It is exceptionally rare to find a new Tequila worth raving about because we all know there is a very limited number of distilleries making unadulterated juice. That being said, when Felipe Camarena from El Pandilo NOM 1579 makes a new product, I'm going to buy it sight unseen, liquid untasted, 100% of the time. Every Tequila brand has its loyalists and its supporters, regardless of whether its Fortaleza, Fuenteseca, Tapatío, Ocho, or Siembra Azul. I love all of those brands myself. But for my personal taste, no distiller captures the utter essence of agave like Felipe Camarena does. As I've said before, the juice from 1579 is like the Sancerre of Tequila: mineral-driven, herbaceous, clean, and fragrant. I always have a bottle of Pasote and G4 in my house, and now I'm going to have a bottle of Primo on hand as well.
To be clear, Primo Tequila is a sipping blanco. You could mix with it, but why would you? The nose alone is hypnotic: cooked agave, citrus, black pepper with insane clarity and distinction. It's like I'm holding a piece of roasted agave pulp in my hand, not a glass of Tequila. The palate is spicy, savory, and loaded with flavor. This is not your tropical, fruit-laden blanco, but it's also not without weight or richness. The texture is there, but it's kept in balance by the herbal notes and the spice. It's another masterpiece from Felipe and I'm obsessed with it. If you don't believe me, you can check out all the reviews on Tequila Matchmaker.
-David Driscoll