Review: Tequila Pantalones Blanco

You’ve seen the ads. You know the couple behind it. There’s nothing left to do here but toss out an “está bien, está bien, está bien” for Matthew and Camila McConaughey’s tequila, which is named in honor of the pants you are bound to remove upon cracking open the bottle. This is McConaughey’s second foray into spirits, following the 2018 launch of Longbranch bourbon with Wild Turkey. (He’s no longer affiliated with the product.)

Pantalones is an organic product made with, of course, 100% blue weber agave, though the origins of the agave aren’t specified. The company donates to the 1% For the Planet project, and while a reposado and anejo are both available, today we’re only looking at the unaged blanco which we received for review.

So here goes.

McConaughey doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who shies away from bold flavors, and to be sure this is a big, brassy blanco that “pure” agave fans will instantly gravitate to. On the nose, notes of roasted brassicas, peppered herbs, and salty saddle leather set a savory stage, while notes of lime leaf drop in a tempering but biting citrus quality. Similar on the palate: The tequila is herbal, lime-heavy, and surprisingly salty, with a mushroom kick adding plenty of savory chew. This is no shy blanco but rather a muscular, undulating expression of agave that grows in power as it sits in the glass and on the palate. I think it’s a bit much for straight sipping, but fans of a more bracing margarita may find this to be the perfect base upon which to build.

I’m anxious to see what some barrel time does to the spirit and taste the aged expressions at some point.

80 proof. NOM 1614.

B+ / $45 / pantalonestequila.com

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