Cambio Tequila Reposado Review
I have to admit, I didn't immediately like this tequila, mostly because I thought it a little stingy on agave aroma and flavor. But sticking with this spirit over time taught me that this is as much about barrel choices as tequila production. This is an exceptional spirit.
BOTTLE DETAILS
- DISTILLER: Cambio Tequila (Inulina y Miel de Agave Distillery, NOM 1605, Capilla de Guadalupe, Jalisco, Mexico)
- MASH BILL: 100% Blue Weber Agave
- AGE: 6 months total: 1 month in Burgundy and Bordeaux barrels; 5 months in French oak Chardonnay casks
- YEAR: 2025
- PROOF: 92 (46% ABV)
- MSRP: $59.99
- BUY ONLINE: Cambio Bottle Shop
STEVE'S NOTES
SHARE WITH: Any tequila drinker, but particularly savvy ones who are interested in a sipping adventure. This is no ordinary reposado.
WORTH THE PRICE: Totally. That this is only $60 is amazing, especially given the effort made to to make this tequila. Click here to read about it. The liquid is thoughtfully made, and the care taken to highlight the tequila via each barrel's contribution to its overall flavor is admirable and successful.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottles! Because one will only arouse your tequila appetite, so get another to bed it down. Also, you'll want to turn others onto an innovative reposado. Too often wine cask finished tequila is successful, but this one smashes that unfortunate trend.
OVERALL: On the nose comes pepper, butterscotch, golden raisin, tamarind paste, roasted pineapple, sour orange and a whiff of smoke. Let it rest a bit and the dig deep to uncover spring flowers.
Initially, the spirit is tight and tart on the palate; the vestiges of the wine casks linger firmly on the tongue, as do the flavors and textures born of its 15-day, low temperature, malolactic fermentation. Think more acid and tannin than grape character in this case. But like the blanco I reviewed, sip after sip–even when you're spitting for a review–lays down a substrate of flavor and texture that moves between honeyed and fruity (a syrup of pineapple and lime with a trailer of oak) to tart and pleasantly dry and lightly grape-y. The wine casks used here must have been well preserved to present that subtle grape character so well. The tingling left behind with multiple sips lingers long and fades into cinnamon.
This is an excellent example of why more tequila makers should release bottles well beyond the common 80 proof. Just 12 proof points above that makes a tremendous difference in texture and palate interaction. A tip: On the final sip, tilt your head back and slowly pour the liquid from your glass toward the back of your throat to experience that proof and those barrels' influence. The combination of warmth and spice is terrific. This makes me want to try to anejo someday.
I have to admit, I didn't immediately like this tequila, mostly because I thought it a little stingy on agave aroma and flavor. But sticking with this spirit over time taught me that this is as much about barrel choices as tequila production. And when a distiller gets those elements to work this well in tandem, he's done a truly fine job. This is an exceptional spirit.
Bonus click: If you like spirits nerdiness and stories of great brand creation, then listen to the episode about the creation of Cambio and its founder, John Des Rosiers on the Agave Social Club podcast. It's a great source for agave storytelling.
BRAND NOTES
A reposado tequila with brine, grapefruit, and light honey on the nose, showcasing a unique and pleasant character, subtle linen notes and delicate honey sweetness balance the high alcohol levels leading to a long finish.
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.