Review: Cachasol Tequila Blanco and Epic Strength Blanco
Founded by James Montero and crafted in partnership with fifth-generation Master Distiller Jimmy Villalobos Sauza, Cachasol may be a new tequila brand hitting the market, but it has a lot of experience behind it. It also has some cool innovation. To begin, it is 100% natural, made entirely without additives or sweeteners. I actually found this surprising when I first tasted Cachasol, because it is fairly sweet. I reached out to Montero and he explained:
Hey! That sweetness jumping out of the glass is 100% natural. About a year ago, Jimmy (our distiller) and I set out to create something truly new and delicious in the additive-free tequila space. Without the luxury of post-production enhancers like many mass-market brands use, we focused upstream in our process, tweaking a few key variables:
We source our agaves exclusively from Nayarit—an often-overlooked region that we believe grows exceptional agave.
We pioneered fermentation using an IPA yeast strain to amplify flavor, a technique I picked up at Dogfish Head Distillery. As far as we know, we’re the only tequila doing this.
Our tequila is non-chill filtered. The fermentation creates a rich, viscous profile, and chill filtering would strip away those delicious oils and texture.
I also don’t know of any other tequila being crafted with an IPA yeast strain. Let’s take a closer look at how it impacts the flavor of the tequilas.
NOM 1522.
Cachasol Tequila Blanco Review
Bright and complex with lovely aromas of roasted agave, lemon, and white pepper. On the palate, lightly sweet, well-roasted agave comes first, followed by fresh cracked black pepper and light lemon as well as a touch of bubble gum. The tequila has a creamy mouthfeel, and all of the elements come together nicely. Showcasing bold flavors, this tequila would shine in a cocktail, but I prefered to sip it and appreciate its balance and nuance. 80 proof. A- / $50
Cachasol Tequila Blanco Epic Strength Review
Although it’s clearly related to the regular blanco, the extra proof makes a difference, and I’m a fan. The nose offers deep, almost dank aromas of roasted agave which are joined by lemon and white pepper. The palate follows suit with sweet, concentrated, herbaceous notes of roasted agave, which are joined by bold lemon citrus and a healthy dose of cracked black pepper. This is a bit sweeter than the regular blanco but not cloying, and once again we get to enjoy that creamy mouthfeel. The finish is very long as bold notes of agave, lemon, and pepper linger. This is a big, complex tequila that I recommend enthusiastically to fans of unaged tequila. 96 proof. A / $70
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