Montezuma’s Legacy-
Best Premium Tequila (Añejo), 2011

There are well over 1000 different tequilas currently being produced in Mexico. Since our last tasting, tequila’s popularity has exploded with new brands, signature cocktails, and the ever-increasing interest in premium reposados and añejos.

TheFiftyBest.com held a private tasting with 25 people experiencing 19 añejos. All tequilas were 100% blue agave. The tasters included wine and spirits journalists, bartenders, and tequila aficionados.

Tasting Method: The products were served "blindly", with each brand completely unknown to the tasters. The order of service was randomly selected through a lottery system. Each of the tequilas were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and served at room temperature, one brand at a time. Ice water on the side and unflavored breadsticks were available to cleanse the palate. There was a resting period between the two flights of añejo tequilas. Food was served during the break. Tasters wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets. The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. The totals for the añejos were added up, with the winners determined, based on the scores received. The tasting notes that follow the rankings are a summary of the results, and all replicate commentary has been eliminated while contrasting opinions have been summarized. Ties are listed in alphabetical order. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes. Prices will vary by state.

TASTING RESULTS (Añejo):

1. Riazul - $74 Double distilled, estate grown Premium Blue Weber Agave. Smooth, fruit, vanilla, caramel, honey, buttery, spice, cinnamon, woody, delicate, licorice, pepper, hazelnut, scotch-like, stellar. Double Gold Medal
	2. Two-Way Tie- Nobleza - $50 Double distilled, straight from the still to the bottle. Vanilla, smoke, sweet, fruit, brown sugar, caramel, almond, delicate, light, peppery, spicy, woody, complex, balanced, multi-layered, lovely, smooth finish. Double Gold Medal
Tequila 55 - $40 Vanilla, cream, cinnamon, spice, caramel, fruit, citrus, wine grape, apples, dried fruit, lemon zest, butterscotch, nutty, smoky, leather, pepper, smooth, complex. Double Gold Medal
	3. Two-Way Tie - Don Eduardo - $45 Caramel, smoky, pepper, wood, cedar, oak, spicy, tropical fruit, sweet, soft, tangy, long finish, awesome. Double Gold Medal
Tres Generaciones - $41 Smooth, creamy, rosy, jalapeño, peppery, citrusy, balanced, delicious. Double Gold Medal
	4. Two-Way Tie - Cazadores - $36 Woody, spicy, sweet, vanilla, butter, lime, oak. complex. Gold Medal
Chinaco - $45 Honey, dried fruit, caramel, sweet, smoky, oaky, cognac-like. Gold Medal
	5. Two-Way Tie- Hornitos - $32 Double distilled. Spicy, sweet, caramel, butterscotch, citrus, melon, peppery, woody, malt, scotch-like, nice finish. Gold Medal
Tres Agaves - $40 Ultra slow filtration. Smooth, caramel, sweet, spicy, butterscotch, floral, rosemary, smoky, multi-layered, a straight flush. Gold Medal
	6. Two-Way Tie- Campo Azul- $35 Caramel, smoky, honey, vanilla, spice, hint of smoke, rose, smooth, peppery finish. Gold Medal
Semental- $60 Nice spice, oranges, sweet, hint of wood, earthy, oaky, peppery, long finish. Gold Medal
	7. Cabo Wabo - $40 Spicy, sweet, vanilla, rose, tapioca, buttery, fruity, lime, citrus notes, smooth, earthy, long finish. Gold Medal

8. Two-Way Tie-
Chamucos - $62
Double distilled.

Honey, sweet, vanilla, clover, pineapple, hint of pepper, grass, lavender, smoky, earthy, cognac-like, woody, herbaceous.

Silver Medal
  

El Tesoro - $50
Triple distilled.

Woody, earthy, spicy, nutty, coffee, tobacco, pepper, sweet, vanilla, orange, banana, ginger, well-rounded, smooth finish.

Silver Medal
  

9. Two-Way Tie-
Antiguo - $35

Spicy, floral, lightly sweet, fruity, orange, lemon-lime, apricot, smoky, soft, nice finish.

Silver Medal
  

El Jimador - $40

Vanilla, honey, orange, lemony, spice, caramel, oaky, cherry-chocolate, bourbon, cake, woody, smooth, light finish.

Silver Medal
  

10. Avion - $48

Spicy, woody, peach, vanilla, hint of caramel, grassy, sweet, nutty, balanced, smooth, grapa-like.

Silver Medal
  

11. Two-Way Tie -
Corzo - $50
Double distilled.

Smooth, honey, spice, lime, apricot, caramel, peppery, slightly smoky, nice wood.

Silver Medal
  

Herradura - $42

Cinnamon, spicy, fruity, vanilla, butterscotch, woody, dried fruit, tangy, chewy, scotch-like, smooth.

Silver Medal
  

More Tasting Results (Blanco) 

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