Nutty flavour reminds me of sherry, I cant pick out much agave and the last sensation is a bitter note. Don Julio Tequila Anejo is 100% Blue Weber Agave , double distilled, and rested in charred American oak bourbon barrels for 18 months. The Spanish introduced distillation to Mexico in the 1500s. Tequila may be bottled without maturation or aged in oak barrels. My palate has changed from when I first aquired these bottles and I now consider them just servicable. I get the same buttercream frosting flavor that I get from aged Casa Noble. You may opt-out by. Nose: Fruit-driven highland agave notes dominate on the first pass, with a noticeable agave freshness. Oak, barnwood and a hint of caramel follow alongside bright peppercorn, apricot and a citrus-floral note. But things really took off for the company in 1985, when on his 60th birthday, his children presented him with a new, premium tequila called Don Julio. At $140 a bottle (and with such an elegant bottle), this tequila is best enjoyed neat, in a Glencairn or horn glass. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The nose picks up oak, agave and toasted vanilla that are present in the body and finish. Complex tequila with agave flavor and hints of butterscotch and honey. Don Julio 1942 is one of the most iconic tequilas and Costco Don Julio 1942 Tequila is a GREAT PRICE! Pros. This is a nice, middle of the road tequila. In 1999 the now defunct, The Seagram Company Ltd., had invested in Tequila Don Julio, S.A. de C.V. of Mexico. Quantity. The length of aging determines how it is labeled: Colorless blanco or silver tequila is aged fewer than two months in oak; reposado between two and 12 months; aejo for more than one year. The organic joven ros tequila is made with seven-year-old blue weber agave before its rested in French oak barrels previously housing red wine. The aging plus a third distillation attempt helps a creamy and smooth palate that features white pepper, vanilla, mint, [an occasional] warm oak and cinnamon. Whereas other expressions of Don Julio (particularly the blanco and 1942) may feel as if theyre priced too high compared to the competition, the aejo feels about right, falling in the $50 to $60 range. Easy to drink, nothing overpowering or overwhelming but also nothing really special. Aejos feel like spicy bourbon to me. In 1902, Alsace-born botanist Frdric Albert Constantin Weber classified this species as Agave tequilana Weber azul, or Weber blue agave. For shots or blender drinks, a young, clean-tasting tequila can be a smart buy; for mixed drinks that showcase tequila flavor, or for sipping as an after-dinner drink, consider older, smoother styles. . Launched in the summer of 2018, Don Julios top end reposado is an answer to the question, What if we put some scotch into our tequila?, Surprisingly, theres no traces of Scotch whisky in this reposados taste. It is aged in oak barrels for two and a half years and should be enjoyed, sip slowly. Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. Tequila may only be made in the state of Jalisco, which includes the town of Tequila, and parts of the surrounding states of Guanajuato, Michoacn, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. In many ways, Don Julio 1942 comes closer to the profile of many extra-aejos. At 40%ABV, Avion is cheaper at about $44.99-$51.99 range. Finish : Fairly short with some predominating oak and black pepper, and some agave. Download the app today - it's free - and let the Tequila Matchmaker figure out your own flavor preferences. Add your review below to help others know what to expect. One 750 mL bottle of Don Julio Aejo Tequila. Everything is bright, lightly spiced, rich and smooth, and you dont forget the agave presence in the Don Julio. On the other hand, the Avin has an up-down presence of oak in the taste, which was a turn-off for some. Sweet and peppery (due to the agave) characterize the initial palate of the 1800 and mid-palate transition. Had to let this open up a bit due to the strength of the alcohol. Finish is light but with a nice spice to it almost. However, there is an exception for the Don Julio Blanco Tequila, which is available in two more sizes - the 375 ml bottle and the 1.75 ml bottle. It was a nice digestif. Best Cask Finished Tequila: Diablito Rojo. Its an easy drinker. The result is a clear liquid, ideal for cocktails but with more body and complexity than an unaged spirit. