Review: Agavero Licor de Tequila)  75/100
a review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Posted on August 12, 2010
(revised September 2013)

Agavero is a blend of 100% blue agave Tequila (Reposado and Anejo), and the essence of the Damiana Flower. This is not a true Tequila spirit but rather a Tequila based liqueur. Lazaro Gallardo, the founder of Los Camichines Distillery, in Jalisco, Mexico, is credited with creating Agavero in 1857. It is produced as a sipping liqueur meant for those who want a lighter, sweeter and more refined Tequila experience.

Previously, Agavero was distributed worldwide by the Diageo conglomerate, however the brand was recently transferred to Proximo Spirits who have been increasing their presence on the world stage by acquiring key brands of distilled spirits such as Matusalem Rum, and Jose Cuervo Tequila. Agavero (Licor de Tequila) is bottled at 32 per cent alcohol by volume, and is currently distributed in my home market by The Kirkwood Group.

In the Bottle 4.5/5

As you can see, Agavero  comes packaged in a very attractive bottle which looks as though it must have a genie in it. Although I rubbed the bottle quite vigorously I can testify that no such genie was forthcoming. But (all joking aside), I think this is a very nice presentation. Had the bottle been completed with a nice solid straight sided cork instead of a metal screw-cap, I would have scored it perfectly.

(An actual genie inside would have scored bonus points.)

In the Glass 8.5/10

The Agavero is a bronze/brown  coloured liqueur which is consistent with the heritage of a blend of the Reposado and Anejo Tequila in the blend. Tilting the glass leaves a thick film of liquid film on the sides which drops thick legs down the inside. The aroma is very sweet and sugary mixed with a muted punky agave scent. There are the vaguest hints of orange citrus, passion-fruit, peppery spices, and lime. The different scents are somewhat melted together and this is not aggressive at all. The normal spicy aroma I usually encounter in Tequila has been tamed.

In my Mouth 45/60

The agave flavour, the orange and lime citrus notes, and the hot pepper burst are all pummeled into submission by a sweet sugary syrup. The result is a mild, somewhat pleasing combination of punky agave and sweet sugar syrup. Over time, the spirit, (although pleasing at first) becomes cloying. In fact, after only a few sessions with the Agavero, I was more tempted to describe it as a Tequila Syrup than as a refined dessert liqueur for sipping.

I did find enjoyment mixing sweet summertime Margarita style cocktails using Agavero and Silver Tequila together with the Lime. The resulting cocktail is quite sweet, but nice for serving with crushed ice on a hot summer day.

In the Throat  10/15

This liqueur does not burn the throat in the least. But what it does do, is leave the palate and the throat coated in a morass of thick sugary syrup. The flavours under the syrup are pleasing, but the sweetness is just too much, even as a dessert liqueur.

The Aftermath 7/10

I am unimpressed. The brochure leaflet on the stem of the bottle mentions Agavero receiving the honor of being named one of the top 50 spirits of 2002, and also mentions a  90 – 95 rating from Wine Enthusiast.  My own opinion unfortunately is much to the south of those accolades.

You may read some of my other reviews of  Liqueurs and Flavoured Spirits (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.

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Suggested Cocktail:

The Agavero Margarita

20 ml (3/4 oz) Silver Tequila
15 ml (1/2 oz) Agavero
20 ml (3/4 oz) Triple Sec
15 ml (1/2 oz) Lime Juice

Place all ingredients in a Blender with 3 large ice cubes
Blend until Smooth
Serve with a wedge of Lime
(If the cocktail is too sweet for your taste, just squeeze in more lime from the wedge.)

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0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing spirit.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84    We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails.)
85-89    Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94    Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)