https://tequila.net/ https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3480 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3480 I picked up a bottle of this last weekend as a birthday treat. I will say this is indeed the smoothest tequila I've ever sipped. Unfortunately it also happens to be the most boring. Filtering this juice 7 to 9 times after the aging process to remove color and then following it up with a third distillation robs it of much character. For a brief moment I get a few of my favorite tasting notes such as honey, chocolate and butterscotch. But they are gone as soon as they appear. The reason is the ultra dry finish that sucks all of the moisture from your mouth like many good red wines. I don't mind the dry finish so much on a good red, but I like a nice long finish on my agave juice filled with complexities. At 65 for the bottle I will pass. ]]> Wed, 13 Jul 2016 05:20:37 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3455 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3455 Enjoyable, solid, quality tequila. I didn't find it particularly memorable. ]]> Wed, 13 Apr 2016 23:43:45 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3417 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3417 The colour is deep dark Greek honey, which can almost describe the velvety mouthfeel of this extra-anejo. Nose is like walking into a bakery: baked peach cobbler with cinnamon, allspice, some brandy, and just a touch of smoky agave tucked underneath it all. Very fruity on the entry, with complimenting notes of barrel wood, dark spice, and chocolate. A nice finish, full and warm, which doesn't leave you feeling wanting. This tequila is like a lovely rich dessert after a main course of the exquisite and much more expressive anejo. ]]> Sun, 09 Aug 2015 22:40:26 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3391 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3391 At this moment, I have Casa Noble Single Barrel Ultra aged tequila and Grand Mayan in front of me. As much as I hate to say it, this tequila, Grand Mayan, is near perfection. I understand that ceramic bottles may not always be the best, but this is my second bottle of Grand Mayan, separated by 3 years. This bottle is just as wonderful as the initial bottle I had years ago. Grand Mayan comes from the same distillery as Casa Noble, but it seems to me that it is a half-step above the Single Barrel. Some people may find it hard to believe that a great bottle might contain a great tequila, but in this case, rest assured, that at half the price of Casa Noble 5 year, you are getting a slightly better tequila. Carlos Santana would have to agree that this tequila is the true Black Magic Woman. ]]> Wed, 13 May 2015 00:47:08 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3351 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3351 This was a nice and smooth tequila. Its aroma was little alcoholly but flavor was very enjoyable with hints of raisins and roasted almonds. I think its an okay price point for a highland extra anejo tequila. I expected more vanilla and didn't get that. Maybe this 2014 bottle was a little different. Personally I had hoped for a lot more. I put it up to my Kirkland Extra Anejo ($20) challenge and a few people couldn't tell the difference. Its definitely better than the kirkland (costco brand) tequila but not $150 better which is the price difference. I would not buy this again as I just don't see the value. ]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2014 22:42:17 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3345 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3345 This is a very nice tequila. It's got a sweet heavenly aroma with a very faint alcohol smell and a nice smooth taste. Its not as herby as other lowland tequilas either. I didn't find it smokey like other reviewers had mentioned. It's comes in a very nice bottle as well. My biggest issue with this tequila is the price. I've seen this sell for $400. For $400 I'd grab a Clase Azul Anejo or a Gran Patron Burdeos. However, I got mine for $275 so it wasn't too bad. To sum it up, this is an amazing tequila. Its definitely the best all around sipping tequila I've had in the $200-$300 price range. The aroma alone will have you hooked. Whether or not it's worth the $275 to $400 price point is up to you. At $200 a bottle, this would easily be my go to sipping tequila. I'd actually like to get another bottle of Clase Azul Anejo and compare the two at the same time. This tequila is pretty good. ]]> Sun, 14 Dec 2014 05:21:24 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3344 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3344 One of my favorite and go to tequilas! This 5 year single barrel tequila is drastically better than it's 2 year sibling but also almost twice the price at $110 a bottle. It's simply an all around great tequila. The french oak barrel provides a perfect hint of sweet vanilla for this lowland agave. For the price, it's very hard to beat. This is also one of those tequilas where a single ice cube can really open up the taste and flavors. Some people will think i'm nuts for saying that, but give it a shot :-) ]]> Sun, 14 Dec 2014 04:59:52 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3305 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3305 I think this is the best tequila I've ever tasted. Beautiful dark color; agave aroma and flavor not strong; very very smooth; I taste carmel and vanilla and the oak; great, long finish. Superb. I'm not sure I would pay $400-500 for a bottle of any kind of liquor, but I definitely buy this when it can be found for $200-250. ]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2014 01:42:41 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3304 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3304 My favorite everyday sippin' tequila--when I can find it. Nice agave aroma; agave, vanilla, oak flavors; smooth with little tequila "bite." Enjoy this after dinner with a