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [1] It is distilled, manufactured, bottled, sold, and distributed by Tequila Don Julio, S.A. de C.V. from its corporate facility in the Colonia El Chichimeco district, in the city of Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. Includes one 80 proof 750mL bottle of Aejo Tequila. This year, the new list of agave-based spirits released ahead of Cinco de Mayo, and subsequently summer, proves lengthy and enticing. Spain lifted the ban for good in 1792, and in 1795 gave a license for the production of tequila to Jose Mara Guadalupe de Cuervo, maker of what is now the worlds best-selling tequila, Jose Cuervo. . Think Negroni-style drinks with sweet vermouth and an aperitif. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. In 1942 he started a tequila distillery which would later be known as "La Primavera." Still Type stainless pot still with copper coil, Aged tequila taste and profile, but colorless, which can help in some cocktails. Whether enjoyed neat at room temperature, or neat but frozen, on the rocks, or as a building block for a Tequila Manhattan, this aejo is the standard for tequilas. A smooth, on the light side Anejo from a good producer. By 1951, with the brand Tres Magueyes, he was on a path that would later become Tequila Don Julio in its different variants: Blanco, Reposado, Aejo, 70, 1942 and Real. Each bottle of Don Julio tequila is produced here and features our NOM number -- our seal of authenticity -- signifying where the tequila was made. Finish: The very long finish is one that some might not find to their liking, but others certainly will. A modern-classic example of an aejo tequila. For some, strong traces of the roasting process may have settled in the final product, likely an oversight (but nevertheless an issue) due to 1800 being part of the mass market tequila assembly line of Jose Cuervo. [8], In November 2014, Diageo agreed to a deal to take full control of the Don Julio brand. The category, now called cristalino, has become wildly popular in the past year or two and seems perfectly suited for clubs, resorts and other social hot spots, providing a luxury spirit that looks great in a Margarita or shot glass. The product was dubbed claro rather than cristalino when it launched and retained that name well into 2018 or so. This category-defining cristalino tequila is aged yet colorless. Don Julio takes its name from its founder Don Julio Gonzlez-Frausto Estrada, a tequila distiller who began producing tequila in 1942 at the age of 17. Sugars collect in the core of the plant, the pia. Its a fruit-forward interpretation of a classic aejo tequila. Adding even more to its exclusivity, Tequila Don Julio 1942 undergoes a second distillation in a special still known as Pot Still 6, which refines the flavors even further. Because they spend their rest in a warmer environment than most whiskeys do (in, say, Kentucky or Scotland), aged tequilas generally sit for just one to three years, often in second-, third- and fourth-use bourbon barrels, resulting in a lighter, clearer color than most whiskeys or rums. Like wine and other unique spirits, tequila is produced according to regulations that govern its appellation of origin. This is an authentic Mexican Anejo tequila created to celebrate the year that Don Julio Gonzalez began his tequila-making journey. However, those curious to take multiple sips claim that the spirit is confused, with the aejo and blanco aspects performing some luchador (Mexican pro wrestling) moves against each other. Nose: Its very aromatic, with fruit and vegetal agave notes upfront. It arrives in an elegant chocolate-and-gold foil box. Savor this neat. Seems more like a Reposado. SRP $75.49, chromehorsesociety.com, From the brand that popularized pink tequila comes the latest style to round out Calirosas collection, Calirosa Reposado. Floral, candy and fruit notes accompany the expected grassy agave, oak and brown sugar flavors. Some tequila purists dont see the need for cristalino tequilas. Often the grassy agave notes are accentuated, sometimes theyre lost to the wood. BRAND Don Julio COUNTRY Mexico Up front on the lips and gums are tannic spices and vanilla from the oak; mid-palate, it sits with a medium weight and slight chewiness with hints of apricot, agave, vanilla and clove. SRP $59.99, calirosatequila.com, Though Storywood Tequila has been around since 2016, it was just recently launched in the U.S. Fusing the best of Jalisco, Mexico and