Emerald Spear Blanco (Wave 2)

I first had the opportunity to try Emerald Spear Blanco while visiting my good friend Sergio Cruz at his home in Mexico. Sergio pulled out this bottle and told me how excited he was about the brand.

I really enjoyed it that day, and after spending more time with it, I can tell you I enjoy it just as much now.

What makes Emerald Spear so interesting is the story behind it.

The brand is owned by four Navy SEALs, and it dedicates a portion of its proceeds to organizations directly supporting Navy SEALs and their families.

Emerald Spear gets part of its name from Coronado Island, nicknamed the “Emerald City” and home to elite military training grounds. “Spear” refers to a three-pronged trident symbolizing the founders’ shared values of unity, strength, and commitment to excellence.

One of the founders discovered that tequila was the only alcoholic spirit he could tolerate, which inspired the founders to create a tequila they would enjoy drinking themselves.

Emerald Spear is produced at NOM 1414, one of my favorite distilleries in the Highlands of Jalisco. They use Highland Blue Weber agave, traditional stone ovens for cooking, a roller mill for extraction, and double distillation in copper pot stills.

Aroma: Right away, I get that beautiful cooked agave aroma I’ve come to appreciate from NOM 1414. There’s some nice citrus, particularly fresh lime zest, along with a subtle vegetal note. I also pick up a light minerality that reminds me of fresh well water.

Nothing overpowering, just a really nice combination of cooked agave, citrus, and those earthy mineral notes.

Taste: This is where Emerald Spear really shines for me. The cooked agave leads the way, and there’s plenty of it. The citrus I picked up on the nose changes a little on the palate. I’m getting more orange zest with just a hint of lemon. About midway through, a nice peppery spice starts to develop, followed by some earthiness and minerality.

Everything works really well together, and, most importantly, that cooked agave remains front and center.

Finish: The finish is medium in length, with lingering pepper and citrus. What I particularly enjoy is the combination of a nice warming sensation, a little natural sweetness, and a clean, slightly dry finish. It’s an interesting balance between the sweetness of the cooked agave and that dryness that develops toward the end.

This is a fantastic blanco tequila, and one I would absolutely recommend trying. It’s got everything I enjoy in a well-made blanco: plenty of cooked agave, bright citrus, a little pepper, some minerality, and a really enjoyable finish.

The story behind Emerald Spear makes it even more interesting to me. I have a tremendous amount of respect for our military veterans, and knowing that this brand is owned by four Navy SEALs gives me another reason to appreciate what they’re building.

But at the end of the day, the tequila still has to taste good, and Emerald Spear absolutely delivers. It’s a really enjoyable Highland blanco coming out of NOM 1414, and one I’m glad Sergio introduced me to.

More from Emerald Spear: All of our Emerald Spear coverage, including reviews, lists, scores, and more.