Review: 1800 Reserva Silver Tequila   87/100
a review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
Published May 12, 2020

The 1800 Tequila brand is owned by the Beckmann Family, who also own the Jose Cuervo brand. And indeed, according to the nom identifier upon the bottle (Nom 1122 CRT) the brand is produced at the same facility, the Casa Cuervo, S.A. de C.V. (established in 1758) which is located in the central lowland tequila region of Jalisco Mexico.

According to the company website 1800 Silver Tequila is:

Made from 100% Weber blue agave — aged for 8-12 years and harvested at their peak. The liquid is double distilled, and a special selection of white tequilas is blended together for added complexity and character. The result is a premium tequila with a smoother, more interesting flavor than most on the market.

The name is apparently an homage to the year that premium Tequila (tequila aged in oak) was first produced at Casa Cuervo. Casa Cuervo is of course also the producer of the well know Jose Cuervo Tequila.

1800 Reserva Silver Tequila is bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

In the Bottle 4.5/5

According to the 1800 Tequila website:

The packaging for 1800® Tequila is an iconic triangular shape, reminiscent of the centuries-old Mayan stone pyramids found throughout Mexico and dressed with a crest.

“Trabajo, Passion, Honestidad” (“Work,” “Passion,” “Honesty”) is displayed on the crest, signifying the honor and tradition that go into the process of crafting this historically rich tequila.

The bottle with its large stopper looks imposing on my tequila shelf.

In The Glass 8.5/10

The 1800 spirit is clear in my glass (some reviewers report a pale yellow colour) and the spirit when swirled leaves a slightly thickened sheen on the inside of my glencairn, the crest of which drops small leglets which fall as skinny legs.

The aroma filled with soft punky vegetal scents of lowland agave. There is much more fruit than pepper, although that peppery notes of agave does come through after a few minutes have past. Hints of vanilla and perhaps a touch of grassy mint rounds out the nose which seems to me to represent the lowland category quite well.

In The Mouth 52.5/60

The first sips bring soft punky agave flavours full of vegetal fruit and melon flavours. Baked squash, and grilled pineapple are both suggested with hints of vanilla and and light sweetness. Then comes the peppery spice that tequila is known for. The flavour profile is like the nose, a representation of a classic lowland tequila flavour profile.

When I encounter a lowland tequila my impulse is to mix cocktails with lemon juice rather than lime. Its a personal preference, as I find that for my palate the punky vegetal flavours of lowland agave mix very well with lemon. So I began with a Picador which is essentially a Margarita mixed with lemon rather than lime. The cocktail was all that I hoped for which reinforced my positive view of the 1800 Silver.

In the Throat 13/15

Although the delivery is full of punky fruit, the exit brings the peppery spice and perhaps a little smokiness as well. After the tequila is swallowed, the vegetal flavour of agave shows through in the aftertaste.

The Afterburn  8.5/10

1800 Reserva Silver Tequila is a classic lowland agave spirit perfect for classic cocktails. Although I prefer the Picador, the spirit works fine as the base for a nice margarita as well.

You may read some of my other Tequila Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.

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Suggested Recipe

Although I have suggested the Picador is a great cocktail to enjoy with 1800 Reserva Silver Tequila, I also love the Toreador. That ribbon of Apricot Brandy meshes extremely well with the Lowland agave and tart lemon juice.

The Toreador

1 1/2 oz 1800 Reserva Silver Tequila
3/4 oz  Bols Apricot Brandy
3/4 oz  Fresh Lemon Juice
3/8 oz Sugar Syrup (1:1 ratio)
ice
Lemon Peel

Add the first four ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice
Shake until the sides frost
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish with a Lemon Peel

Please Enjoy Responsibly!

Note: If  you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes

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You may (loosely) interpret the scores as follows.

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 Tequila.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, (we are probably still cocktail in 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 delicious cocktails!
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)