Review: Cazadores Reposado Tequila
A common tequila where 100% agave quality is desired but money is tight, Cazadores is a solid choice among budget tequilas, though it’s hardly anything out of the ordinary.
Cazadores Reposado is a pungent tequila, with intense agave notes. The two months of aging (in new oak barrels) give it a just a light color, and it does add a touch of caramel to give the tequila more balance. But on the whole this is a fairly prototypical reposado, brilliantly agave in tone with strong herbal notes but, it must be said, lots of bite and a rough finish.
Worth a shot for that pitcher of margaritas.
80 proof.
B / $27 / cazadores.com [BUY IT NOW FROM CASKERS] [BUY IT NOW FROM TOTAL WINE]
Cazadores Reposado Tequila
$27
8
Hmmm… $27 doesn’t seem like a ‘budget’ tequila to me. If that’s the case, then tequila must be the most overpriced category in spirits.
Edoc – 100% agave tequila is always expensive because of the economics of growing agave. Plants can take 8 to 12 YEARS to reach maturity, unlike wheat, potatoes, or grapes, which are, at worst, annual crops. Thus, tequila plantations have to invest a lot of time just to grow the plant. They save time on the other end vs whiskey makers because aging is much shorter, though.
You should explain those economics to the Espolon folks, who, at $20 a bottle must be selling their tequila at a loss.
Im sure there are quality concerns beyond simply raising a plant to maturity which are factored into the cost of premium tequilas. The distillation process and resultant bottling probably also plays a role.
I’m late by a few months but…
Price = In San Diego Cazadores can be found for $18 – $19. It’s only marginally more expensive than Cuervo Gold.
Rating = The idea that Cazadores and Patron both rate a “B” is ludicrous. Patron is not my favorite but it is a very classy and extremely well made tequila. If it gets a “B” then our host should stick to that curve.
Cazadores is a “C” at best. If you drink like me you might leave a nearly full glass on the table overnight. When you finish it the next morning you’ll notice all the “smoky flavor” has separated and risen to the top of the drink. Why? I don’t know but I don’t like it. I won’t drink it myself.
For the same money you can buy Herradura’s down scale “El Jimador”. Damn good tequila for the money.
I would prefer Cazadores over Patron. I didn’t realize how expensive Cazadores was until I had to buy 12 bottles for a wedding.