Tasting Tequila with Brad

What happens when traditional tequila meets carefully toasted oak? Today I’m reviewing the Paladar Toasted Series Reposado, an additive-free tequila produced at the historic El Llano Distillery (NOM 1109) and crafted by Eduardo Orendain Jr., a fifth-generation member of one of tequila’s founding families. This isn’t your typical reposado. The Toasted Series explores how different toasted oak profi...

El Mexicano Añejo is one of the most interesting new tequila releases I’ve tasted this year, and I’m honestly surprised more people aren’t talking about it. Produced at NOM 1588 by the Bañuelos family, the original founders of Cazadores, this additive-free tequila combines traditional Highland agave character with some unique production choices that set it apart from many other añejos on the marke...

What does it take to create an award-winning tequila brand? In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Rick Olivo, founder and CEO of Don Rico Tequila, to discuss his incredible 18-year journey from tequila enthusiast to brand owner. Rick shares how a bad tequila experience kept him away from tequila for more than 20 years, how he became immersed in the tequila industry, and how years of studyin...

What if a single insect could destroy an agave plant that took 6 to 8 years to grow? In this episode of Tasting Tequila with Brad, we’re diving into one of the biggest threats facing agave farmers today: the Agave Snout Weevil ( Scyphophorus acupunctatus ). This tiny beetle has the potential to devastate entire agave fields by attacking plants from the inside out, introducing bacteria and rot that...

Volcán de Mi Tierra sent me their newest batch and believed it was showing significantly better than previous releases. Instead of taking their word for it, I tracked down an older batch, poured both blind, and put them head-to-head. No labels. No marketing. No bias. Just tequila in the glass. Did Volcán de Mi Tierra actually improve their tequila? Is the newest batch worthy of a higher score on T...

Can a distillery with every modern production option available still choose tradition? Today I’m reviewing Casa Loy Piedra y Agave Blanco 49 , a high-proof tequila produced at NOM 1633 in the Southern Highlands of Jalisco. What makes this tequila so interesting is that the distillery has access to multiple production methods, yet for this release they chose a traditional approach focused on flavor...

Most tequila fans have never heard of Charanda, but they may have already tasted its influence. In this video, I review Uruapan Charanda Blanco , a protected Denomination of Origin spirit from Michoacán, Mexico, produced by the Pacheco family since 1907. While Charanda isn’t an agave spirit, it shares many of the same values tequila enthusiasts appreciate: tradition, terroir, family legacy, and au...

Can a brand-new tequila distillery actually compete with established reposado brands in a completely blind tasting? In this episode of Tasting Tequila with Brad , I put four reposados head-to-head in a true blind tequila tasting featuring: Pedro Furtivo Reposado Primo Reposado Carabuena Reposado Blue Star Spirits Reposado No labels. No hype. No price bias. Just aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, finish, an...

The second I nosed this tequila… I knew it was different. The new 2026 Lágrimas del Valle “La Mesa del Charco” Plata might honestly be one of the most exciting blanco tequila releases of the year. This is the FIRST single estate release fully owned and farmed by the Rosales family of Cascahuín (NOM 1123), and you can immediately taste and smell the difference. Using traditional brick ovens, a blen...

What if everything most people think they know about tequila is wrong? In this episode of Tasting Tequila with Brad , I sit down with Adam Fodor, co-founder of the International Tequila Academy, for one of the deepest tequila conversations I’ve had on the channel. We talk tequila education, additives, tequila myths, distillery tours, tequila sommeliers, production methods, NOM confusion, tequila c...

Pink Red Bull and tequila sounded like a great idea… until I actually tried it. ⚡ In today’s episode of Tequila & Red Bull Cocktail Lab , I mix the Red Bull Pink Edition Wild Berries with Cambio Blanco tequila to see if this berry tequila cocktail combo actually works. Spoiler alert: This one got weird FAST. The Pink Edition features raspberry flavors and herbal verbena notes, and I thought t...

Can you actually identify black pepper and clove completely blind? Welcome back to Episode 3 of Training My Tequila Nose, the tequila sensory training series where I use a professional sommelier aroma kit to improve my ability to identify tequila aromas, tasting notes, and flavor profiles. In this episode, I focus on spice and pepper notes while comparing two very different tequilas: Bramido High...

Most celebrity tequila brands focus on marketing first and tequila second… but Tequila Providencia Reposado might be different. In this review, I break down the production methods, tasting notes, and why this additive-free reposado coming from NOM 1465 in Arandas, Jalisco actually impressed me. Tequila Providencia is co-founded by MLB superstar Mookie Betts along with Rodd Rafieha and Mia, but wha...

