El Mayor is a solid budget-friendly tequila brand produced by distillery DGL Destiladores – Distiladora Gozalez Lux (NOM 1603) run by the Gonzalez family in Arandas in the Jalisco Highlands (Los Altos). The distillery uses its own estate-grown Blue Weber agave grown at around 7,500 feet above sea level in sandy, mineral-laden soil that produces agave plants with high sugar levels (brix). El Mayor tequilas are 2x-distilled using a family yeast strain in stainless steel pot stills with copper coils and uses deep well water to cut to bottling proof of 80 (40% ABV). The master distiller is the Gonzalez family patriarch Rodolfo, and he is assisted by his son, Paul, and daughter, Graciela, both of whom are distillers themselves. The lot under review is L071124M bottled on July 22, 2024.
COLOR: Crystal clear & shimmering with slivers of silver (a beautiful, classic blanco look)
AROMA PROFILE: The aroma profile is beautifully pleasant & inviting, even if not the most complex – Cooked Agave sweetness with Baking Spices (Cinnamon, Cloves, & Nutmeg); light Vanilla/Vanillin (which is naturally in agave plants); Black Pepper; a lovely Minerality & Salinity; Petrichor Earthiness.
On the opening of the bottle, the ethanol was quite strong, but this dissipates & balances out with aeration in the glass.
PALATE: Sweet Cooked Agave & Baking Spices (a slightly sweet cinnamon & cloves); Citrus (lime & orange peel); a wonderful closing sip Salinity; White Pepper; Herbal notes including Mint, Sage, & Thyme; slightly Bitter Orange with a hint of fruity & agave sweetness. The minerality also shines through beautifully.
The flavor profile has elements of sweetness, a strong floral & herbal character, and an earthy minerality. The alcohol is not as strong on the palate as the initial nose suggested it would be.
The finish is relatively short at around 5 seconds & a sip goes down pretty smooth despite some nice lasting warming heat on the palate and throat. It drinks easily, like mineral water (but with nice, mellow traditional blanco flavors).
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-light viscosity (leaves nice tears on the glass)
FINISH: Medium-short
VALUE: Very good budget-friendly sipping tequila & mixing tequila
ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? Yes.
____________________
1792 Bourbon Agave Spirits American Single Malts American Whisky ArteNOM Añejo Tequila Blanco Tequila Blended Whisky Bourbon Whisky Bruichladdich Buffalo Trace Cocktails Código 1530 (Codigo 1530) Dulce Vida E.H. Taylor Elijah Craig El Tesoro Extra Añejo Tequila Four Roses Gin Glassware Glenlivet Irish Whisky Limestone Branch Distillery Liqueurs Lost Lore Maker's Mark Mezcal Mijenta Mt. Defiance Distillery Patrón Penelope Reposado Tequila Reviews Rye Whisky Scotch Whisky Siempre Single Malt Whisky Spirits Tequila Tequila Ocho Tequila Partida Virginia Virginia Distillery Company Whisky
Agave Spirits+ Journey 