CasAzar Reposado

CasAzar is a newer brand with Miami roots and Vegas style, but is it worth betting on?

Co-owners Max Ramirez and Viviana Sierraalta-Ramirez started their own brand in South Florida after spending 10+ years at Diageo. CasAzar’s name is a combination of Casa de Azar, a “house of gambling.” They went all-in on a lifestyle brand at a time when others are emphasizing their Mexican heritage.

I’ll give them this, the bottle is quite something to behold. Their lineup uses handmade and hand-painted porcelain bottles crafted to look like stacks of casino chips. They even have 14k gold accents.

Production highlights include roasting 50% of their agave in autoclave and 50% in brick oven and resting the tequila for seven months in French oak barrels previously holding red wine, which was washed, not re-charred.

Green casino chips typically represent $25, and this bottle will set you back nearly six of those chips. Let’s see if the tequila inside is worth it.

Aroma: Fresh, fruity and juicy, with sweet apple juice, minerals, and vanilla.

Flavor: Sweet agave, citrus, vanilla, cinnamon, and clove.

Finish: Creamy mouth with a nice lip tingle, and slight bitter oak under the tongue. Not overly complex.

The stack of chips may have pulled me in, but the citrus nose and barrel flavors are intriguing enough to keep my attention. This distinctive bottle makes a real statement on any shelf and would make a memorable gift for someone who enjoys gambling.