Produced by a family, the Orendains, who’ve been producing tequila for five generations, Arette is available in 1 liter and 750 ml bottle sizes and is made at El Llano distillery (NOM 1109) in Tequila in the Jalisco Valley. Bottled at 80 proof, the blanco is made with Blue Weber agave cooked in autoclaves and whose sugar (aguamiel) is then extracted using a roller mill. The aguamiel is then open-air fermented in stainless steel tanks for 4 days before being 2x-distilled in stainless steel pot stills with copper coils. The tequila is brought to bottling proof using deep well water. The 1 liter bottle under review is from lote (lot/batch) #LL172402 and was bottled 18 December 2024.
This review is based on multiple separate notes-taking sessions over 8 months using Denver & Liely Mezcal & Riedel Tequila flute glasses.
COLOR: Crystal clear with slivers of silver in the light
AROMA PROFILE: Leads with prominent ethanol that dissipates over time followed by cooked agave & raw musky agave, strong minerality & vegetal/grassy notes, salinity, earthy, citrus (lemon & lime) fruitiness, lemongrass, floral notes, & white pepper.
PALATE: Sweet & very prominent cooked agave & baking spices (cinnamon & cloves), minerality & salinity, vegetal/grassy/herbal notes, citrus fruitiness & citrus peel, black & white pepper, vanilla, raw musky agave (a bit funky, almost malolactic), & finishes with some anise bitterness on the back of the palate.
The ethanol is definitely present but not overwhelming or unbalanced.
FINISH: 10+ seconds
MOUTHFEEL/VISCOSITY: Medium viscosity in the glass & a medium mouthfeel; the tequila coats the palate throughout the sip & remains after a while (very nice viscosity for the proof)
VALUE: Well-made blanco tequila ideal for mixing & a decent sipper at an absolute bargain price point of under $35 pre-tax in my market for a 1 liter bottle.
ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? Yes.
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