Mariposa, made by Kentuckys Heaven Hill, is a true liqueur, and in fact its nothing much like tequila at all. Extremely sweet you can smell the sugar the nose really just hints at agave. Imagine sniffing a margarita where the bartender forgot the limes and youre in the ball park.

Take a sip and youre in for another spin. The sugar rush up front is powerful and almost bruising to the palate. Then comes all the other stuff. Tequila, sure, but that vegetal agave funk is less evident than youd think. What is surprisingly strong are the floral notes from that rose and gardenia oil. Perfumy notes emerge on the nose as they hit the tongue, doubling down on the very flowery finish. The body is thick, a natural counterpart to the honey-like sweetness that dominates the spirit.