Espolon Tequila has long been a cult favorite. It never got a lot of fanfare, but aficionados in-the-know had routinely sung its taste praises. Then it went away for almost 2 years. A new distillery owner brought the brand back with bold new graphics, a hip marketing campaign, and a MUCH lowered price!
In this episode Lippy tastes the two new presentations of Espolon: blanco and reposado. What he finds may surprise you –as it did HIM. Watch along and see how the new juice holds up against its original bottling. Also you’ll see Th’ Lip read from some of his first-ever written reviews of tasting Espolon blanco and anejo. And don’t miss Lippy doing a Bebop improvisational riff with his bottle of Espolon reposado. It’s culture time on the “Whisperer” show and You are THERE!
TEQUILA Details:
BRAND: ESPOLON
NOM: 1440
AGAVE SOURCE: Arandas, HIGHLANDS
GENERAL TASTING NOTES:
Espolon was known for its fiery heat as well as its long – lasting flavor bloom. While the new juice DOES hearken back to its roots in most of its flavor notes, the heat has been much diminished. Look for mounds of sweet spice on the blanco with little to no “bottom end”. The reposado features a bit more spice and a certain oak profile for sure, but sadly, the way the taste has been changed for a more modern palate has left the repo without a lot of excitement.
Still, it has to be said – for the inexpensive price of these two hardy soldiers, there is a lot to recommend and they should be tasted and considered.
FLAVOR Profiles (out of a possible 4 points)
Music Picks From This Show:
“Rocket 88” – Jackie Brenston With His Delta Cats
[audio:https://tequilawhisperer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/2-01-Rocket-88.mp3|titles=Rocket 88]“When My Man Comes Home” – Buddy Johnson And His Orchestra
[audio:https://tequilawhisperer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/1-02-When-My-Man-Comes-Home.mp3|titles=When My Man Comes Home]
Not a fan of the repo – still like the blanco a lot.
Then again, I drink it on ice…
Nice review! Just tried the Blanco for the first time the other night. Enjoyed it on the rocks and in a Sunrise. Thought it was delightful, and at the price point, I wouldn’t hesitate to get it again.
Glad you’re enjoying the new recipe! For the price it’s going to be a big hit, I believe. Campari does it again..
Thanks for the link in your piece!
The Coasta Cantina at ‘The Orleans’ hotel in Vegas was featuring this tequila. Don’t know what style it was ‘Blanco’ or ‘Repo'(?), but it sure tasted different then any other Tequila I have tasted. Seemed like it had a Honey taste to it. Apparently not available in Seattle or Portland(Or.) so will have to order it in.
Hands down best “everyday mans” Tequila on the market. I am not saying that for just the price point either. Neat or in a drink you will not be dissaponted. I put it against HuraDura, Cobo
Wabo & the like any day @ half the price. There is always a bottle of the rep or blanco on my shelf.
The bottle art is actually heavily influenced by Jose Guadalupe Posada. The graphic designer, whoever he is, sorta “covered” a piece by Posada called, “Calavere de Don Quixote”.
Hey, Lonnie! Thanks for the comment. you are in good company with you opinions on Espolon! I’m going to include it in another bargain battle coming up. Stay tuned!
hey Lippy, can you explain what you mean by a cloth.
eg: cheese cloth
A cloth is a piece of fabric. A “cheese cloth” is a VERY loose weave which allows LIQUID to pass through, but stops solids. Used in filtering tequila which may have cork particles or other sediment in it.
Does this help?
You can “smell” cheesecloth? Sir, your services are being under utilized.. I think the FBI could use you to sniff for bombs! In all seriousness, You have a great attitude and I enjoyed watching your review, even if I couldn’t always make sense of it!
Thanks, Greg. At first I didn’t know WHERE your comments were headed. Nice to see that they ended in a good place for me! Ha.
Keep watching. I make MORE SENSE as you get used to me!
-Lip
I found this tequila at my local liquor shop a little more than a year ago. Its been in constant rotacíon on my bar ever since. I go back and forth between the blanco and the reposado, but either way, for the money (I pay around $21USD) it is a FANTASTIC tequila. Really was the first to open my eyes to the world of fine tequila. I have since introduced a few other newbies to Espolon and they all agree. I used to be strictly a bourbon guy… No mas! Vive Espolon!
So glad you’ve found a good tequila you like, Carson. That’s what it’s all about.
Check out my archives for other “bargain brands” that you can discover –they may be suiting your palate nicely.
Question: do you have a few favorite BOURBONS you can post here?
I will definately be checking out some more of your bargain brands! Im all about finding the best deal (for the most part), and take the same approach to bourbons. My bargain bottles of bourbon are Old Forester ($18) and W.L. Wellers Special Reserve ($15-$18). Both of these bourbons drink just as fine as bottles twice the price!
Now, I will say that I am returning from DF today and have in tow a bottle of Don Julio 1942 that I purchased for about $75USD and a bottle of the bourbon aged Espolon I found for about $16USD. Can’t wait to get them home and display them proudly on my bar! Would love to exchange some tasting notes on both of these bottles with you Lip!
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I just tried the repo, and I am certainly not an expert tequila taster, but it is my prefered drink. The first thing that I noticed was that it seemed to wrap itself around my tongue and set it ablaze, but in a way that left me wanting to try it again. It left a pleasant after taste, and I would have to say that I enjoyed it a great deal. Excellent review and thanks for the info that you provided…
Always happy to help, Jared!
Love this tequila. Im living in Mexico right now, where to the bottles cost only 8 bucks!!! We also have to other types here.
This is now my new tequila. I love it! Very smooth, very pleasant smell and easy on the rocks!
I have tried the Blanco and, for the price, it is great. It has a great fresh Agave nectar taste … with some citrus tones … and if you want more bite swallow it slowly … you get the peppery taste when it hits the back of your throat.
Hey, extremely new to sipping tequila (much more of a whiskey drinker) but for a guy coming from just graduation college where he learned to lick salt shoot the tequila and then bite the lime, I have to say the blanco is pretty good. Thanks for the review. It was entertaining and insightful. I think I’ll keep on watching.
Yep! for the price, its so amazing. There are tequilas out there for almost double that aren’t even 100%. I loved hussong’s for a long time until I found it wasn’t 100% agave. in fact its from McCormic, mixed, and bottled in U.S.? I was disappointed in this. but espolon makes me smile. I don’t have to spend the $, and I can still enjoy a tasty spirit. I compare both forms to don Julio and maybe, even, possibly, patron! One day when I save up all my pennies, I will buy that 260$ bottle of Tequilla in the Liquor store display window, until then, Espolon!!!
Tried it for the first time last night. I thought it was very smooth. Having a hard time finding where I can purchase it????
Hi “Mint”. Try purchasing at Hitimewine.net Tell them “Tequila Whisperer” sent you. They may give you a better deal!
Hey i was told about this brand of tequila and tried the anejo MAN this is one good sipping anejo. I use to drink Patron but now I see how bad patron was. This tequila makes Patron taste like gasoline. I love this drink and I am going to try the reposado and blanco. Love the label.
I picked up a bottle or Espolon Repo recently, thought it was smooth, tasty and very decent flavor… I did a taste test against a shot of Patron Repo and the Espolon, IMHO, beat the heck out of the Patron ($50+)! My local Albertson’s has both Blanco and Repo Espolon on sale for $19.99. Will buy the Blanco soon! Is the Bourbon aged only available in Mexico? Lippy, what, in your opinion, is the best Anejo available only in Mexico?
PS: If you guys like a little more burn and flavor, try 3 Amigos Anejo, at $30… a fine deal!