Tequilera TAP
Tequilera TAP
54%
NAS
If you've spent any time in agave spirits social media circles over the past year, Cazcanes should already be a familiar name. Distilled at Tequilera TAP, the additive-free tequila is made using natural spring water, a low-pressure autoclave and a roller mill for processing. This is the brand's No. 10 Blanco, bottled a touch below the legal maximum at 54% ABV (108 proof).
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Sea brine and ethanol prickle the nose. Certainly one of the saltier, mineral-forward tequilas we've gotten our hands on in a while. Behind that blast of astringency sits tons of raw agave, white pepper, lemongrass and sage.
The mouthfeel is out of this world. It may be bottled at 54% ABV, but it easily feels like it could be as high as 60%. Roasted agave and brininess remain the dominant notes, giving way to a medley of jalapeño, bell peppers, orange pith and an unexpected caramelized note not unlike butterscotch that lingers at the back of the palate.
Takes its time on the finish. Stabs of black pepper play ball against a smooth buttercream character. Agave makes its presence known, but the dominant note, by far, is that slightly bitter and vegetal pepper.
Easily my favorite showing from Cazcanes thus far. Unlike most high-proof blancos, which tend to showcase flavors of tropical fruit front and center, No. 10 is an exercise in all things rich and salty. It's wonderfully powerful stuff and a great example of the distinction between lowland and highland agave (this absolutely being lowland through and through).
90
