So similar to how I did the Chopin Vodkas, I picked up the full Hornitos lineup of tequilas to test out on their own and of course in various cocktails to see which one(s) I prefer. We have the basic, unaged Prata, the lightly aged or “rested” Reposado, the fully aged Añejo, the fully aged and then carbon filtered Cristalino, and finally the extra (“triple”) aged Black Barrel.
Hornitos Plata
Smells of agave, sawdust, and forest floor. The taste is zesty with flavors of lemon, lime, and green apple. The finish is long with almost no burn, featuring notes of agave, sawdust, and bitter herbs. Overall, it’s very earthy, but smooth and has subtle citrusy undertones.
Hornitos Reposado
Smells of agave, aloe, and just a hint of wood. The taste is mellow with flavors of apple, pear, apricot, and lime. The finish is long with a light burn, featuring notes of agave, lemongrass, oak, and tobacco. Overall a little smoother, a little less earthy surprisingly, feels like a good all around spirit, good mixed or straight.
Hornitos Añejo
Smells of freshly dug soil, grass, and a hint of oak. The taste is lightly fruity with flavors of apple, cherry, and plum. The finish is long with warmth but no burn, featuring notes of oak, agave, and dark chocolate. Overall, it’s earthy like the silver, but with mellow like the reposado, with an extra layer of charred oak barrel that works well without overpowering the other flavors.
Hornitos Añejo Cristalino
Smells very similar to the Plata with agave, sawdust, and grass. The taste is light with flavors of green apple, lime, and melon. The finish is long with almost no burn, featuring notes of agave, lime peel, black pepper, and vanilla. Overall, it’s an odd spirit, perhaps a bit smoother and more complex than the sliver but the differences are very subtle, and it seems like a lot of work to age the tequila and then filter out almost all notes from the oak; sippable but probably better mixed.
Hornitos Añejo Black Barrel
Smells of agave, oak, and smoke. The taste is mellow with flavors of caramel, agave, brandy, and vanilla. The finish is long and warm with no burn, featuring notes of oak, leather, tobacco, and a hint of cherry. Overall quite enjoyable on its own, the charred oak is prominent but not dominant, rather surprisingly balanced and restrained. Definitely a sipping spirit, but should work well in more spirit forward drinks like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
COCKTAILS
Classic Paloma featuring San Pellegrino Pompelmo Soda
Plata
Very refreshing with grapefruit, lime, and a hint of agave. A delicious baseline.
Reposado
Crisper, and more refreshing somehow, almost just tastes like Fresca with hints of oak underneath.
Añejo
Very smooth and fruity, actually feels like it’s accentuating the agave syrup more than the others. No real barrel notes.
Cristalino
Also smooth and slightly sweeter tasting, but not as well rounded. Seems to be more lime forward.
Black Barrel
The most complex with oak and hints of ginger and rum lurking behind the dominant lime and grapefruit. Strangely reminiscent of a Dark & Stormy mixed with grapefruit soda.
Hard to choose a favorite here, the first three were all fantastic in their own way but if I had to pick, I’d probably choose the reposado.
Simplified Paloma featuring Polar Pink Grapefruit Dry Soda
Plata
Bright, simple, refreshing. A perfect summer cocktail, though the tequila is mostly hidden with just a hint of agave in the finish.
Reposado
Just as refreshing with delicate floral and wood notes on top for added complexity and a touch more agave earthiness in the finish.
Añejo
Smooth, refreshing, and very fruity, but neither tequila nor oak can be detected.
Cristalino
Bright like the silver, but fruity like the añejo. Very crisp and refreshing, possibly my favorite version actually.
Black Barrel
Smooth and refreshing with a pronounced charred oak flavor underneath as well as subtle notes of chocolate and coffee. The most complex by far.
Surprisingly I prefer the cristalino to the reposado in this one, with an honorable mention to the black barrel.
Margarita on the Rocks featuring Torres Magdala Orange Liqueur
Plata
Citrusy, salty, and sweet, with a smooth orange and agave finish. A delicious classic.
Reposado
A little more bitter surprisingly but it’s still balanced, with subtle hints of wood beneath the orange finish. Feels like a stronger drink for sipping instead of bright and refreshing.
Añejo
Smooth with subtle charred oak notes underneath. Smoother and more balanced than the reposado.
Cristalino
Bright and refreshing but also incredibly smooth with just a touch of oak underneath it all. I’m again impressed by the mixability of this one.
Black Barrel
Lime, oak, agave, and more oak in the finish, this is definitely the most complex and the smoothest of them all.
I’m going to have to call it a time between the cristalino and the black barrel here.
BONUS Spicy Margarita with fresh sliced jalapeño added
Honestly, this tastes the same with just a little extra tingle on the tongue.
BONUS Margarita with Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao
Plata
Slightly more tart and less sweet, but smoother and with a less intense, more “realistic” and less candied orange flavor. Surprisingly well rounded.
