Over half a century ago on Mexican Independence Day (September 16), Don Francisco Javier Sauza (yeah that聽same Sauza), created Hornitos聽tequila,聽an aromatic 100% blue agave experience that’s sweet and calming with a little bit of bite.
Hornitos Plata. This is Hornitos’ unaged tequila (“plata” is聽Spanish for聽silver). Plata has never聽made contact with wood barrels, so it’s聽a clear tequila. Because of聽its young age, Plata is聽more of an herbal and floral experience in the聽smell and taste. This is agave at its purest: very sweet, crisp and clean.
Hornitos Reposado. This “rested” tequila has聽an aromatic rush of blue agave, unexpected and exciting. The sting in the air that is immediately present in the nose of聽other tequilas is non-existent here. Instead, a sweet, calming waft of blue agave gets聽your attention.聽The flavor is mellow and very smooth, with a聽bit of聽welcome spice. Not a tequila I would associate with taking shots, Hornitos Reposado is smooth enough to聽sip, and enjoy the warmth in your chest of聽a nice, aged tequila.
Hornitos Reposado will run you聽$25 and Hornitos聽Plata, $20. The flavors of both are subtle, and though they’d be fine cocktail tequilas, I will likely enjoy聽Hornitos聽Reposado more often聽as a sipping tequila. The Plata is聽a little more聽floral and herbal than I’d prefer.