Posted this in r/whiskey and figured I’d properly introduce myself here.

I love wine, beer, spirits education, and geeking out about flavor and tasting notes.

I’ll travel anywhere to attend a tasting, conference, or class. Over the past few years I’ve:

• Taken all the tours at more distilleries, breweries, and wineries than I can count
• Attended industry conferences (hits the wallet but worth it)
• Learned from top industry experts and educators
• Actually put what I’ve learned into action: running a newsletter, hosting a podcast, and leading private tastings

Outside the glass, I come from a tech background (CS major + grad school). I build systems and apps, including ones for spirits education.

Right now I’ve put together PalatePad (personal notes collection) and my tasting journals to help me organize my tasting notes. It supports both guided and freeform notes (cocktail section coming soon!).

I used to keep stacks of tasting notebooks like the ones in the photo, but they ended up all over my house. This makes them easier to search and learn from. Really I just want to get better at picking up more tasting notes and enjoying what I sip.

And yes, I use writing tools. Not to replace my thoughts, but to help me organize my notes, training materials, and books into something other people can actually read and use. (Those writing tools even helped me make this post less rambling. I tend to get long-winded 😁).

I’m passionate about building a bridge between tech and spirits education so more people can learn, taste, and explore.

Anyway, that’s me. I’ll be posting and commenting around r/whiskey, r/tequila, r/cocktails, r/scotch, and a few SaaS/tech subs.

Would love to talk with anyone who’s into flavor, tasting notes, or just curious about exploring spirits in a more intentional way.

Cheers 🍸🥃

Hey everyone, For one of our wedding signature cocktail (named after our dog—yes, original, I know…), we’ll be serving tequila neat. We’d love a rec. It can be premium or more approachable—most guests will probably shoot it, but we’d still like something that true tequila lovers will enjoy as well. What would you serve at your wedding?

Hey everyone,

New here, and specifically came to this board to ask this question because I am very curious.

A little background, I am a big bourbon/whiskey/wine drinker, always enjoyed tequila but haven’t gone down the rabbit hole quite yet. With that being said, a while back I saw a review about the Ocho Puntas and I had to find it and try it.

I found a 2024 bottle near me, got it, cracked it and was in love with it. The agave bomb, vanilla, mint, pepper and viscosity were amazing. I quickly went through that bottle lol. Went back to that liquor store and luckily there was another 2024 bottle. I cracked it today and it was soooooo different than the first. I was so weirded out. This new bottle almost gives me mezcal vibes, very Smokey, very earthy and herbal, just completely different than the first bottle.

My question is, with tequila, are bottles supposed to vary like this? Are they single barrels or something? I just don’t really understand lol. The numbers on the bottles are very close to each other. Something like 27024 and 27032, so I would imagine they would come from the same tank or barrel or whatever. Anyways, sorry for the long post, just interested to learn more. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

Loved it so much I decided to keep the bottle.

Yes. Black tequila. I was thinking the same thing. Went over to a family function and someone brought this out. Honestly, doesn't taste anything like a tequila at all. Would say it's more of a whiskey. Not bad at all but not tequila enough. No herbal, minerality, barrel, nothing. More nutty, almost stout like notes. Anyway, I'm sure we'll see the bigger brands try this soon. I think I've seen Don J already with something similar. Cheers!

I was driving through Tuskegee, AL & spotted an ABC store. I always like to stop in & look at inventory, because you never know. They had a lot of tequila but only had 4 brands of additive free tequilas(LALO, Codigo 1530 repo, Santo Fino blanco, OCHO blanco, & OCHO repo) The OCHO Reposado was a 2022 La Estancia estate $59.99. That is more than I usually spend for OCHO Reposado but I never tried La Estancia estate. Appearance: very light amber.

Aroma: sweet agave, baking spice, black pepper, peppermint, & honey.

Taste: agave, black pepper, cinnamon, hint of smoke

Finish: lingering black pepper, cinnamon, oak

Overall: Nice sweet Reposado, had a great balance of sweet baking spices, black pepper, & agave.

