Brush up on your Roman numerals, because there’s a new tequila in town: Viva XXXII. The Los Angeles-based maker receives its spirit from a distillery in Tequila, Mexico, using blue agave harvested from fields owned by Viva XXXII. It currently produces joven and reposado varieties.
The owner of the brand is an interior designer, and it shows. Each bottle is covered in an abstract pattern made up of black triangles, creating a visually stunning result. You’ll also find an embossed chihuahua on the bottom of each bottle, a reference to the brand’s pledge to commit 10% of net proceeds to animal abuse prevention. That’s nice. Now, let’s taste these two tequilas.
Viva XXXII Joven Tequila
The clear joven was created by blending a blanco with a three-year extra anejo. It has a subtle nose that’s light on agave with a hint of vegetation. It begins light and soft on the palate, then develops a sweet, zesty note of lemon peel followed by white pepper. These flavors are pleasant enough, but they seem to fizzle out before a real climax is reached and finish ensured.
Stats:
— 40% ABV
— $39.99
CE Rating: ★★
Viva XXXII Reposado Tequila
The Reposado, which has been rested for six months in American oak barrels, has a light, delicate color which appears slightly gold in the bottle and almost clear in the glass. Its nose is heavy with agave.
On the tongue it proves to be light, cool and pleasant. As it approaches the center of the palate, a buttery vanilla flavor emerges, which is accompanied by light floral notes and a hit of pepper. But like the joven, what at first feels like the set up to fuller flavor or a more interesting finish dissipates far too quickly.
Stats:
— 40% ABV
— $42.99
CE Rating: ★★
Ultimately, the two expressions from Viva XXXII may be mellow to a fault. Each spirit has a great mouthfeel and contains enjoyable flavors, but neither seems to live up to the potential that those flavors promise. However, these light-bodied tequilas may be perfect for persuading those traumatized by Jose Cuervo into giving the category a second chance.
