Review: Tequilas of House of Rare

House of Rare is a tequila initiative that got its start with a particular mission: Rather than focusing on tradition, the operation is focused on sourcing unusual and rare casks to finish its spirits, releasing them as limited editions and collaborations. (Tawny Port finish, anyone? Umeshu?)

As well, recently the brand began releasing its own distillate as a standard blanco without any fancy finishing and as a reposado, aged in PX sherry casks for six months. Both are produced at the Herencia de Agaves distillery in the El Arenal appellation of Jalisco.

We sampled three products from House of Rare, and we’ll add to this review as more arrive for tasting.

All reviewed here are NOM 1648.

House of Rare Tequila House Blanco Review

Agave-forward, almost to an extreme. This aggressive spirit pours on the pepper in both white and black formats. To call this vegetal would be an understatement, as the experience positively smolders with underbrush and notes of smudged sage. The palate is equally a bruiser, all pepper and barrel char, with greener agave notes just as pushy. A squeeze of lemon adds the only brighter note to the equation, along with some saline, but this is fleeting, as the finish returns to charrier, more brooding territory. If you really want to “taste the agave,” look no further. But complex it ain’t. 80 proof. B+ / $70

House of Rare Tequila Founder’s Cut Blanco Review

This limited edition blanco was the first release from House of Rare’s own distillery and was limited to 777 bottles. This is a milder but still intense tequila with many of the same trappings of the House Blanco, but cut on the nose with a touch of sweetness and some mint. The palate remains gravelly and rich, quite earthy and almost chocolatey at times. At the same time an industrial character clings to the experience, giving the finish a slightly off note. The lemon touches of the House Blanco are visible here, but instead they come across a bit closer to Lemon Pledge. More black pepper gives the conclusion an even more aggressive, lasting character. 80 proof. B+ / $180

House of Rare Tequila House Reposado Review

Aged in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for 6 months. There’s no missing the sherry here, which effectively muscles out House of Rare’s more insistent agave notes to showcase a hugely nutty character, turning leathery and sharp, with smoldering torched citrus peel notes that evoke some smokiness as it develops. The palate acquits itself similarly, though with a bit more sweetness than expected, at least at first. Again that sherry takes over, becoming quite woody and tannic as it sits on the tongue. The finish sees some of the blanco’s more peppery and earthier elements coming into clearer focus, which is refreshing in that it adds something a little different to the wine-forward experience, but which muddies the experience more than I expected, leaving the fade-out more than a little scattered. 80 proof. B / $90

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