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Espolon Tequila Blanco
About Espolon Tequila Blanco
Now that the weather is staring to get warmer, I’ve been in the mood for some refreshing tequila cocktails. And one bottle that I keep seeing everywhere, possibly ’cause of the striking artwork inspired by Jose Guadalupe Posada, is Espolon Tequila Blanco.
After decades in the Mexican distilling industry, Cirilo Oropeza, who sadly passed away in 2020 at age 80, was approached by a entrepreneur to build a new tequila brand that would soon be known as Espolon Tequila. Oropeza continued to be the master distiller even after the brand was purchased by the Italian spirit firm Campari Group in 2009.
Espolon Tequila is distilled using a combination distillate from two different types of stills: Pot and Column still. Spirits from a pot still are known to have earthy flavors, while a column still is typically lighter and fruitier.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: Blanco Tequila
❖ Distillery: San Nicolas (NOM-144) in Los Altos, Jalisco
❖ ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
❖ Low/Moderate Price
Tasting Notes
❖ Nose: Agave, Mango, Vanilla Extract, A bit of heat from the alcohol
❖ Taste: Spice, Pepper, Fruit, Agave
❖ Finish: Medium, Tropical Fruit, Pepper
Cocktail
Frozen Mango Margarita
1 1/2 oz tequila
1/2 oz triple sec
1 oz Fresh lime juice
1/2 cup ice
Mango puree, pulp or cheeks
❖ Combine all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth(20-30 seconds)
❖ Pour into a Margarita glass or coupe, and garnish with a lime wheel
This cocktail is one of the main reasons I picked up a bottle of Espolon Tequila Blanco in the first place. I was craving a blended cocktail now that summer is in full swing. I first came across Steve the Bartender’s Youtube channel back during lockdown, and this recipe for a Frozen Mango Margarita is my favorite blended cocktail.
This is a great example of my favorite approach to cocktail variations because it makes meaningful changes while still maintaining the identity of the original cocktail. The traditional margarita flavors, like lime, orange, and agave, are all there but the mango adds the perfect amount of sweetness and a pleasant creamy texture. I was hoping to get a bit more of the pepper or spice notes from Espolon, but I was still satisfied with the agave and fruit, since they compliment the other ingredients so well.
Bottom Line
RATING: 3/5
While I would recommend Espolon Tequila Blanco as a cocktail mixer, I was left a bit underwhelmed by the overall flavor. I enjoyed the tropical fruit, pepper, and spice notes, but I just couldn’t get over the artificial quality to the vanilla notes. It really soured the whole experience for me, and is the main reason Espolon probably won’t be my go-to blanco tequila this summer.
I also had slightly mixed results when mixing Espolon Tequila Blanco in cocktails. But since the unpleasant vanilla notes mostly disappear and the fruit and agave notes tend to come through in a majority of cocktails, I think it’s worth checking out as a mixing spirit. I just wish I could taste more of the pepper and spice notes. But, there are enough things I like about Espolon Tequila Blanco that I want to keep experimenting, and will look to maybe try their other offerings.
As always, drink responsibly.
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