Don Amado Arroqueño Mezcal Review | My First Arroqueño Experience Today on Tasting Tequila with Brad, I’m diving into my very first Arroqueño mezcal — the Don Amado Arroqueño. After interviewing Jake Lustig from PM Spirits and hearing him talk about why Arroqueño is one of his favorite agaves, I knew I had to finally explore this category deeper for myself. This traditional mezcal is made by maest...

Fortaleza Winter Blend 2025 is FINALLY open… and Tonie and I are putting it head-to-head against regular Fortaleza Reposado to see which one we actually prefer. What started as a tequila review turned into a conversation about tequila travel, visiting Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, traveling through Arandas, the Yeyo bottle scavenger hunt, and the amazing friendships we’ve built in the agave world...

The legendary square bottle Cascahuín Añejo is one of the most respected traditional additive-free tequilas among tequila enthusiasts — and today I finally review it on the channel. Produced at NOM 1123 by Salvador “Chava” Rosales, this old-school añejo focuses on cooked agave, minerality, and balance instead of overpowering oak and sweetness. In this review, we break down the full production proc...

Jake Lustig joins me for one of the BEST agave spirit conversations I’ve ever had on Tasting Tequila with Brad. We dive deep into traditional mezcal production, Don Amado Mezcal, ArteNOM tequila, clay pot distillation, Oaxaca, fermentation with fibers, historic tequila production methods, and how mezcal went from being delivered in gas cans to becoming a global craft spirit movement. Jake shares i...

Paladar Tequila Reposado is one of the most interesting additive-free tequilas I’ve tasted lately. Produced at the legendary El Llano Distillery NOM 1109 by Eduardo Orendain Jr., this reposado blends old-school tequila production with modern craftsmanship and experimental thinking. In this review, I break down the production process, flavor profile, fermentation methods, aging, and why Paladar Rep...

Can you actually train your nose and palate to taste tequila better? Welcome to Episode 1 of Training My Tequila Nose, a brand-new tequila education series where I use a professional sommelier aroma kit to improve aroma recognition and tasting ability while comparing real tequila profiles. In this episode, I compare two very different blanco tequilas from two different regions of Jalisco: Valor Bl...

Does expensive tequila actually taste better? In this blind tequila tasting, I put Clase Azul Añejo head-to-head against Siempre Añejo, La Pulga Añejo, and Zumbador Añejo using the Solo Blind tasting system. One bottle costs around $500… but did it actually win? This tequila blind taste test focuses on: Additive-free tequila Añejo tequila comparisons Blind tequila reviews Premium tequila vs luxury...

El Tesoro Blanco is one of the most respected additive-free tequilas in the world, and today I’m breaking down why so many tequila collectors keep this bottle on their shelf. Produced at the legendary La Alteña Distillery (NOM 1139) by Master Distiller Carlos Camarena, El Tesoro Blanco uses traditional tequila-making methods including tahona stone wheel extraction, brick ovens, natural fermentatio...

Tequila Red Bull combo review! Today on Tasting Tequila with Brad , I’m trying the NEW Red Bull Summer Edition Sudachi Lime with El Bandido Yankee Plata 47 — a high-proof additive-free tequila bottled at 47% ABV. And honestly… this might be the BEST tequila and Red Bull combo I’ve tried yet. El Bandido Yankee Plata 47 is crafted from 100% Blue Weber agave at El Viejito Distillery in Jalisco using...

PM Spirits Destilado de Agave review! Today I’m tasting this still-strength Espadín agave spirit bottled at a massive 61.1% ABV from Oaxaca, Mexico. Produced by mezcalero Rene Parada Barriga and sourced through Jason Paul Cox of Cinco Sentidos, this uncertified agave distillate delivers huge flavor, smoke, tropical fruit, minerality, and intense traditional character. This PM Spirits Project Desti...

Tequila Providencia review, Mookie Betts tequila interview, additive-free tequila, celebrity tequila, NOM 1465 El Eden, reposado tequila, blanco tequila, premium tequila review. What happens when a tequila brand decides NOT to become “just another celebrity tequila”? In this episode of Tasting Tequila with Brad, I sit down with Rodd Rafieha and Mia McMurray from Tequila Providencia to talk about t...

an a wine aroma kit actually make me better at tasting tequila? In this video, I test The Wine Savant Nosing Kit, a professional sommelier aroma training kit designed to improve aroma recognition and tasting ability. I’m starting a brand-new weekly series called Training My Tequila Nose to see if training your palate and nose can help identify more detailed tequila tasting notes like citrus, vanil...