Olmeca Altos Tequila

If you don’t want to pay good money for good tequila, you will want to read this full, review on Olmeca Altos Tequila. Before I get into the specifics of the brand and its qualities, I want to make a point about ambiance. Let’s face it, when it comes to enjoying a good tequila, atmosphere makes a huge difference. I think the reason many of us are so fond of Tequila in the first place is that the taste reminds us of our most recent vacation where we once enjoyed refreshing, margaritas near a crystal clear swimming pool or white-sand beach in the middle of an ordinary work week in the middle of an ordinary January day. During those cold winter months, if we’re lucky enough to make that trip to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel or the many other dozens of beautiful vacation spots of warmth and sunshine, the taste of a fresh, lime-squeezed margarita will leave us with an indelible memory of relaxation and care-free paradise. Obviously, even the best tasting bottle of tequila in the world won’t replace the enjoyment we get from a week of paradise, but it goes a long way in improving our attitude,  even if it is only for the memories. So, for this reason, I have to be honest by admitting that my most recent review of Olmeca Altos tequila is a bit influenced by the beautiful weather and surroundings in which it was enjoyed.

Olmeca Altos Plata is Perfect for Cocktails

The bottle pictured above is of the Olmeca Altos Plata 100% blue agave tequila. As you can see by the photo of the empty bottle, the very last drop was enjoyed in the cocktails pictured above. A May, 70-degree, calm, sunny, early evening in Arvada, Colorado on a southern-exposure deck with a nice view is about as close as you can get to being on a beach in Mexico in January. So, I have to confess that my review, here, may be slightly biased by the outstanding climate, good feelings and vibes of my immediate surroundings where I enjoyed making this critical analysis. For starters, let me state the obvious: Olmeca Altos Plata is a very smooth liquor – much smoother than any bargain-priced tequila I’ve ever tried. There is no need to drown its flavor with sugary lime-aid mixes. The Plata tequila is actually good enough to be sipped on its own. This is an exceptionally smooth tequila which easily rivals some of the more popular brands which cost twice as much or more. Don Julio and Petron, both come to mind. While I am a big fan of Don Julio, I think Patron is an over-rated brand with a big marketing budget. To be honest, I don’t think it is even as good as, Olmeca Altos. In fact, I don’t think I would even pay 3-times the price for Don Julio knowing how good this one is.  If you’re a true tequila aficionado, don’t expect the Altos Plata to give you those over-tones, substance and character of more expensive, award-winning brands. However, this tequila definitely gives you that full, sweet taste of agave nectar. I also note a fair hint of white pepper, vanilla and just a hint of smoke. The initial taste has a it of a burn, but it quickly tapers off to a very sweet and smooth agave finish. This is the perfect tequila for dry mixers such as the cocktails pictures above. Here is the recipe in case you’d like it:

Altos Plata Margarita Recipe

As pictured by the glass, this drink is more of a martini or perhaps, marghatini. The key to good cocktails like these is to use very little syrups, sugars and other mixes and let the quality of the tequila be emphasized. Simply squeeze a few lime slices into a shaker; pour a couple of splashes of a good triple sec like, Stirrings, shake heavily with ice and pour into a martini glass with a lime wedge. This is about as good as it gets outside of a tropical resort.

Olmeca Altos Reposado

On the evening that I enjoyed the Altos tequila, I had actually tried both the Plata and the Reposado. The Altos Reposado is obviously gold in color, but costs the same at my local liquor store. Altos Reposado is also made from 100% Agave Nectar. I made my first margatini with the Reposado before switching to the Plata. The Reposado is indeed a bit heavier tasting as its darker color might suggest. I noted a darker, pepper flavor with more caramel, honey, almond and less vanilla. Also, I did not notice the hint of pleasant smoke that was noticeable in the Plata.  The gold color and heavy taste are probably due to the white American-Oak bourbon casks where the tequila is aged for 6-8 months.

Olmeca Altos Plata vs. Reposado

Normally, I prefer the distinctive taste from aged barrels, but I’m really torn on this one. Having enjoyed my first drink with the Reposado, I was expecting to be disappointed by the Plata. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised and maybe even a bit more impressed by its crisp, clean flavor. I am also a bit surprised by the substance and character coming from a blanco or white-colored tequila. The taste of the agave nectar is the strong suite of both of these tequilas, but it is even more noticeable to me with the Plata. It is important to note that this is my impression and my impression only. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if others preferred the Reposado. You cannot go wrong with either.

Olmeca Altos Reponsado and Plata is made in Los Altos, Mexico by the Colonial de Jalisco Distillery. I would be remiss if I also didn’t add how these flavors come in very attractive bottles, reminiscent of what you get from some of the more, expensive, albeit sometimes over-rated, high-priced commercial brands of tequila. Either the Reposado or Plata costs me $14.99 for a .750 ML bottle at my local liquor store. I’ve been told that Denver and Chicago are among the first markets to enjoy this delicious tequila. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find Olmeca Altos Tequila by the time you’ve read this review.