See full version: The Best Anejo Tequila For Every Budget
The agave comes through on the palate in an incredible way, one that a true tequila fan won’t be able to get enough of. It’s aged in new French white oak barrels for two whole years, much more than most other Anejo tequilas. here
Its aroma is subtle but complex. You’ll notice toasted coconut, vanilla, dried orange peel, marzipan, and a touch of sea salt. It has a thick and waxy mouthfeel and a palate laden with spice. Wood and pepper are strong and the finish is dry.
The spirit is aged for 18 months in oak barrels, giving it prominent woodsy characteristics. Hanin and wood oil are prominent on the nose, followed by sweet, rich notes of chocolate and caramel on the palate. It’s an interesting spirit that develops stronger hints of flavor as it spends time in the glass. more
The nose is sweet with notes of agave, caramel, oak resin, and vanilla. The palate follows with similar notes of oak and vanilla, hints of mature agave, and an incredibly smooth finish. [links]
The more complex and layered the flavor is, the more renowned, and often expensive, the bottle is. Small batches and single-estate agaves also contribute to the higher prices of many premium Anejo bottles.
The Seleccion Suprema extra añejo tequila from Herradura carries the distinction of being named “Best Extra Añejo Tequila in the World” at the 2014 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. And this is no empty marketing ploy — the challenge drew competitors from every part of the spirits industry, and was judged by a panel of established experts. The spirit’s complex aroma and evolving flavors lead into an incredibly creamy, smooth, and long finish.
Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca is something of a legend in the tequila world, thanks to his willingness to push the boundaries of what a tequila can become. And he’s put that magic to work again with Tres Cuatro Cinco, a masterful blend of tequilas aged three, four, and five years. The unique aging process gives it an approachable complexity, and the higher-than-usual 87 proof gives it punchier agave flavors than most extra añejos. Then, the whole package is wrapped up in a crystal decanter designed, signed, and numbered by Mexico City art icon Alonso Gonzalez Jr.
Legendary filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro shares his birthplace with tequila in Jalisco, Mexico. It’s only fitting, then, that his name would one day make an aged tequila of exceptional distinction. The intricate presentation of the bottle initially hides its secret: Two separate chambers for an aged tequila and an unforgettable liqueur. When laid out in full, this tequila becomes a ritual, complete with candles and an altar. It’s no longer produced, so be prepared to negotiate a price for this collector’s item. [links]
The original Patrón En Lalique set glassware and tequila collectors abuzz with its combination of French crystal and fine tequila. Now, their Serie 2 reimagines the squat shape of the original decanter, building it up as a top-heavy gem crowned with Patrón’s signature bee in white gold. As for the tequila itself, it’s an extra añejo aged for eight years in a combination of French oak, American oak, and well-seasoned sherry barrels.
Though better known for their blanco and reposado bottlings, Don Julio has quietly been making their own ultra-premium extra añejo for decades. And for as expensive as it is, Don Julio Real does not disappoint: It’s one of the most consistent extra añejo tequilas on the market. That’s because Don Julio has a massive distilling operation to draw from, giving them greater access to the precise barrels needed to blend this spirit year after year. Serve it in a snifter or Riedel glass to get every last bit of its mineral-heavy body and confectionary aromas. more
Clase Azul is well known for their expensive tequilas: Even their blanco starts at over $100. But with Ultra, their take on an extra añejo tequila, they’ve really outdone themselves. Coming in at nearly $2,000, it’s packaged in a decanter decorated with platinum, .925 sterling silver, and a 24 karat gold label. It’s the Rolls Royce of tequilas — finished for five years in sherry barrels to give it a complex and ever-evolving flavor. more
At the gold level in the Best Añejo category, Lunazul’s Anejo and Primero expressions both ranked.
The Best Reposado is 818 Reposado. In the gold category, Corazón Tequila Reposado (Mexico) and Cierto Tequila (United States). Playa Real Reposado, Prospero Tequila Reposado and Lunazul Reposado placed silver. here
Tequila producers have seen exports grow 42% higher in Q1, in comparison to the same period of 2019. There was a 43% surge in March alone, says Panjiva, a global trade data company under S&P.
Cierto Tequila had a good showing at this year’s awards. In addition to earning top nods in the annual competition, Cierto Tequila walked away with seven additional awards: Best Extra Anejo, along with one Gold medal, two Silver medals, and two Bronze medals. here
Few if any tequileros are held in higher esteem than El Tesoro master distiller Carlos Camarena, who pioneered the use of Cognac cask aging for tequila. El Tesoro Paradiso (above) is an extra-añejo that spent five years resting in ex-cognac barrels (instead of traditional American oak). The result is an elegant spirit flooded with flavor, from butterscotch and herbs to soft hints of smoke and tropical notes.
Americans first learned about tequila the same way this great nation learns about many things, through war. In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain. Then in 1836 a bunch of folks in what was then northern Mexico decided they should have their own country too. Santa Ana sent an army to put down the Texas rebellion, and things got ugly (remember the Alamo?). In any case, as Mexican troops streamed north to fight, they brought a steady supply of their beloved agave spirit, some of which inevitably ended up in the hands of Texan soldiers who, ten years later, would start calling themselves Americans. And those Americans handed down their love for agave spirits, which, with time, have only gotten better. Sure, many tequilas are best enjoyed as an ingredient in a cocktail, but more and more beautiful sipping tequilas have come on the scene, from extra añejos to a rare, crystal-clear joven. Here’s our selection of 21 top ones.
Herradura celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020 by debuting Legend, which takes advantage of the brand’s affiliation with spirits behemoth Brown-Forman. Being under the same umbrella as Jack Daniel’s and Old Forester bourbon, and having access to Brown-Forman’s in-house cooperage means Herradura can do some interesting things with barrel aging that other tequila brands can’t. For Legend, they’ve used specially made new American oak barrels that are heavily charred and then deeply grooved—similar to those used in Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select expression. The liquid not only comes into contact with more of the wood, but the grooving lets it absorb flavors from both charred and uncharred wood. The result, after 14 months of aging, is a tequila for whiskey lovers, with lots of vanilla, caramel and black pepper on the palate, in addition to roasted agave and cinnamon. more
"Añejo translates to aged or matured tequila, and [said] aging is done in oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months, which imparts a lot of flavors to the spirit,” says Suyash Pande, head bartender at New York’s Baar Baar. Pande finds that añejo tequilas tend to be smoother than their counterparts, thanks to their one to three years of barrel aging. more
Steve Reynolds, co-founder of Penta Tequila, agrees. “An añejo, for me, needs to have spice, mouthfeel and layers of character [that] you can only get with time and age in a barrel," he says. "There is a balance to the wood and toast for me that makes all things sing.” Craving something to sip? Here are some of the best añejo tequilas available today. [links]
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What’s not to love about Herradura? This golden-hued tequila was first produced by Casa Herradura in 1962 and has since skyrocketed to industry fame. The spirit ages for 25 months—which is 13 months more than the regulated standard—in American white oak barrels, which leads to a medium to full-bodied sipper loaded with warm flavors of citrus, cedar spice, vanilla, dried fruits and wood.