Generally, when I get a bottle of spirits, my first move is to check out their website to discover any little hidden facts and gems and history that might be of interest. And that’s precisely what I did when I got this bottle of Cazadores Tequila. They have a mighty interesting site, to say the least! The only thing you can do on this site is watch a 30 second commercial about boxing as it relates to the tequila that has the tag line “never forget where you come from,” and then, it doesn’t tell you where it came from or how, just when it all started, back in 1922.
Well, after doing some digging, I discovered that founder Jose Maria began making this tequila in secret back in 1922 and began marketing it 1973. The brand name Cazadores means Hunters, which makes me jump to the conclusion that it relates to the picture of the stag on the bottle in a rather bloody fashion. However, it actually symbolizes Jose Maria’s pursuit (hunt) to create the finest tequila he could. Although I bet that if you were cooped up in a hunter’s blind for several days, a bottle of this tequila would come in mighty handy.
This blanco is extracted from pure blue agave with a shredder-roller and double distilled in a stainless steel pot. The bottle is clear and displays the transparent spirit within. The nose is filled with the subtle but clear notes of roasted agave, just the way I like it. It is flowery and citrusy, with a touch of pineapple and pepper, but all that takes a back seat to the wonderful aroma of the agave. On the palate, I immediately get more of the agave followed by the citrus and pepper. It is quite smooth and quite tasty. The finish is short and sweet leaving a lingering taste of agave.
I really have to tell you that this is a splendid tequila that can hold its own with tequilas costing 3 to 4 times as much. It is a delicate sipper and yet delivers a full measure of that agave flavor I look for. It is in no way bitter or harsh and will not make you jump up and down in pain like a cheap tequila will. This is not a cheap tequila but an inexpensive one. I simply can’t believe you can get a full bottle of it for just over $20.00! Oh, and you really don’t need those ice cubes with it; it’s really tasty all by itself.
Cazadores Tequila Blanco is 40% ABV or 80 proof and can be found in 750 ML bottles for $21.99 to $24.00.
By George Brozowski