Speyside, Scotland, the tequilas are a unique expression that will appeal to both tequila and whisky enthusiasts. The tequila is pure enough to sip neat or to use as the base for your favorite tequila cocktail. In 2015, the label was fully acquired by Diageo. Patrn Tequilas latest addition to their portfolio is also the first of its kind a premium silver tequila crafted from a four-time distillation process for a rich spirit that is balanced with sweetness and bright citrus. The finish is where the peaty trademark of scotch can be observed, with tiny bits of spice also saying hi.. In honor of his devotion and craftsmanship, this agave harvest was carefully distilled, barreled, and set aside for a special use. I want something which is smoother. Its name commemorates the year Don Julio Gonzlez opened his first tequila distillery. Among the activities lined were mentorship sessions with bartenders, mixologists and connoisseurs. Most prefer that this tequila should be consumed neat at room temperature. Aged for 18 months and containing 40 percent alcohol by volume, our premium tequila is made with 100% Blue Weber Agave and is . Everything goes smooth and silky in the lips-to-mouth-to-throat transition, with a very gentle agave/peppery reminder at the end. The DJ is bright, lightly spiced, rich and smooth, with the agave foundation much evident. Don Julio aejo tequila is a fruit-forward interpretation of the classic aejo style of tequila. Its one of the best mass produced products out there and you can always count on it being good. Palate: On the palate, there's a sweetness, though here the agave grassiness is more pronounced. Side by side, the colors of the 1942 and the core aejo are nearly identical, but the aromatics of the 1942 are more complex. Don Julio was named One of the Top Trending Tequilas at the 2020 Drinks International awards. The pias are loaded into brick ovens where they are slowly baked over the course of several days. Its floral and sweet notes leave some drinkers wondering what was done to emphasize them, but Don Julio says only a little caramel coloring is added to the aged products to standardize color and imparts no flavor. Delicious. Use our store locator to find what's available at a retailer or restaurant/bar near you. Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon Review, Michters US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review, The Differences Between Blanco, Reposado, and Aejo Tequila, 12 High-Proof Tequilas You Should Be Drinking, Jack Daniels Old No. In addition to limited edition tequilas and new styles from favored brands, there are also entirely new brands clinking onto the scene, as the tequila category continues to outperform all other spirits. I like bourbon, but with my tequila, I want to taste the fruit, not the barrel. By the time he and his family were making their own Tres Magueyes brand, it became clear that there was a demand for their family reserves, which became Don Julio. Drinking alcohol can lead to serious illnesses and have a negative effect on motor skills, which are required for driving and machinery operation. At last it is put into stainless steel tanks before bottling, or ex-bourbon casks for aging. Don Julio Anejo Manhattan. This is a sweet Anejo. Agave is present throughout. Easy to drink; a great introduction into the category. He started his journey in tequila as a farmhand making about a peso a day. Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. Bottled in liter bottles and available in my area for less than $35, so I'm very fortunate that it's my "budget" option. Es en este clima extremo, rodeado de ricos suelos volcnicos, donde se fund la legendaria destilera de La It strays a bit from the norm but is a welcome addition to the aejo category. A fresh blend of lime, grapefruit and mandarin citrus aromas with a rich touch of caramel, Full-bodied and complex with expressions of cooked agave, wild honey and oak-infused butterscotch, Bright and lightly spiced finish with the essence of wild honey. Take this with a rain of salt because I really dont like most Anejos, this one is not my jam. If the item details above arent accurate or complete, we want to know about it. The red wine barrel imparts a delicate softness to the reposado tequila, which permits notes of juicy nectarine and pineapple to shine on the palate while tropical aromas of guava and orange blossom tantalize on the nose. Aged for at least 24 months, our aejo tequila is made