Riazul Tequila Anejo

Riazul anejo gets a definite A-plus for originality. Noticeably thick and rich on the pour. The nose is quite striking and something that really grows on you - cognac, maybe port, a whiff of spicy bubble gum and fruit punch, a breeze of cough syrup, with some cooked agave peeking out from the background. Taste is spicy and sweet, with a nice cinnamony component, some woodiness, soft agave, and, again, a very subtle note of cough syrup, with a good lingering finish of mulled spice, wood, agave, and that cough syrup again. This is a very complex, very difficult to define, and in the end oddly tasty anejo. It's perfect to bring out at a party, but I wonder how often I'll reach for it over my stable of favourites. Then again, the more I drink it, the more I like it.

Out in CA it's not easy to find Riazul but I was pleasantly surprised to find it on a trip to Arizona in a bar at the JW Marriot hotel. Had been wanting to try this for a while and was not disappointed. Both myself and the person I drank this with looked up immediately after the first sip - we where sold.

Aroma: complex to the nose, scents of a fruity cognac come through the agave.
Initial Taste: mild spice and citrus.
Body: It's body is probably this tequila's highest attribute. Taste follows the aroma but it introduces another level of flavors. Vanilla, Cinnamon and some fruit complexities I couldn't make out. The oak didn't really hit till the finish.
Finish: smoooooze almost no burn but you could still pick out the agave and this was where the woody oak came through for me. Pleasant buttery taste lingered.

Pleasantly complex from start to finish.

After seeing the reviews, I was anxiously awaiting trying this tequila. It didn't fail to deliver what I was expecting at all.

Aroma: The nose doesn't do the complexity of this tequila justice. It does smell a bit like a cognac, but with agave presence.
Initial Taste: Sweet agave and mild spice with some citrus.
Body: This is where the tequila shines. As it sits on your palate, you really get the spices and citrus along with the cooked agave. Cinnamon really stands out.
Finish: Pleasant tingle, very light burn and a nice long finish.

This is an outstanding tequila from top to bottom. It's a bit pricey at about $60 a bottle, but it's worth it. I'd recommend it to anyone. The presentation is good. The bottle is heavy duty and looks good on a shelf. The cap is poorly thought out, cheap and more difficult to get off than it should be.

Overall this is an A tequila.

A wonderful surprise ! You could enjoy this tequila the way you would a fine single malt scotch. A beautiful aroma, smooth taste, but I think the finish is the biggest surprise. A smooth, slightly sweet, almost cognac taste. Not the usual peppery taste of most tequilas.

Feeling a little down during the winter so I decided to treat myself to a new tequila. Read the two reviews for Riazul Añejo and since I had never heard of it I decided to take a chance. WOW! My girlfriend and I have a new love and it beats Don Julio 1942 as far as we are concerned. The smell of this tequila is totally unique and I almost enjoy smelling it as much as drinking it. Normally, our first tastes of a new brand are limited to 1/2 a single Ridel glass. We could not stop there with this one. Glad I bought two bottles because we have to travel out of state to buy this. This is the first tequila I have ever had that would tempt me to buy a case. Sweet - smooth - silky; personally I believe this comes from aging in Cognac/Brandy barrels rather than whiskey. I hesitate to tell everyone how much I like this tequila in fear that it may become too popular and become hard to get or more expensive. Regardless - everyone needs to try this tequila.