Strong fruit aromas (banana, cherry and berries) along with barrel notes. Especially a vibrant butterscotch. Good balanced flavor presents oak barrel notes and cooked agave. Strong sweetness is balanced by barrel aging so it isn’t a sugar overload. It is slightly thin in mouthfeel and finish is short to moderate. 2024 Annual XA Tasting 12-24-2024
There’s some good things going on here with their Anejo. From aroma to finish it’s overall really good! There’s some good agave and fruit in the aroma and taste. The finishes good with some heat and caramel.
Overall, good reposado. Easy to drink. Maybe a good one for newbies. sweet profile overall.
At first, the aroma had a hey little funk in it but as it opened up and my pallet warmed up, the aroma has some good flavors. Taste is really good with good agave and a nice softness in the mouth. Finishes excellent. Pleasantly surprised.
Solento’s anejo expression gave me a lot to like. The double charred American oak barrel influence is center stage. Maple syrup, vanilla, butterscotch, cinnamon, caramel, fruity abound. The mouthfeel & finish were better than I was expecting, having been left wanting with their blanco/repo offerings. Pleasantly surprised.
With their Reposado, Solento keeps to the standard set with their blanco expression; Vanilla, fruity, citrus and other tropical notes. In addition to this flavor profile, no doubt in part to the double charred American oak barrel, the repo gains evident barrel influence. A bit of caramel, cinnamon, more vanilla, and nuts all while keeping cooked agave notes at the forefront of the palate which I appreciated. That being said, I was let down by the mouthfeel and finish. On the palate the texture was notably inviscid, leading to a short-lived uninspired finish.
In the aroma, the presence of cooked agave is accompanied by inviting notes of light pineapple, cooked sweet potatoes, caramel, light honey, lime citrus, and a subtle hint of bourbon. The overall impression is one of softness, with no overpowering ethyl and barely discernible brine. Upon tasting, flavors of cooked agave and caramel take precedence, with subtle undertones of light brine and cooked sweet potato. Nuances of light sarsaparilla and orange with lime citrus contribute to the complexity of taste. Despite the barrel influence, the Blanco notes remain prominent, showcasing a balanced interplay of flavors. The finish is characterized by a light and refreshing departure, with subtle hints of whiskey tones, brine, salinity, and a touch of grassiness. The finish maintains the overall freshness and allure experienced throughout the tasting.
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Solento’s XA expression is a logical progression from their anejo’s oak driven profile. The barrel influence is even more evident here. I found banana, maple syrup, vanilla, wood shavings, caramel, clove, citrus rind, cherry, toffee and black pepper. Notably, I found little in terms of cooked agave. The length of finish and complexity is an elevation from Solento’s anejo release. I would recommend this XA for those who are coming from a whiskey background or prefer a tequila that is significantly oak driven. That being said, the current asking price is a bit high.