TLC Turns One: A Year In, and a Re-Review of Lalo Tequila

Behind the Pour

One year in, Crystal and Roger mark the anniversary of The Liquor Connoisseur the right way: they go back to the beginning. Lalo Tequila was one of their earliest reviews — an additive-free blanco they called a best pick. A year of tasting dozens of bottles gives them more context than they had at the start. The re-review format is one of the most honest things a tasting show can do.

What You'll Discover

• Who is Lalo: Eduardo 'Lalo' González is the grandson of Don Julio González, founder of Don Julio Tequila. His brand is named for his childhood nickname and is built on a single premise: 100% Blue Weber agave, no additives, no sweeteners, no glycerin. The label is a statement of what is not in the bottle.
• What a re-review actually tests: The original verdict is not the question — the question is whether the palate that issued the verdict has grown. A year of serious tasting reshapes what you notice, what you prioritize, and what you forgive. Crystal and Roger run the same spirit through a different instrument.
• Additive-free blanco as a category position: The additive-free movement in tequila is a consumer-education project as much as a production philosophy. Lalo's transparency about what is not in the bottle matters because the category has a significant additive problem that most marketing conceals.
• The verdict one year later: Does the original best pick hold? Crystal and Roger's re-review answer is the episode's primary question.
• What year one of TLC taught them: The anniversary reflection covers what surprised them, what the community gave them, and where the show is going — a genuine accounting from two hosts who built something real.

A Moment of Pourspective

A bottle you loved at the start either earns that love back when you know more, or teaches you something about where you were. Either result is worth the pour.

Explore the Conversation

The anniversary episode works on two tracks — the reflection and the re-review — and Crystal and Roger are disciplined about keeping them separate. The reflection is honest without being nostalgic; the re-review is analytical without losing the pleasure of the drink. The Lalo selection for the re-review is not accidental. It is an early, foundational recommendation — a bottle they sent their audience to buy. Coming back to it a year later is an accountability moment. The additive-free tequila conversation has grown significantly since TLC's first review. Crystal notes the changing landscape — more brands claiming additive-free, more consumer awareness, more scrutiny — and uses the Lalo re-review as an anchor point for understanding where the category stands now.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Lalo Tequila? Lalo is an additive-free blanco tequila founded by Eduardo 'Lalo' González, grandson of Don Julio González. 100% Blue Weber agave, no sweeteners or artificial additives. lalousa.com
• What does additive-free mean in tequila? Tequila regulations permit certain additives (up to 1% of the volume) including caramel coloring, oak extract, glycerin, and sugar-based syrup. Additive-free brands use none of these — only the distilled agave spirit goes in the bottle.
• Why does TLC do re-reviews? Re-reviews test whether a recommendation holds up as the reviewers' palates develop. A best pick that survives a re-review is a genuinely reliable recommendation, not just a first-impression call.
• When was TLC's first anniversary? The show reached its one-year mark and celebrated with this episode. Runtime 16 minutes, 1 second.

Episode at a Glance

• Spirit reviewed: Lalo Tequila Blanco (re-review)
• Hosts: Crystal and Roger
• Runtime: 16 minutes, 1 second
• Category: Tequila & Mezcal
• Occasion: The Liquor Connoisseur's first anniversary