High Proof Blanco Tequila Tasting (February 27th, 2026)
This is our 7th Tequila Tasting, and our 2nd High Proof Blanco Tasting. The Blanco bottles in question were;
| TT Label | Description | NOM | Proof | Rating | Price (CAD$/USD$) |
| A | G4 Blanco, Premium | 1579 | 108 | 7.0 | $95/$67 |
| B | Volans, Still Strength (SS) | 1579 | 106 | 6.7 | $120/$85 |
| C | Don Fulano, Overproof | 1146 | 100 | 7.6 | $120/$67 |
| D | El Tequileno, Still Strength | 1108 | 100 | 8.0 | $120/$NA |
| E | Lalo, Limited Edition, High Proof | 1468 | 108 | 7.7 | $135/$77 |
| F | Ocho, Plata Puntas, 2024, Overproof | 1474 | 108 | 8.1 | $NA/$82 |
| G | Arette, Fuerte Artesanal, 101 | 1109 | 101 | 8.6 | $120/$NA |
| H | Primo 1861, High Proof | 1639 | 100 | 7.5 | $110/$NA |
This was our 2nd high proof Blanco tequila tasting. The previous one was Feb, 2025. This was very much a continuation of that. In typical Neil’s Natterings style, the winner of the last one, doesn’t come close to winning again. But what was interesting, is it didn’t get that much lower of a score, it received a 7.7, yet it won last year with a 7.9! This year 8.6, was needed to win, and 3 bottles placed above 7.9!
For those who are unaware, rule of thumb about Tequila, there are 4 categories/types of Tequila;
- Blanco/Plata/Silver, (0-2 months aging)
- Resposado meaning ‘rested’, (2 mths – 11 months)
- Anejo meaning ‘aged’, (1 year to 3 years)
- Extra Anejo (> 3yrs)
Some may argue for 2 more ‘types’ of Tequila, Joven (young/gold), and Cristalino (charcoal filtered to remove the tannins, and therefore the color, of the Resposado or Anejo Tequilas).
The other 6 tequila tastings are referenced here, for those who are curious. The 6th Tequila Tasting was on February 28th, 2025, the 5th Tequila Tasting was on November 30th, 2023, the 4th Tequila Tasting was Jan 2023, the 3rd Tequila Tasting was Jan 2021, the 2nd Tequila Tasting was July 2020, and the 1st Tequila Tasting was in Sept 2019.
We had 13 on the call, but sold 16 racks, and for once everyone who bought them, provided me their votes. The extra votes didn’t change the outcomes, just boosted the average. I’m happy the winners of the tequila are 8.0 and higher….often tequila winners have been sub-8, representing low ratings as a whole.
In terms of guessing Mary won, with 3 correct guesses! Daniel, David J, and Mike M, all got 2 correct.
The tequila most guessed correctly was Ocho Plata Puntas, “F”, with 5 out of 6 guessed it correctly.
The Winners!
The winner was Arette, Fuerte Artesanal, at 101 proof. The proof is written very large on the label. I was surprised that this one won. I have always liked Arette, in fact I included an Arette Blanco sample, saying this was $23 USD ($40 CAD) Tequila, and still very good, but we are comparing it to $80 ($120 CAD) Tequila. In 2nd was Ocho Plata Puntas at 108 proof, and a vote of 8.1. In 3rd was El Tequileno, Still Strength, at 100 proof, and a vote of 8.0.
1st Place (8.6) $120 CAD$
2nd Place (8.1) $120 CAD/$NA USD
3rd Place (8.0) $NA CAD/$82 USD
The next Tasting is scheduled for Friday, March 20th, 2026, and will be Irish Whisky, in honour of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Survey Results (# in cells, represents their vote, a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best)
| A – G4 | B – Vol | C – Don F | D – El T | E – Lalo | F – Ocho | G – Arette | H – Primo | |
| Brandon | 9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Teneille | 7 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 5 |
| David J | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Todd M | 3 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
| Daniel D | 8 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Frank M | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
| Alison R | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Mary W | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Allison C | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 10 | 6 |
| Danny K | 5 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Mike M | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
| Jody | 8 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| Sarah | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
| Ken W | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 10 |
| Stephane | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Martin | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Total | 113 | 108 | 121 | 128 | 123 | 129 | 138 | 120 |
| Average | 7.0 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 7.5 |
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