Review: El Jimador Silver Tequila  (85/100)
a review by Chip Dykstra (Aka Arctic Wolf)
October 06, 2018

El Jimador Tequila is owned by Brown-Froman. The Brand is produced thirty miles from Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, in the town of Amatitan, at Brown – Forman Tequila Distillery Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. which is also referred to as Hacienda Herradura. The Hacienda also produces the more premium Herradura brand as well as Suave 35 and Antiguo. The Jimador tequila is named to pay homage to the jimadors who harvest agave. After it is harvested, the agave is cooked in clay ovens. The juice is extracted after cooking using steel bladed shredders after which it is distilled on old copper pot stills.

Because Hacienda Herradura is located in the Central Lowlands of Jalisco rather than in the Highlands we can expect a more earthy style of tequila than which would be produced in the Highlands where the agave tends to produce a spirit with higher citrus notes and a sharper squeal of peppery spice.

El Jimador Reposado is barrel rested for two months before being bottled between 35 % and 40 % alcohol by volume depending upon the market the spirit is intended for. My sample bottle produced for the Canadian Market (and the USA Market) was bottled at 40 % abv..

In The Bottle 4.5/5

To the left is a bottle shot of el Jimador Reposado Tequila. The spirit arrives in a tall rectangular bottle sealed with a black metal screw cap. Embossed upon the front is a rendition of a mexican jimador harvesting agave. The bottom label is simple and attractive.

I like the long neck on the bottle which makes pouring easier, and the embossed jimador serves a dual purpose making the bottle easier to hold and grip. El Jimador is priced very moderately in my locale, and the presentation serves to elevate the spirit beyond others in its price category.

In the Glass 8.5/10

El Jimador Reposado shows itself as a very light straw coloured liquid in my glencairn glass. The initial aroma brings a light dusty quality to the air with hints of chaff and lightly punky agave fruit. Very mild aromas of fine oak spice, sandalwood and vanilla join in and I must confess that I am both surprised and pleased with the light dusty quality the reposado tequila possesses.

I gave the glass a little time to breathe and the punky fruity agave gained a little strength overtaking the dusty oak spice. An earthy quality is present as are indications of light baking spices. The overall impact of the nose has me stealing a sip just a little quicker than I had anticipated.

In the Mouth 51/60

Fruity agave leads out with some peppery spice falling in behind giving just a little heat to the palate. There is a nice gentle sweep of vanilla and indications of those light baking spices (cinnamon in particular). Strangely enough I also taste just a hint of Turkish Delight which works surprisingly well within the flavour profile. There is a light earthy quality which hints at the use of lowland agave, although I must confess the lowland nature is not a firm as I would have suspected.

I began my cocktail deliberations with a Margarita, and because I recognized only a light lowland quality, I decide that I should use both lemon and lime juice. (I typically use lime juice with highland tequila, and lemon juice with lowland tequila.) It turns out that my choice was very good as I enjoyed the mixed serving immensely. I tried a few more servings (see recipes below) and decided that the reposado spirit is indeed very well suited for a wide variety of tequila cocktails.

In the Throat  12.5/15

El Jimador Reposad features a short to mid-length finish, with perhaps a touch of alcohol astringency. Some peppery heat and light oak spice mixes with fruity agave with perhaps a hint of sweet Turkish Delight appear at the end of the swallow.

The Afterburn  8.5/10

I quite enjoyed the El Jimador Reposado which seemed to feature a light complexity which worked very well in the cocktails I tried. The short time in oak seems to have smoothed out a few of the rougher edges which were apparenet when I sampled El Jimador Silver. Hence the score has climbed a little from 83.5 to 85/100/

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

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Some Recommended Servings

The Cantarito is a Paloma style tall mixed drink. Orange and Lemon juice are added to the mix of to the mix of tequila, lime, and grapefruit soda making this a refreshing highball to enjoy on your back deck during warm sunny days  (and evenings).

The Cantarito

1 1/2 oz. El Jimador Reposado Tequila
1/2 oz. fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 oz. fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz. fresh Orange Juice
3/4 oz Sugar Syrup (1:1 Ratio)
4 ounces Grapefruit Soda (Q Grapefruit or Squirt)

Shake the first five ingredients with ice
Strain into a tumbler filled with ice.
Complete with grapefruit soda.

Enjoy Responsibly!

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The Pale Lemon Sky

1 oz El Jimador Reposado Tequila
1 oz Vodka
3/8 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
3/8 oz Fresh Lime Juice
3/8 oz Bols Triple Sec
3/8 oz Sugar Syrup (1:1 ratio)
Ice
Lemon Peel

Add the ingredients to your metal shaker with ice
Shake until the outside of the shaker begins to frost
Double strain into a cocktail glass
Garnish with a slice of lemon or a strip of lemon peel

Enjoy Responsibly!

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!