Primo 1861 Reposado-El Cerrito Store Pick

Not Every Pick Is a Winner

You hear stories about store picks. Some are magic—those hidden gems that blow you away and leave you hoarding bottles like a doomsday prepper. Others? Mass-produced hype bombs that pop up in every liquor store like seasonal candy, wearing the illusion of exclusivity.

But this one felt different. It wasn’t everywhere. It had a bit of buzz, and I figured I was in for a treat.

See, I absolutely love the Primo 1861 Blanco. Bright, clean, agave-forward—one of those bottles that disappears quickly at the neighborhood hangout. In fact, mine did disappear… mysteriously… over one weekend. So naturally, I had high hopes for the store pick Reposado.

Unfortunately… this one just didn’t land.

There’s no standout flavor that grabs you by the palate and makes you lean in. I got a little vanilla, a dash of generic spice, and what I think was a peanut butter cookie trying to wave at me from a distance. (Honestly, someone should start a drinking game: every time I say “peanut butter cookie” in a review—take a shot. You’ll either get tipsy or realize how weird my palate is.)

I even scribbled down “nutmeg?” with a sad little question mark—like my taste buds weren’t sure if they were detecting flavor or just trying to manifest one.

The bottom line? It’s not bad. It’s just not exciting. And when you’re following something as clean and enjoyable as the blanco, “meh” feels like a letdown.

Am I bummed? A little. Still sippable? Yeah, absolutely. But I won’t be racing out to hunt down a backup bottle. Sometimes, the magic just doesn’t show up.

🥃🥃🥃 (3 Tequila Glasses)