with 100% Blue Weber Agave that is ready for any celebration. This blue agave juice may make a 100 percent agave spirit, or the producer may add up to 49 percent non-agave sugars, such as sugar cane or corn sugars, to make a mixto or regular tequila. Used to be my absolute favorite before I discovered other brands. A nice change. The tequila is aged in red wine barrels for nine months, akin to the rest of the portfolio of Rosa Blanco, aejo and extra aejo, rather than the industry standard of whisky barrel aging. Aged for a minimum of 2.5 years in American oak barrels, this bottle is synonymous with luxury tequila. Really like this one! After sitting for a time, these bonded particles can be filtered out through charcoal. As it moves to the back of the mouth, you find the wood and cigar notes, white pepper spice, a hint of rose and cinnamon. It is distributed in the United States by Diageo, under licensing . And, it gets smarter the more you use it. Generally, the longer tequila ages in oak, the smoother and more full-bodied it becomes. It's aged in oak. Distillery Tequila Tres Magueyes S.A. de C.V. Overall, its great, but critics claim that its best for margaritas or taken in shot glasses. Browse all of our products available for purchase online. Decent for an Anejo and not bad for the price. Agave and vanilla are very much present at the start of the taste, followed by dints of wood, smoke and cinnamon. Distillery Tequila Tres Magueyes S.A. de C.V. The latest was in 2014, when [British multinational] Diageo took full control of Don Julio, however leaving the agricultural and manufacturing aspects of the brand solely to the Estrada family. Mezcal was soon being made across Mexico, though the colonys rulers in Spain intermittently banned production of the spirit when they wanted to encourage imports from Spain and hiked taxes on it when money was needed for public projects. Comparing it side-by-side with the regular Don Julio aejo, the unfiltered aejo is decidedly warmer and oakier on the nose, with more spice, oak and cigar notes on the palate. More than likely this comes from additives like vanilla or so Im told, which makes me sad since many a year ago, Don Julio Repo was my introduction to quality tequila. Diageo signed a joint venture in with Casa Cuervo in 2003, selling a 50 per cent stake in Don Julio for 78 million. Don Julio Rosado also offers a lighter profile made with daytime moments in mind like poolside or patio meals with notes of creamy strawberry, ripe raspberry and a touch of bitter cocoa. I am committed to overseeing personally the agave plantations that are so vital to the superior and unique quality of the Tequila that bears my name." Instead of appealing to scotch or bourbon drinkers, as many aejos and extra aejos aim to do, this one might instead attract cognac or aged-rum fans. 128 ratings. However, one cannot exclude the companys aejo and reposado aging processes when listing what makes Don Julio great. In some respects, the fruit-pepper-menthol finish of the 1942 is reminiscent of an actual cigars finish rather than the leather-pepper cigar finish often used to describe brown spirits. Best experienced neat in a snifter or simply on the rocks. Aroma: Sweet cooked agave, with hints of vanilla and oak. Robert Haynes-Peterson is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience focusing on wine, spirits, travel and lifestyle. After the fermentation process is complete it results in a sweet, slight alcoholic agave beer which is then put into stills where it is distilled to become tequila. Don Julio is a brand of tequila produced in Mexico. See . I love this tequila and Sam's has the best price for it. We only provide the approximate prices. But in 2020, it became a form of meme-ified clout. Mexico - The nose is initially caramel sweet, but clean vegetal aromas soon rise from the glass. Best Ultra-Premium "Splurge" Tequila: Cdigo 1530 14 Y.O. Only the earlier-mentioned burn stops the flow of taste, and practically the most diehard of tequila enthusiasts will detect said bite. If there are any, they are very subtle and well done. Straw/hay and toasted vanilla flavors. Available in reposado and aejo styles, Storywood crafts their tequila from 10-year-old mature 100 percent blue weber agave that then spends seven or 14 months in single malt whisky casks, respectively for reposado and aejo. $45.99-$46.99, 750 ml, 38%. While agave is the through-note, vanilla fruit and baking spice up