One step ahead, and one step behind.
Written: Feb 14 '07 (Updated Feb 14 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The bottle is quite nice and useful later on.
Cons: Hot, Harsh and sweet anejo that offers a confusing set of oak and agave notes.
The Bottom Line: A bit too ambiguous when it comes to the authenticity of the agave and oak balance. Unthrilling and hot finisher, better options abound for that price.
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| lirubis's Full Review: 1800 Reserva Antigua Anejo - 750ml |
Cuervo Tequilas...here I go again. Not being one of Cuervo's biggest fans, I rarely indulge in the "hidden pleasures" of this brand's tequila lineup, the last time being a respectable dose of Reserva de la Familia 2005. However, the 1800 lineup has been revamped a few times on the last 2 years, and one of the interesting things happening is how the 1800 RA has been re-touched towards a better tasting anejo, with lots of character and still a big artificial feel.
LOOKS
The color is a dark caramely amber tone, much darker than most anejos I see around here, and still too dark to consider it a natural shade...too much caramel.
Reserva Antigua has a penetrating and strong alcohol feel on the nose, lots of oak notes and mild traces of cooked agave. Cuervo still puts a premium on heavily perfumed, leaning towards the candy-sweet side of anejos.
The first contact with your mouth is very harsh and oaky too. An intense alcohol sting will bite your tastebuds immediately, with the ever-present "cuervois afterburn" as I call it. The texture is creamy and softer than previously percieved, where the dominant flavor is wood, now a tad more natural tasting oak-like bouquet,, with spicy notes like cinammon and clove, and faint traces of fully ripened agaves. The ride down the throath is somewhat harsh and bitter, but at the end you can feel a sweet sensation coming from the agave and some nutty, buttery sensation and burnt sugar elements.
The finish remains quite oak-heavy, the agave flavor balance is opaque with traces of charcoal and a somewhat bitter alcohol accent. I still find it too hot in the tongue, and rough around the edges, still no match for many of the top-end anejos it tries to emulate. If you are a fan of the pricier (and better) Reserva de la Familia, most likely you will be dissapointed. rough and confusing, the Reserva Antigua still has some work left to do, but now it is sweeter and offer a slightly nicer agave character.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
lirubis
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Location: Following the sun
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About Me:
Some of us are born with a stronger sense of curiosity.
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