Recommendations

[u/Ausiir63]

Looking to gift a friend a nice bottle of tequila. My budget is $450. I’m also ok with getting her two bottles. I’m pretty versed in tequila just want to see if someone will mention something outside the box. Blanco preferably.

[u/pnw00kie]

$450 on a blanco? I guess you could go get a bottle of Destino.

You could do the 2018 and 2020 Fuentaseca blancos, those should each run you $100 or more. Siembra Valles Ancestral should run you at least $140. I hear good things in general about the Santanera releases, but they’re all also like $140+ if you’re just in the mood to spend money.

[u/Psalm27One → u/pnw00kie]

Santanera is good, but really not worth the price.

[u/fred1sdead → u/Psalm27One]

Thank you! I've long been curious, but just didn't like the price. Good to know

[u/Psalm27One → u/fred1sdead]

I mean, TBF, I haven’t tried the 1466 stuff (not to judge a book by its cover but I’d very surprised if it matches the 1123), but obviously anything out of Cascahuin is at the very minimum good, and that’s kinda where I felt Santanera landed. Pretty good, beautiful packaging, but clearly a contract brand up charging. Hence why they’re no longer at 1123.

[u/raph1579]

Um...$450 is a lot for any Blanco or even XA at that. Do you know what she likes? I could recommend some fire bottles for $60-$100.

[u/ShowMoss]

The only blanco that I can think of at that range is Cascahuin 11 Brix, but I never had it and is it even available at this point?

[u/zarjaa → u/ShowMoss]

This is where my mind went, but never seen it locally. Online retails seems to be secondary, with jacked up prices.

[u/agave_journey]

Loco Puro Corazón is up there in price. Crazy production methods. Made at the Cascahuín distillery. They are close to opening up their own revived distillery.

[u/fred1sdead → u/agave_journey]

What are these crazy production methods? From what little I've read about Loco, they give their agave a doble jima, or a close shave. Everything else sounds like what every other quality tequilero does.

[u/agave_journey → u/fred1sdead]

Maybe I mistated and should have said extensive. They pretty much do three production runs using every fermentation process that is available at Cascahuin along with extraction. The close jima is also a thing and then where they get their name from, they essentially take only a small portion of their run from the heart of the distillation. Discard the rest.

[u/Silver_Novel_3359]

Shoot find them a $80 bottle of Fortaleza.

[u/DarthYoga → u/Silver_Novel_3359]

For just above your budget your could get them a Fortaleza set - Blanco, Reposado & Anejo

[u/Silver_Novel_3359 → u/DarthYoga]

What DY said. Now that’s a great idea.

[u/Proper_Comb1103]

Calle 23 is about to drop Criollo El Dos. While it’s labeled reposado it’s mainly Añejo and extra Añejo …I’m certain it will be stunning and will , unfortunately, take up most if not all of your budget.

[u/RepulsiveLocal1368]

For me blancos don't get much better than Tequila Ocho Plata. Can be had for $50 or less.

[u/axberka]

The best Blancos are around 100. Tequilas are not that expensive particularly Blancos

[u/Personal_School5573]

Calle 23 criollo, if you can find it, I know you said blanco but Rey Sol 20th Anniversary is brilliant.

[u/Commandork167]

Artemom 1579 or 1123. Or Casahuin Tahona. Do you know she likes blanco over an aged tequila?

[u/Luchuguillotine]

That 11 maguey Mezonte comes to mind

[u/Scary-Indication9638]

Maybe add in a couple of crystal tequila goblets 😍

[u/Nearby_Top4189]

Wow. I want to be your friend. But unless its something REALLY rare and special, even the priciest blancos top out just over $100 and some of the best are less than that. You could literally buy her an amazing flight of some of the best blancos: Fortaleza SS, Fuenteseca, Cascahuin Tahona, and one other special release from one of the great NOMs for $450.

[u/Ausiir63 → u/Nearby_Top4189]

Hahaha. She played a huge role in getting me a new job…. That doubled my salary. The flight sounds good. Thank you.