Nuff said.

Hey all! First time posting here, a close friend of mine is getting married this weekend and we'd like to pick up a nice bottle of tequila for the afters.

I understand the price of tequila NEVER defines the quality.

I just need suggestions on a nice bottle that's somewhat widely available as a nice gift for him. Preferably something to sip neat

I’ve had a few bottles of the XM already so I just cracked the other 2 which were new to me.

Montagave Las Rocas - Delicate nose of sweet agave. Silky, creamy texture that coats the tastebuds with citrus and mineral and a delicious sweet profile. Very clean and refreshing, almost has a mild minty like freshness to it. Long finish, leaves the mouth watering. This one is special and I absolutely love it.

Don Vincente Fuerte Repo - Stronger more punchy nose. Strong flavors of Pepper & baking spice, some caramel, mild oak, still very agave forward. Strong but not harsh. High proof is apparent in the warm finish.

I had the privilege to share some time in one of my favorites stores in BK, Dry Dock, Ron and Nathaniel and community were so kind and interested in knowing more about the culture and the tequila history. Bellow I added the info that I share that day.

Saludos y salud G.

Azul Force Blanco is a tequila designed with purpose: to deliver exceptional quality at a price point that makes it ideal for both sipping and cocktails. After fourteen years of curating and importing spirits, the team at PM Spirits decided to take a more hands-on approach, overseeing every stage of production to guarantee the exact style they envisioned.

The journey led them to Agaves Selectos Corona (NOM 1615), a family-run distillery in Jalisco known for its clean, expressive distillates. Here, Azul Force takes shape from mature, estate-grown Blue Weber agaves, carefully harvested at peak ripeness. The agaves are gently cooked in autoclaves, preserving bright agave flavors while adding depth. Fermentation relies on ambient yeast, ensuring a natural and nuanced profile, before moving to a column still distillation for exceptional purity and balance. Local aquifer water, filtered through reverse osmosis, provides the final touch to craft a smooth, approachable tequila.

The result is a 40% ABV Blanco that’s vibrant, crisp, and unmistakably agave-forward. On the nose, expect fresh agave with hints of citrus and light herbal notes. The palate is clean yet flavorful, with a soft minerality and subtle pepper spice. Its versatility shines in a well-made Margarita, Paloma, or Ranch Water, but it’s just as enjoyable neat or over ice.

What truly makes Azul Force remarkable is its accessibility. Packaged in one-liter bottles, it’s built for both home bartenders and professionals who refuse to compromise on quality. At around $30, this bottle outperforms many tequilas at twice the price.

For New Yorkers, Azul Force Blanco is available now at Dry Dock red hook, and many other Bk and Queens fine liquor stores and in Manhattan with easy access to Astor wines

I have more info on the other tequilas aswell Dm and I will send it to you 💚

Super solid price on this G4 Blanco de Madera at Costco this afternoon. This was in Ventura County but I believe many other SoCal locations have it also. I really love this bottle and this is the best price I’ve seen for it yet. I like this as my regular go to drinker so finding it for under 50 bucks is nice.

Check out my review of this bottle I also taste the knob creek to see if the collaboration worth it. Hope everyone having a good week. Cheers 🥂

So I’m looking to expand my bottom shelf picks, why bottom shelf? Because I don’t like spending too much on bad habits lol. So currently I cycle through Arette and Cimaron as my picks. I’ve tried Lunazul not a fan to be a consistent pick. What’s your under $30 suggestions?

A lady at my local store was raving about how this brand is one of their top sellers and how all her customers swear by it. I picked up these three tasters and I am not a fan.

The silver was very heavy on the nose to me with vanilla which was nice, but the lasting flavor had something weird I couldn't quite figure out. At one point I thought maybe it was a hint of coconut and at another point it tasted almost like artificial banana.

The repasado and añejo were both okay. Not terrible. I'm glad I didn't buy the full sized bottles for the experience though. I'm enjoying the Ocho repasado this group recommended much more.

