Review: Dia De La Sirena Reposado Tequila

You will notice the bottle first. Yes, that’s a tastefully nude mermaid in partially frosted glass, wearing a crown that also serves as a stopper. The tequila world is no stranger to out-there packaging — I’ve got a whole shelf of tequilas that are too tall to fit anywhere else — but this one is definitely a conversation piece in more ways than one. One other thing to note: The crown is actually pretty sharp. It kind of hurts your hands if you grab it from the top.

As for what’s in the bottle of Dia De La Sirena, we know enough, but not much. It’s 100% highlands Blue Weber agave, “steam-roasted in centuries-old traditional stone walled brick ovens and masterfully aged for several months in white oak barrels.” Only this reposado is being offered at present.

We got a sample to try — the whole shebang, mermaid and all. Let’s throw caution to the wind, crack it open, and see how it fares.

As reposado tequilas go, this is one of the softest and most innocuous expressions I’ve tasted in recent memory. Aromas of vanilla and caramel are gentle put sweet and lush, touched with just a touch of lemon and some milk chocolate. Straightforward and sweet, there’s no real hint of agave or herbaceousness on the nose, though it does have that pinch of pepper and cinnamon that at least assures the drinker it’s tequila and not some other liquor.

The palate does little to shift the calculus: Vanilla moves into butterscotch, almost syrupy caramel evoking dulce de leche, and a pinch of cinnamon. Here there’s definitely more of a sense of agave here in the form of mild black and green pepper notes, but they come across as quite restrained in relation to the onslaught of dessert tones. The finish perks up with a little spice, but it remains decidedly gentle, adding a touch of heat on the denouement.

It’s harmless but wholly drinkable — and undoubtedly destined to be a crowd-pleaser. If ever there was a tequila worth adding to your Carajillo to spice it up a bit, this is it. Especially if it’s being mixed tableside.

80 proof. NOM 1438.

A- / $80 / lasirenatequila.com

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