Best Premium Tequila (Añejo)

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. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of final point scores received from the judges. The tasting notes are summaries of the judges’ opinions. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes. Prices will vary by state and do not include sales tax.

TASTING RESULTS (Añejo Tequila):

DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS: 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
	GOLD MEDAL WINNERS: 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
	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
	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
	Cabo Wabo - $40 Spicy, sweet, vanilla, rose, tapioca, buttery, fruity, lime, citrus notes, smooth, earthy, long finish. Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS:

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
  

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
  

Avion - $48

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

Silver Medal
  

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
  

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