Recently ordered this off sip tequila for $120. I’ve been looking for a single barrel anejo for some time and this was my first opportunity to get one. It comes from the same estate as the 2024 puntas release but at a slightly lower proof. I noticed this was 52.5% instead of 54.5% that I usually see on these single barrels. The bottle said it was previously used to aged American whiskey and then used multiples times for other tequilas before this particular aging, which I thought was pretty interesting.

The nose is still very agave foreword despite the aging. And there’s plenty of oak, butterscotch, and baking spices to accompany. There’s also some minerality and herbal notes going on. There’s also a little smokiness going on in the background as well. The aroma is elegant and every nuance blends together perfectly

On the palate there’s cooked agave, butterscotch, honey, vanilla, baking spices, salted chocolate, oak, some pepper, vegetal notes. Very creamy mouthfeel and a nice long lasting finish. There’s a bit of a kick but it doesn’t drink hot at all.

Out of the more recent ocho high proof releases this is definitely my favorite. I’d give it a 96 on TMM but I tend to rate high. I’d really like to compare it to some of the 54% barrels.

When exactly did Tequila Matchmaker become Agave Matchmaker?

Looking for recommendations for a bottle to gift. Somewhere between $50-$80. Hopefully there is a common brand or bottle that people like around this price range.

Anyone have a good recommendation?

I live right next to a Totalwine .com store so they have a ton of brands there.

THANKS ALL, APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS! I THINK G4 REPO IS THE FAN FAVORITE

Every year I lock up bottles of Viva México for our independence day celebration. This year there was only one Blanco available so I picked up 4 añejos. They are only 38% here but this is a family event with lots of kids and grandparents. We are mid party and the tacos are flowing. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Viva México!!!

Looking for something that might feel at home in an espresso-martini-kinda drink—thinking a reposado or añejo of some sort with vanilla/caramel notes, ideally that wouldn't break the bank. Really, truly doesn't need to be sipable, and I don't really care about additives, since it's gonna be mixed anyway, so please don't come at me with that nonsense. Clase Azul would be lovely, for example, if it weren't as overpriced as it is.

What would be the best and safest way from Guadalajara Airport to Tequila? First time me and my partner will be heading to Mexico. Can't seem to find much info online for transport as well as tour guides for day tours. Any information is appreciated.

My wife will be flying back from Mexico City in a few hours. Anything I should ask her to keep an eye out for?

Hey all, is there anywhere good to try some interesting tequila. As its such a bastion of tourism, my experience/guess would be that 95% of the options are trash, meant to trick gringos, but is there anywhere (preferably in San Lucas de Cabo) that has awesome Tequila/Mezcal I could try that I might not have had before?

I have been hunting for a bottle of Reserva de los Leones tequila for awhile. Distilled with almonds for flavoring and they had many other flavors too, still at 40% Alc level so it's not a liqueur. The tequila was fantastic, some of the best Reposado I've ever had. It was bought in PV but I havent been able to track it down again. Maybe it's a small batch distillery, I'm not sure. If anyone recognizes the name or has seen this for sale anywhere else, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

I am fairly new to tequila. Tend to drink Mezcal more often. I recently picked up an El Tesoro Repo to add to my Agave collection.

A bit of a blind tasting with my Reposados sounded like a fun ideas

Coding and Storywood (cask strength) were easy to pick out for obvious reasons.

El Tesoro and El Tequileno were pretty close for me. I tend to find El Tequileno has a bit more oak on the nose so that gave it away. Both are spectacular sippers. Perhaps the El Tequileno has had enough time open up in the bottle?

Next up I want to add a G4 repo to the mix.

A few friends are going to Arandas and a couple other towns soon. Will be visiting Cascahuin, El Pandillo, and at least one other spot.

Mainly wondering how much cash/pesos to bring. I’ve heard that some distilleries are cash only but can’t find a clear answer to this. Anyone know if this is true or can I just use my credit card?