Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila Review

There are a few names that come to mind when one mentions tequila to the average person. For those who follow rock 'n' roll from the 1980s and '90s, Cabo Wabo is one of those brands and it is probably thanks to the brand's founder, Sammy Hagar, most famously, of Van Halen.

The brand contains the standard three-style range for tequilas and I had the opportunity to try the youngest (the blanco) multiple times, both straight and in a variety of cocktails. It is a good tequila, though aficionados may find it lacking when compared to its competitors.

The Review of Cabo Wabo Tequila

Is it the rock hall of famer along with brilliant marketing that made this tequila so popular? That is very likely. It's often good to be skeptical of a celebrity-backed spirit label and try to forget about that connection when giving it an initial taste. With Cabo Wabo, however, its association with Sammy Hagar is hard to avoid simply because it has been on the market for so long.

All of the marketing hype aside, most people would agree with many of the tequila aficionados on Cabo Wabo Blanco Tequila: it is mediocre. While I have tasted significantly superior tasting tequilas, I have tasted many inferior tequilas as well. Cabo Wabo falls in the middle.

The price is another consideration. It is not a budget-friendly bottle and there are many other mid-range options available that sell for the same price but have a considerably smoother profile.

While it is not a favorite tequila to sip, it makes some excellent cocktails. Mix it in any tequila cocktail you like, from a Tequila Sunrise to a Margarita or Paloma and it is not likely to disappoint. Cabo Wabo is best with heavily fruity drinks and is especially tasty in blended cocktails, namely Margaritas.

Tasting Notes

The nose is filled with a sweet floral tone. The palate is oily and has a slightly bitter tone marked with a faint agave flavor and earthy notes. The finish is, as with the whole experience, mild, lacking the full alcohol burn of some other tequilas, and nicely spiced, though there is a bitterness in the aftertaste that makes it unusual.

Cabo Wabo Tequila Cocktails

• Mrs. Claus' Wildside Punch
• Pomegranate Margarita
• Red Pepper Sangrita Margarita

About Cabo Wabo Tequila

• Blanco tequila, unaged and produced from 100% 8-12-year-old blue Weber agave plants.
• Imported by Campari America
• 40 percent alcohol by volume (80 proof)

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.