El Tesoro Añejo Tequila

Early in my spirits journey I tried several different spirits before landing on whiskey for a while. This included a bottle of Don Julio anejo, which I found tasty having known nothing about tequila. Fast forward several years (my how time flies...) and I’m finding myself needing a break from whiskey. If you’ve been following me a while, you’ve seen I’ve been on a rum kick, and now I’m branching into agave spirits. Something different for a punishing Texas summer. Go to any liquor store and you’ll see a bewildering number of options for tequila. I imagine it’s what whiskey noobs feel like at Total Wine looking for bourbon. Rather than take a flier, I checked out a book from Austin’s recently reopened public library called “Viva Tequila”. This book does a very fine job at describing the process by which tequila and mezcal are created, and offers a number of creative cocktail and cantina recipes. In the section on tequila production, the author describes visiting this distillery and how they make tequila in the “old style”, as opposed to the commercialized, mass stainless steel production methods of say Jose Cuervo or Sauza. El Tesoro (treasure in Spanish) is made from slow cooked pinas (the heart of the agave) that are then crushed by a multi-ton volcanic rock called a tahona (creatively featured as the cork topper). This juice is then slowly fermented “al fresco” and double distilled in copper pot stills to exactly 80 proof. That last bit interested me because we whisky folk can be snobby about our proof and easily dismiss something at 40%. The fact that 40% is this brand’s “barrel proof” means fuller flavor and less dilution. The nose backs that up with redolent notes of cooked agave with cedar and pine being supporting players. On the palate, the agave remains the focus, but it’s nicely rounded off by subtle notes of vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa. The finish is as long as any good Kentucky hug, and smolders on the back of your tongue as it slowly dies off for two or three minutes. Damn this is good. Perfect for hot summer sipping in Texas. As I’ve said in my rum reviews, if you’re looking for an alternative, the other spirits you walk by at the store on the way to the whiskey are an incredible adventure all on their own. Plus it’ll sharpen your palate for when you do come back to whiskey. Salud!

Rating: 16/23 I just tried El Tesoro Reposado and was reasonably impressed. Let's see how this is. N: The nose on this is fuller than on the Reposado and it's also sweeter. I get more of a dusty woodiness with some added vanilla and light caramel. Aside from those scents, there are grassy and minty (toothpaste mint) notes. It's less briny than the reposado. This still isn't a really complex nose. P: Undercooked caramel with lots of mint, some faint cinnamon and a bit of clove come out just before the wood hits. The wood isn't overly aggressive, but it isn't super mellow and muted either. It plays nicely with the other flavors though and really balances things out. Some nice vanilla starts to come through. I didn't get them from the Reposado, but I get serious whiskey (bourbon) vibes from this. The agave shows up as some mildewed cardboard in the vegetal and herbal notes. I can make out a lot of distinct bursts of herbal flavors, though that dank cardboard feels a bit tacked-on here. This is a very low-risk profile with all of the wood it has. I get faint apricots or maybe tangerine or orange coming out of the vanilla, which goes nicely with the little bit of lime in here. This is nowhere near Fuentaseca 7 in terms of whiskey character or fullness or richness, but it is a bit in that direction. F: Vanilla, wood, grassy agave. A little mint and faint spice. It's fairly complex and long-lasting, but hard to describe. Can I have a pass here? - Conclusion - Fuenteseca 7 is a big improvement over this. The Fuenteseca is much richer and fuller, though it is also true that it's doesn't have the same degree of minute complexity. This is pretty close to El Tesoro Reposado in quality. The question is largely whether you like tequila or bourbon more. I think I like this better. As an añejo, it toes the line nicely between the natural flavor of the distillate and the aging influence from the wood. This seems like a 16 to me. Thanks for the sample @ctbeck11 :)

Based on LiquorLonghorn and ContemplativeFox thinking this is good and the fact I really love the stylish stone tahona cork cap which makes the bottle look great on the bar, I've pulled the trigger. I'm thinking anejo is going to be MY sweet spot in tequila from now on so went straight for the "agey" bottle. Note: did not see an extra anejo version. The color shows the age but is not as dark as some anejo's like Casamigo, it's just a bit darker than the repo. It's a sweet nose of subtle vanilla and cinnamon candy and unsurprisingly no harshness, also not smokey or vegetal such as a Herradura would bring, with just a touch of the sour agave mash you get with any Patron. The agave sugars are forward, just some of the vanilla and redhot candy notes shine through, very easy to sip. Toward the finish just a bit of a tinge of cinnamon stick heat crops up along with some bourbon barrel wood and nibs, though it fades readily enough. This is considerably more balanced than Don Julio anejo where cinnamon steals the show, you get some of the vanilla cream that Casamigo anejo brings out so well. The aging proves out as there is nothing harsh or artificial. It may not take a genius to age tequila but this is certainly a well done effort. Maybe not quite as complex as I would hope(there's that whiskey snobbery), but if you want to sit around and sip tequila into the wee hours, this bottle would certainly serve you well. If you're a tequila and bourbon enthusiast you should find something here you like. Easy recommend. Cheers!

I'm a lover of straight spirits, but most familiar with bourbon. This is definitely a special treat. I easily enjoy it as much as my favorite bourbons. It has a smoky, spicy cinnamon-and-vanilla smell that evokes the dessert. It has a beautiful flavor--floral, sweet, and a little herbaceous, with a twinge of citrus. A bright, prickly foretaste mellows into heavy vanilla and candied orange that lingers on the tongue. If you, too, are a bourbon drinker, I'd recommend this. It's fantastic, like a bourbon lightened and freshened up for spring. It's convinced me that I absolutely want to explore more of this spirit.

El Tesoro Anejo is one of the better anejo tequilas out there. I feel like too many anejos taste like whiskey and this is definitely not the case here. The nose ensures you that this is in fact tequila with some nice cooked agave notes and oak. The oak fades on the palate and some sweetness, vanilla and earthy notes take over. You still predominantly taste the agave. The finish has decent length and almost no burn. I haven't had an El Tesoro tequila that wasnt good and that continues with this bottle. I still favor the reposado and blance over this but you cant go wrong either way.

Nose - sweet cooked agave, butterscotch, vanilla, juicy tropical fruit, sweet cream, black pepper, lime, cinnamon, nutmeg, powdered sugar, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - sugary sweet cooked agave, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisin, sweet cream, vanilla, bamboo, sweet grass, vegetal earthiness, moderate alcohol bite, finishing moderately long with sweet, sour, peppery, and vegetal agave flavors. Overall, this is a very pleasant and sippable añejo. Interestingly, I find it a bit hotter than the Reposado, but I enjoy it slightly more as well.