front give way to pepper, chocolate and a hint of oak at the back of the throat. We blend both Tequilas and then . Don Julio aejo tequila is a dependable contribution to the world of well-made aged tequilas. Try the Don Julio Aejo Tequila that offers the perfect balance between agave, wood & hints of vanilla. In comparison with the brands own 1942 aejo, its lighter in flavor yet a bit more wood-driven than the 1942s sweeter tropical fruit notes. Fans of high-rye bourbons will appreciate the mellow spicy bite, while scotch drinkers may appreciate the combination of sweet and spicy notes. Palate: Nice mouth feel. As stated by the Surgeon General of the United States, pregnant women should refrain from drinking alcohol as it increases their babys probability of having congenital defects. Rich, distinctive and wonderfully complex, its flavor strikes the perfect balance between agave and hints of butterscotch and honey. From there, Don Julio has become one of the best-known tequila brands in the world. Don Julio 70 Anejo Claro is aged eighteen months in American white-oak barrels and then carefully filtere. At the time, filtered, colorless aged tequilas were a rarity on the market and generally prohibitively expensive. 81 Rating. From Liquor.com's latest list of best sipping tequilas (Don Julio Aejo) to Delish's recent listing of best tequila brands ( Don Julio 1942 ), 2021 seems to be no different. Aged 15 months in American white-oak barrels. Warm oak, vanilla and roasted agave flavors lead into a lingering oak and rich vanilla finish for a luxurious tequila recognized by connoisseurs around the globe. explore our Cocktails Browse all recipes learn more Anthem Awards Silver Medal Don Julio 70 2022 SFIWC Double Gold Medal Don Julio 1942 2022 SFWSC Gold Medal Don Julio Aejo 2022 SFWSC Silver Medal Don Julio Blanco 2022 SFWSC Silver Medal The spirit then ages in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels for about 18 months before it is brought down to proof and bottled. A tequila labeled simply gold or joven is unaged, possibly with caramel coloring or other sweeteners added. Best Celebrity Tequila: Cincoro Aejo. Some tequila aficionados pooh-pooh cristalinos as unnecessary and a sort of shadow of what aged tequilas can be. This tequila was launched in 2011/2012 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Don Julio Gonzales entry into the world of tequila (and not because its a 70-year-old aged tequila). [6] In 1983, Marco Cedano returned to Don Julio to work as an engineer, where he served as Master Distiller and Distillery Manager of Tequila. Mix everything together with ice and then stir for one to 2 minutes, then strain, and add a cherry when serving. An original concoction of [Don Julio master distiller] Enrique de Colsa, this aejo takes its name from its near-transparent liquid final state. Don Julio 1942 is indeed a nice enough anejo tequila, housed in an admittedly beautiful bottle. Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon Review, The Differences Between Blanco, Reposado, and Aejo Tequila, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review, The 12 Best Reposado Tequilas to Drink in 2023, The 14 Best Blanco Tequilas to Drink in 2023, The 12 Best Aejo Tequilas to Drink in 2023, The 10 Best Tequilas for Margaritas to Drink in 2023. After aging for 18 months in ex-bourbon American oak casks, the spirit is then filtered to remove the color, some of the tannins and the sharper wood flavors common to aged spirits and rehighlight some of the fruit and grass agave notes commonly observed in blancos. Don Julio 1942 Aejo is a pleasant, sippable tequila. You can get the accurate prices from local stores. Uno de los sabores ms icnicos de nuestro pas, el tequila y nada mejor que uno de los mejores: Don Julio 70 Aejo. Don Julio Gonzlez began his journey in the world of tequila in 1942. (A good thing.). The company even incorporated wild honey, butterscotch, lime, orange and grapefruit to join forces with the agave to create a complex yet unforgettable experience for the tequila newbie or the aejo veteran. The body is somewhat light, and the palate is gingery and peppery. Earlier this year, tequila surpassed American whisky to become the second most valuable spirit category in the U.S., and is on track to overtake vodka as the biggest category by value by the end of 2023, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. Bourbon barrels, Used barrels, American White Oak barrels.