The hottest thing in tequila today isn’t cristalino or extra anejo expressions: It’s a flavoring agent in the form of marigold flower extract. Espolon was the first tequila to hit the market with a marigold expression, and more appear to be on the way. (Marigolds are an essential component of Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations, so watch for expressions like this to be especially popular around Halloween.)

Espolon Flor de Oro is a reposado tequila (aged just 2 months in American oak) that is infused with “natural extract from the marigold flower.” There’s no additional information on the creation or use of the marigold extract, but its impact on the tequila’s color is indistinct, providing a classic but gentle gold hue to the liquid in the bottle.

“For me, Día de Muertos is all about family, tradition, and honoring those no longer with us. It presents an opportunity for me to reflect on memories of celebrations and traditions – rooted in food, aromas, and tequila – that my mother and grandmother taught me,” said Jesús Susunaga Acosta, Maestro Tequilero of Espolòn Tequila. “When creating Flor de Oro, I was inspired by the moment that we placed an altar at Casa San Nicolás dedicated to our late founder, Master Distiller Cirilo Oropeza. Drawing from the marigold petals and aromas of his favorite foods, we created an infused Reposado tequila that honors Cirilo and thanks him for his years of dedication to tequila-making.”

Let’s pour one out, turn on Coco, and give it a try.

Espolon Tequila Flor de Oro Review

The nose of the tequila has a distinct floral quality to it, but it’s not overbearing or perfumed in any way. Sweet and sunny, the aroma features a lightly bitter note of drying flowers, with overtones of vanilla and spice that hints at allspice. A touch of tobacco adds another layer of exoticism, and with time in glass, the peppery-green punch of fresh agave becomes dominant.

The palate is quite soft and approachable, very much in line with any youngish reposado you might have encountered. Gentle vanilla melds with some lightly tannic oak to form a fairly sweet attack. This is followed by notes of caramel and a light cafe au lait character, quite creamy with further, enduring notes of vanilla. There’s a touch of both citrus and yellow flowers here, mainly evident as the finish builds, both providing a touch of acidity and bite. I wouldn’t call the fade-out floral, but it does have a certain spring-like quality that does at least recall a stroll through a blooming garden.

All told I quite enjoyed it — and my fears that Flor de Oro would be a blown-out perfume bomb turned out to be wholly unfounded. Instead, Espolon has created a really solid reposado — one which arguably is just as good as its standard expression.

80 proof. NOM 1440.

A / $44 / tequilaespolon.com [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

How about some Flor de Oro cocktails?

Marigold Margarita Recipe
2 parts Espolòn Flor de Oro Reposado Tequila
1-part Fresh Lime Juice
0.5-part Agave Nectar

Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a glass with a salted rim and garnish with a marigold flower or lime wheel.

Flor de Oro Old Fashioned Recipe
2 parts Espolòn Flor de Oro Reposado Tequila
0.25 part Piloncillo/Panela Syrup (1:1)
2 dashes of Bittermens Orange Creams Citrate

Stir all ingredients with ice, strain into a glass with a large ice cube and garnish with an orange twist.

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