spotligh...

MIJENTA: The Woman Behind It | From Wine to Tequila Master Distiller From wine to tequila master distiller — this is the story of Ana María Romero and her journey with MIJENTA. In this interview, Ana María Romero shares how her background in wine helped shape the way she understands tequila, aroma, flavor, fermentation, cooking, distillation, and the many details that influence the final character...

Can You Taste the Music? | EL MUSICO Tequila Blanco Review Can you actually taste music in tequila? I know that sounds like a marketing line, but EL MUSICO Tequila Blanco is taking the idea of music and tequila in a completely different direction. Produced at NOM 1499, Casa Tequilera de Arandas, in the Los Altos Highlands, EL MUSICO is a tequila built around a unique idea: making music part of the...

Tequila El Viejito Reposado — is this what tequila used to taste like? In this tequila review, we take a closer look at Tequila El Viejito Reposado, a producer-owned tequila from Atotonilco, Jalisco, made with 100% agave. From the production process to the final tasting, this review takes you through what makes this reposado stand out. We look at the use of brick ovens, a roller mill, closed ferme...

4 NEW High-Proof Tequilas Blind Tasting! Singular Edición, Tierra de Ensueño & More Four brand-new high-proof tequilas. Four blind tasting glasses. And one exciting tequila experiment! Today, we're putting four high-proof tequila releases to the test in a blind tasting featuring Singular Edición, Tierra de Ensueño, Acre Largo, and Musto. These tequilas range from 100 to 110 proof, with one rea...

Tierra de Ensueño: 2 Brand-New Tequilas + An Exclusive New Drop! Tierra de Ensueño has two brand-new tequila releases — and there's an exclusive new drop coming soon! In this episode, Matt Robertson from Tierra de Ensueño joins me to talk about the latest releases from the brand, including the High Proof Blanco and the new Rosa Añejo. We go behind the scenes of these new tequilas, talk about the i...

YEYO Capri Reposado: The “8-Second Ride” Tequila? What makes a tequila taste like an “8-second ride”? Today we're tasting YEYO Capri Reposado, an extremely limited release from YEYO Tequila with fewer than 900 bottles produced. Capri spent more than six months in white port barrels, creating a very different flavor profile from a traditional tequila. Before the final release was decided, I had the...

Haberdasher Hop Factory: How Does IPA Beer Become Whiskey? Can IPA beer really be turned into whiskey? Today we're tasting Hop Factory from Haberdasher Artisan Distillery in Franklin, Indiana — a truly unusual spirit that starts its life as a finished IPA from Oaken Barrel Brewing Company. This isn't beer made specifically for distillation. Haberdasher takes Superfly IPA, double pot distills it to...

Boato Tequila Blanco Copper Heart Review – An Accidental Distillery Find! Sometimes the best tequila stories happen completely by accident. While driving home after visiting a distillery in El Arenal, Brad and his friends spotted a distillery they thought belonged to their friend Danny. They were completely wrong—and that unexpected stop led to the discovery of Boato Tequila. The distillery turned...

Torrente Tequila High Proof Blanco Review – Worth the Hype? Torrente Tequila has been showing up everywhere lately, with tequila drinkers talking about this high-proof Blanco and the story behind the brand. After finding a bottle at Amecha No. 2 in the town of Tequila, Brad decided it was time to find out what all the hype was about. In this review, we take a closer look at Torrente Tequila High P...

Santo Tequila CEO Interview: The Next Chapter, New SKUs & NOM 1662 What’s next for Santo Tequila? In this exclusive CEO interview, Brad sits down with David Szydlik, CEO of Santo Tequila, to talk about the brand’s next chapter, new SKUs, production changes, and the move to NOM 1662. David shares the story behind Santo’s commitment to quality, including fully mature agave, additive-free tequila...

Tequila Folcklore Review: Why does NOM 1662 matter? One of my favorite tequila brands is moving to a new distillery, so when I was in Tlaquepaque and saw a bottle of Folcklore Jalisciense made at that exact distillery, I had to buy it. Folcklore is produced at NOM 1662, located in Unión de San Antonio, Jalisco, in the Los Altos region. I wanted to get an early look at what this relatively new tequ...