WHO IT'S FOR:

While I like to introduce newcomers to tequila to some of the best stuff I have, sometimes it's wiser to start with affordable quality pours they can find locally, turn into cocktails without regret, and learn the basic differences in blanco, reposado, and añejo. Flecha Azul tequilas do all that without breaking the bank, which is a win.

REVIEWER'S VERDICT:

Every year I travel to Destilleria La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, for a press trip. Despite the previous night's lengthy and tequila-soaked dinner, the first day always begins with a modest hike up a hill to the Erickson-Sauza family's high lookout point. Visible from there are Tequila Volcan (Tequila's namesake dead volcano) to the right, blue-green agave fields stretching for miles into the foreground, and the town of Tequila (home to 31 distilleries) to the left. Turn around to see two more distilleries: Fabrica La Prieta, and the Orendain Distillery, where Flecha Azul Tequila is made.

Tequila nerd alert: About a half mile away is Los Camichines (home to Jose Cuervo), where 47 million liters of tequila are made annually. At Orendain, 6 million liters are produced each year, which is almost 8 times what's made yearly at Fortaleza (40,000 liters). Fortaleza's distillery is so tiny that it's hidden from its owners' lookout. So, when you're sad-mad-angry that you can't find a bottle of Fortaleza anything, much less Winter Blend, maybe these numbers will clarify why you can't and defuse some of your angst.

That Orendain isn't a house known for tequilas stalked by enthusiasts helps make Flecha Azul a standout in its lineup. The distillery does use stone/brick ovens for cooking agave, which most serious tequila drinkers prefer. That slow-cooking process (48 to 72 hours) noticeably enriches the agave's impact on the distillate, and it's apparent in these three releases.

Orendain's tequila recipe is simple: 100% blue Weber agave, volcanic water, and yeast. Whether that yeast is a single controlled strain or wild strains pouring in on high desert breezes, I don't know. It's also nice to know that Lorena Diaz, one of only about 12 women distillers in all of Tequila (out of 150-plus and mostly male distillers), runs the operation here.

I'm like most who cringe when learning a tequila brand is celebrity-backed. Why? Too often it implies a simple formula at work: an eye-catching bottle, a big ad campaign, and low-quality tequila dosed with additives.

I have nothing against actor Mark Wahlberg and knew nothing about Mexican professional golfer Abraham Ancer (founder of Flecha Azul) before trying this spirit. But knowing someone was using those men's fame to market that liquid made me slow to accept the offer of review samples.

Truth is, I'm glad I eventually did.

All three of these tequilas are good to very good; ideal for mainstream consumers who might not like old-school tequila with a little funk from long fermentation, minerality from tahona crushing, or sharp agave sweetness born of expert distilling.

I typically skew toward blancos, but while this was my least favorite of the trio, it still was good. No flaws at all. Though not dazzling, it's a solid cocktail tequila that lent an unexpected rustic character to last night's margarita; a note favorably similar to those I've enjoyed in Mexico.

The añejo was a complete surprise. Rich mouthfeel, sufficient depth, and a lot of agave–which isn't always the case with 18-month-old tequilas that too often favor barrel flavors over source material.

The reposado landed right between the others on the preference scale. Solid in every way: a great jumping-in point for teaching newbies about aged tequila. I'm betting this is the line's most popular SKU.

When it comes to celebrity-backed tequilas, I can't think of any I like more than these. Absolutely nothing comes to mind. I really look forward to pouring this blind for tequila-savvy friends, and then telling them it's celebrity-backed. I expect some surprised looks.

Disclaimer

This bottle found its way to us compliments of the brand. What ends up on the page is ours alone—and they knew that going in. Around here, honesty isn't a policy. It's the whole damn point.

About Our Rating System

Bourbon & Banter uses a three-tier rating system created over a decade ago: Bottle, Bar, or Bust.

🍾 Bottle — Buy it. This one deserves a place in your cabinet. (Approximate equivalent: 85 and above on a 100-point scale)
🥃 Bar — Worth trying, but not necessarily worth owning. Find it at a bar before committing to a bottle. (Approximate equivalent: 70–84)
💀 Bust — Skip it. Life is too short and your shelf space too valuable. (Approximate equivalent: below 70)

Numeric scores imply a precision that doesn't exist—and most publications never score below 80, making half the scale meaningless. We'd rather answer the question that actually matters: buy it, try it at a bar before you buy, or skip it. The approximate equivalents above are for reference only.