Casa Noble Single Barrel Extra Añejo Tequila

I was offered an opportunity to shop the "Vault" at ABC liquors. They didn't have anything too interesting to me. There was some EH Taylor, some Wellers, other BT nonsense, etc. All of those are fine at retail price points, but honestly who cares? I wanted something different, so I selected this tequila. I've had a couple tastes from the bottle, so this is not a neck pour, but this is only been open since yesterday. The pour is a beautiful light walnut color. There is extensive sheating and slow large tears returning to the bowl of the snifter. This is nicely viscous. The nose is rather delicate. There's the usual agave cactus note, but it is not super forward. There's just a touch of oak and some sweet vanilla. The nose is not at all intense, nor is it immediately complex. It is sweet, vegetal, meaty, and delicate. On the palate this becomes a quintessential whiskey drinker's tequila. The barrel notes are intense. Wet wood, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, coconut, cloves, black pepper, and ginger are all built upon a foundation of agave. The tequila is in there, but this is so much more than that. Wow. This is very rich. I would really like to do a side by side with Don Julio 1942. I think this is a serious competitor. It's not as sweet as Clase Azul or Casamigos anejo, but it is easily equally complex in taste and flavor profile. This is an outstanding sipper. I rate on a pretty simple scale where 1 is a drain pour and 5 is a perfect example of the expression. In my world anything over a 4 is very special, and there are damned few 5s to be found no matter where you look. This tequila gets very close to the top of the pyramid. I think the finish is just a bit too short, the proof a bit too light, and the nose a bit too reticent for it to capture a perfect score. That said, it deserves 4.5. This is a superb dram.

This is Total Wine’s 2018 single barrel selection. Very light copper color. The nose has an extremely pleasant sweet honey, vanilla, mildly floral and earthy aroma. The palate is far less sweet and muted than the nose would suggest and much earthier/woodier. The mouthfeel is soft and fairly full without much in the way of alcohol burn. While this is a smooth and easy drinking extra anejo, I’d hoped for something bolder...especially considering it’s price tag and rareness. 3.82.

A rich, Agave Spirit by NOM 1137. It has an aromatic birth with notes of agave, wood & nuts; while a full life adds notes of copper, caramel & coconut; that led to a balanced death with a touch of oak. April 2016 / April 2017 / March 2018

2nd review Bottle opened 2/1/2020 This tasting date 8/28/2021. It has even opened more at this time. Noticeably better now. Delicious!

Delightfully Smooth, with vanilla sweetness at first taste, then finishing smooth with just a hint of cayenne. One of the best ever!

Bottle opened 2/1/2020 This tasting date 3/26/2021 I'm not a tequila expert but this is very good !