Paladar Reposado Toasted Series

Paladar has built its reputation around exploring how different maturation techniques can influence tequila while remaining committed to additive-free production. Produced at Tequila Arette de Jalisco (NOM 1109) under the guidance of master distiller Eduardo Orendain Jr., the brand focuses on showcasing agave through creative barrel experimentation.

The Toasted Series is one of Paladar’s most ambitious projects, using oak that is naturally seasoned for 24 months before undergoing proprietary toasting treatments. Each expression is designed to highlight how toast levels and wood types shape a reposado tequila while preserving the agave’s character. It reflects the vision of Paladar co-founder Pete Nevenglosky and the brand’s commitment to blending traditional tequila craftsmanship with thoughtful innovation.

Made from estate-grown Blue Weber agave, cooked in traditional brick ovens, extracted with a roller mill, and fermented in open-air pine boxes using a blend of wild and proprietary yeasts, these tequilas remain rooted in classic production methods while also building on that foundation with a barrel-forward approach.

Each expression in the Toasted Series begins with Paladar Reposado, aged in American oak barrels that previously held bourbon. Specially selected toasted staves are then inserted into the barrels during maturation. The lineup includes French Medium, French Revere Plus Plus, and American Medium expressions, each representing the specific staves that shape its final profile.

Toasting differs from charring. Toasting gently heats the wood, while charring creates a layer of charcoal that contributes deeper, more intense notes. The three Toasted Series expressions highlight a range of toast levels, from lighter profiles to the more intense Plus Plus level.

This review of Paladar’s Toasted Series is a first for The Tequila Report: a single review covering three expressions, each from a different member of our Reviews Team. Our reviewers have different preferences, just like our readership does, so pay closer attention to what the tasting notes reveal than to a cursory look at the scores.

This reposado is one of those tequilas that reminds you just how much barrel management can influence a spirit without overwhelming the agave.

Aroma: On the nose, I immediately picked up cooked agave layered with stone fruit, light oak, and a touch of red berries that reminded me of raspberry. There is also a soft vanilla note and a delicate floral character floating on top of the glass.

Taste: The palate opens with sweet cooked agave, followed by a beautiful French oak influence that brings a refined woody character rather than heavy barrel dominance. Mid-palate, flavors of apricot, raspberry, and dried fruit emerge, alongside hints of cinnamon and baking spice, before transitioning into a warming, peppery finish. What impressed me most is that, despite the obvious barrel influence, the tequila never loses its identity. The minerality, agave sweetness, and tequila character remain front and center throughout the experience.

Finish: The finish is long and lingering, with oak sweetness, spice, and fruit. This is a complex reposado that continues to evolve with every sip and showcases how well French oak can complement tequila when handled properly.

Designed to bridge the worlds of tequila, whiskey, and wine maturation, this release aims to bring added layers of spice, sweetness, and depth without losing its agave foundation.

So, does the French Revere Plus Plus strike the right balance between innovation and tradition, or does the oak take center stage? Let’s find out.

Aroma: Nose is very aromatic, with notes of salted caramel, dark chocolate, oak, maple syrup, cigar, date, blackberry marmalade, butterscotch, agave, pepper and citrus zest.

Taste: Taste is rich and bold. Pleasantly balanced notes of toffee, vanilla bean, oak, black cherry, molasses, honey, fig, leather, toasted marshmallow, root beer, butterscotch, orange marmalade, sweet green tea, white pepper, agave, leather and dark cocoa.

Finish: Nice mouthfeel with a slightly short finish. Fading notes of honey, toffee, vanilla, and cream. The French oak stands out while the profile is rich and warm.

This particular reposado uses American Medium Plus staves added to the barrels during the aging process. As a result, the color is as dark as an añejo or even an extra añejo.

Aroma: My favorite thing about this tequila is the nose, with notes of caramel, vanilla, apricot, cinnamon, apple pie, barrel spices, oak and whiskey.

Taste: The palate is more subtle than the nose. Up front, I get sweet caramel, vanilla notes, and barrel spices. Followed by fruit with cinnamon, brown sugar, oak, and whiskey, with a very slight trace of agave. Then it becomes dry and slightly bitter.

Finish: The finish is short, with a sweetness that fades to barrel spices, along with leather and tobacco notes, and a dryness that lingers on the tongue.

I recommend giving these toasted series expressions more than one try. They really need to open up. The neck pour was harsh and woody, with very little agave present. When I revisited this a few weeks later, the whiskey and woody notes had mellowed out. The sweeter notes came through, and there was less alcohol present, making this a more balanced reposado. Overall, this reposado could be a decent sipper for whiskey lovers transitioning to tequila. Happy sipping!