Reposado
Just a touch smoother.
Añejo
The orange and lime are actually balanced perfectly into one flavor reminiscent of orange peels.
Cristalino
Enhanced agave flavor.
Black Barrel
Enhanced brown sugar and lime flavors, even hints of lemon.
BONUS Margarita with Cointreau
More lime upfront and agave in the finish, the orange notes are virtually lost.
BONUS Margarita with Grand Marnier
Notes of cognac under the lime up front, orange peel and agave in the finish. Smooth yet complex.
BONUS Tommy’s Margarita
Plata
Sweet lime and agave up front with the agave taking over completely in the finish. Very simple, but very well balanced and refreshing.
Reposado
A little peppery initially, with a lime forward finish and agave throughout.
Añejo
Agave and oak with lime coming through in the finish.
Cristalino
Smooth agave throughout with bright citrus up front and a touch of lime peel in the finish.
Black Barrel
Tastes of bourbon and lime up front with agave and oak in the finish; an extraordinarily complex drink.
Plata
A nice balance of orange juice and agave, very easy to drink, and better than a vodka screwdriver in pretty much every way. Surprisingly the grenadine at the end doesn’t really change the flavor that much.
Reposado
Very similar, really just less agave and a tiny hint of oak, though a bit more grenadine at the end.
Añejo
Incredibly smooth but subtle, adding just a touch of oak and agave underneath the orange juice and accentuating the grenadine at the end quite nicely.
Cristalino
Very smooth, and fuller bodied somehow, just the slightest hint of charred oak under the orange juice, but disappearing beneath the grenadine.
Black Barrel
Smooth and lightly oaked orange up front, bourbon and cherry in the finish.
BONUS Difford’s Version
More tart from the lime, but the orange liqueur balances it out. Tequila/agave flavors are mostly buried beneath the sweet/sour orange juice up front; grenadine sweetness is added at the end, producing hints of cherry limeade, but I honestly prefer the simpler 3 ingredient version.
Batanga featuring Caffeine Free Diet Coke
Plata
Agave, lime, cola. Pretty much exactly what you’d expect.
Reposado
Agave, lime, cola, and oak. Slightly better.
Añejo
Agave, lime, oak, cola.
Cristalino
A touch brighter and fruitier, lots of lime and agave with cola underneath.
Black Barrel
Notes of oak and bourbon ride atop the lime and cola, fading into oak and agave. Very similar to a whiskey and cola.
Tequila Martini featuring Dolin Blanc Vermouth
Plata
Earthy agave and sweet white grape in perfect harmony. Notes of lemon and green apple in the finish.
Reposado
More or less the same, just with a touch of oak.
Añejo
Lemon and agave up front, with oaked chardonnay and Moscato underneath. Ends with a bitterness reminiscent of a classic American Pale Ale.
Cristalino
Sweet agave and lemon transition to orange blossom, white grapes, and lemon peel. Very bright and light on the palate, yet also quite complex. This just might be my favorite martini that I’ve had to date.
Black Barrel
Agave, honey, and bourbon up front, with lemon drop candies, oak, and a touch of lemon peel round out the finish. The vermouth takes a backseat to let the tequila shine here and the result is very smooth, complex, and flavorful. Somewhat reminiscent of a Sazerac; also a new favorite martini variation.
Tequila Manhattan featuring Noilly Prat Rouge Vermouth
Plata
Agave, herbal bitters, a hint of cherry; not bad, but feels like it’s missing something, perhaps oak flavor.
Reposado
Agave, oak, and herbal bitters with hints of cherry. The oak does balance out the flavors more and adds a touch of complexity.
Añejo
Oak, agave, and cherry with hints of smoke and spices in the finish. Much, much better with aged tequila; complex and perfectly balanced.
Cristalino
Similar to the Plata: agave, and herbal bitters with cherry and just the slightest touch of oak in the finish. Not the best use of this tequila.
Black Barrel
Oak, bourbon, and cherry with subtle agave and bitters in the finish. Smooth, complex, and balanced, though I wonder how different it really is from a whiskey Manhattan; very enjoyable nonetheless.
Plata
Sweet agave, spices, just a hint of lime. Surprisingly good with an unaged spirit, the agave syrup and bitters are balanced nicely.
Reposado
The same flavors, but smoother and fuller with a touch of toasted oak. I’m reminded of a Cognac Old Fashioned.
Añejo
Charred oak, spices, agave, and a touch of lime. The oak and bitters are more prominent than the syrup here, resulting in a bolder, more layered drink that is very smooth and a satisfying rendition of an Old Fashioned.
Cristalino
Lighter and brighter agave sweetness with bitters and a touch of lime in the finish. Maybe a whisper of oak but it gets lost in the bitters. Not a bad drink at all though.
Black Barrel
Oak, bourbon, agave, caramel, toffee, and lime. This is by far the best version, so many layers of flavor all balanced perfectly, the bitters and agave syrup in total harmony. A must try cocktail.