REVIEW – Mt. Defiance Distillery’s (Virginia)- Blue Agave Spirit “Blanco”

Produced by double distilling, in a copper pot still, Weber Blue Agave nectar produced in Mexico from independent farms, Mt. Defiance’s Blue Agave Spirit has good viscosity in the glass, coating the sides fairly well and leaving some tears/legs running down the sides. Though it likely is meant to tap into the continuously expanding demand in the U.S. for agave spirits, this is not meant to be a clone of tequila. It does, however, share a lot in common aroma and flavor wise with a middle-of-the-road blanco tequila. In terms of its production, it is fermented and distilled much like a maple syrup or honey eau-de-vie and mead.

I bought this bottle after a distillery-run tasting as part of this month’s ongoing Virginia Spirits Month in my home state. I’m a big proponent of supporting local businesses, but I was also intrigued by the flavor profile after the tasting. After thinking a bit on it, I got back out of my car and decided to buy a bottle.

On the nose, there are aromas of cooked agave like that of a blanco tequila, some baking spices like cinnamon, citrus notes, a fair amount of pepperiness and a hit of alcohol heat that make their presence known in the mouth and particularly the sinuses, a hint of vanilla, a minerality like that from a mineral water, a hint of a buttery smell, and a fruitiness that reminds me a bit of tropical fruits (hints of them) like pineapple. Overall, the aroma profile is nice.

On the palate, there are flavors of cooked agave and fruity sweetness, sweet baking spices like cinnamon, that prominent pepperiness and warming alcohol heat, some anise-like/vegetal bitterness (balanced out by the sweetness and the pepperiness). The warming heat and pepperiness remain on the back of the palate on the mouth and tongue as well as in the throat, sinuses, and chest after swallowing a sip. It is generally a pleasant sensation and not overpowering.

The finish is short, though some of the flavors last a bit longer on the very back of the palate. The aromas, unlike those of many good quality blanco tequilas (think Mijenta and El Tesoro), don’t last long in the empty glass. Despite this, as a sipper Mt. Defiance’s Blue Agave Spirit is very much like a nice blanco tequila. It would likely be a good mixer but is also an enjoyable sipper, which is how I’ve taken it over several tastings for this review. It isn’t overly complex – but not everything needs to be complex to be enjoyable.

On subsequent (post-neck) pours, the aromas and flavor profile remained largely the same. The peppery heat remains in force with agave and fruity sweetness and the baking spices continuing to start off the sip, quickly followed by pepper/heat and the anise-like bitterness. This bitterness is prominent, but doesn’t totally take over. It’s possible – I’m undecided right now – that the bitter notes have become slightly more prominent on the back palate.

Mt. Defiance also distills an aged reposado and añejo Blue Agave Spirit expressions and a wild agave (not Weber Blue) spirit that I look forward to trying in the future. Late last year, they also produced an extra añejo expression, though this is not offered for sale on the distillery’s website. If they every produce another batch, I’d like to check that expression out as well.

[Tasted using a Riedel tequila flute glass, which is presently my favorite tasting glass for tequila and mezcal.]