Review: Sino Tequila, Blanco and Reposado
This Los Altos tequila is one of very few — if not the only one — to be 100% crafted by women (or, as they say, 100% Latina owned and operated). (We know of just one other female Tequilera.)
Judy Rivera is the owner of Sino Tequila — which is only available for the time being in silver and reposado expressions — and she’s building this brand one account at a time. We were excited to be able to review the bottlings for Drinkhacker, and look forward to the future anejo.
Both are 80 proof.
Sino Blanco Tequila – Mild agave on the nose, plus peppers black and green. The creamy, almost milky body is overwhelming and surprising, drowning out much of the agave notes. The finish is reminiscent of young corn whiskey (or white dog), rough and full of grain character. Agave makes an appearance in the end to remind you this came not from Kentucky but from Mexico. B- / $35
Sino Reposado Tequila – Aged a quick four months in ex-bourbon barrels, and what a difference it makes. The sweet vanilla character is a perfect match for Sino’s creaminess, and the agave notes meld nicely with that silky body. This is a sipping tequila that’s a stunner on the palate, smooth and easy. I’d love to see more complexity from this spirit, but for a relatively simple reposado, it hits it on the nose. A- / $38