Review: Socorro Tequila, Complete Lineup
Socorro bills itself as “Texas Tequila” owing to its origins in the state, but rest assured, Socorro is made in Jalisco, Mexico, where it is focused on producing a premium product at reasonable prices — while highlighting its philanthropic work.
That philanthropic work is built around providing water to needy communities. Specifically: “The brand’s logo embodies the foundation of Socorro: agave to represent exceptional tequila and water with helping hands to represent its Case for a Case initiative. As the Spanish translation of Socorro is to assist, Socorro pledges to donate a case of water for every case of tequila sold to orphanages and senior living communities in Mexico. With every sip, tequila enthusiasts not only savor the culmination of meticulous craftsmanship but also contribute to a positive societal impact.”
Socorro produces the standard range of three expressions, all 100% agave and additive-free. Oddly, the distillery does not say how long its aged tequilas spend in barrels (nor does it provide any other aging details). Let’s try them.
All are 80 proof. NOM 1610.
Socorro Tequila Blanco – Clean, lemony, and lightly herbal on the nose. Agave is lively and present, yet restrained enough to avoid becoming overly herbal. On the palate, the tequila surprises with a rush of sweetness — not subtle at all — that features notes both tropical and overtly sugary, with a big white sugar note that struck me as what you often get at the bottom of a mojito. A gritty and earthy quality informs the finish, the agave becoming more insistent, though it never loses much of its sweet attack. Ultimately I found the experience too cloying for my taste. Reviewed: Batch #1020. B- / $32
Socorro Tequila Reposado – A very pale yellow color, indicating minimal aging. Again it’s clean on the nose, with lemon the clearest aromatic note and a sustained agave rush behind it, offering gentle notes of thyme, sage, and mint. In odd contrast to the blanco, the reposado isn’t nearly as sweet, though it does feature a residual element of toasted sesame oil and more of a preserved lemon note by way of providing citrus. The finish is quieter and quite clean, with more of the above noted herbs lingering a bit, especially mint. Approachable but uncomplex, the reposado’s gentle profile makes it a solid choice for use as a mixer where you’d otherwise use blanco tequila, such as in a margarita. Reviewed: Batch #1022. B+ / $36
Socorro Tequila Anejo – Only a few shades darker than the reposado. This presents itself as a companion to the reposado, with a coconut element on the nose in lieu of the lemon. Agave is surprisingly present here, offering a character that is more earthy than herbal, with a slightly leathery bent to it. The palate kicks off with notes of dulce de leche, then showcases brown banana and more coconut (here toasted), the caramel notes finding a complementary spice influence as the tequila lingers on the tongue. Lots of banana and some guava on the finish — almost like a cream pie in consistency. It’s all fairly lively, but the spirit nonetheless comes across as a bit underdeveloped for an anejo, particularly in need of a little more richness to distinguish itself from the reposado offering. Reviewed; Batch #1016. B+ / $40
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