fine cigar and good friends! Not always easy to find, so grab it when you can. ]]> Thu, 04 Sep 2014 01:28:50 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3255 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3255 This is a magnificent tasting tequila. Very light in body and with a wonderful aroma. It is a little on the sweet side. The price is on the high side for an extra anejo, but not out of bounds. The availability is difficult. Over all, very enjoyable. ]]> Thu, 24 Apr 2014 19:29:20 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3245 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3245 I love dark chocolate and this is what I identify with every time I tate Casa Noble EA, but it is more than that, spices, cooked agave, orange peel and some nice flower notes. Taste again you get the initial dark chocolate and then progresses into almonds, orange peel, vanilla, agave and flowers. Well balanced with enough complexity but maintaining that base as a tequila. Body is full and color is nice golden, red/orange, coper with a lot of light. Finish is long and very much pleasurable with a bit of dry feeling from the long aging. ]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2014 16:49:00 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3240 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3240 This is a fantastic spirit with great complexity, beautiful golden, red, copper tones with a nice medium to heavy body. Aromas are intense with heavy char from the barrel, fruit and flower, very little agave. Taste again very heavy with the barrel notes and then you get the fruit, some citrus (orange) and flower, with continued spices such as cinnamon. Long, long finish. For sure a treasure in the Herradura line, my question would be, are they hiding to much of the agave with some much barrel and not hiving enough importance to being a tequila? ]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2014 15:50:48 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3239 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3239 This was one of the hard tequilas to find, very exited on a trip to CA when I saw a bottle, had to buy it. Intense aroma at first, raw agave, vanilla, caramel. Once it has a chance to air out it has an enjoyable array of notes but not to complex. Gold and copper tones with a nice body. Taste, again initially intense with agave, vegetable notes, vanilla, caramel, oak and then it mellows out. Long finish with nice oak in the pallet. ]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2014 15:42:14 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3212 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3212 The moment you pour Gran Marquis XA into your glass you are smitten with the color. It's rich, deep and dark. The bottle is pitch black, which doesn't allow you to see the tequila within. It's an interesting shape and looks classy...and as you know, which many spirits that comes with a price. Price: $250-300/bottle Aroma: A fairly light nose. Not much agave, light wood and spice notes. Nothing overly sweet either. Initial Taste: Nutty, chocolatey and with dark spices. Interesting. Body: Medium bodied…great color. The chocolate and oak flavors are strongest and they combine with an interesting nutty flavor. Everything is in good balance. Finish: Really easy to sip and the linger is very long with the oak and nuts. The spice creeps in at different points. An interesting and delicious drink with a unique finish. The flavors in Gran Marquis are unique and delicious. That apparently is what happens when you age something for 52 months in newly charred French oak. Everything about this pour says luxury and class...and if you have $300 to spend, it's probably worth a try. However, to me, I could get 3-4 tequilas that I like as much or more than this one for the money and for that reason, it makes it hard for me to recommend this...or any other tequila that runs 3 Ben Franklins. It's very good, but it's not in the "great" category that makes it a must add to a collection at any price. ]]> Thu, 06 Mar 2014 02:31:50 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3151 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3151 As you all know, it's hard for me to love tequilas that have ultra-premium price tag, but this one has the presentation to make it feel like it's for a special occasion. The fact they state that there's fewer than 1,500 bottles available worldwide makes rare as well. But ultimately the contents inside the bottle have to live up to the hype outside of it. And there's only one way to find out if it does... Price: $250-300/bottle (although it can be found discounted around $200 at times) Aroma: A sweet cooked agave aroma with baking spice and a hint of smoke. Not overpowering and quite inviting. Initial Taste: The flavors up front are agave (not lost with the 3+ years of aging), light vanilla, ripe fruits (pears) and some spice. Body: A rich and thick mouth feel...velvety. There's a bit more wood influence mid-palate. Some floral notes appear withe sweeter notes from the initial taste. Finish: A medium length finish with really nice balance. There's still some sweetness from the fruit and vanilla. There's some plant/floral notes from the agave with a bit of pepper. And there's some oak on the finish to smooth it out and make it last. A nice combination. But then there's the $300 question...is Partida Elegante worth the price tag? For me, not quite, but it worth paying a little extra because the flavors are outstanding and the presentation is second to none. If you have the means and want to buy something for a special occasion (that's when I cracked this for the first time), Partida Elegante will deliver what the presentation and price tag seem to promise: a very special and tasty tequila experience. ]]> Sat, 21 Dec 2013 03:12:06 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3129 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3129 This is my first experience with anything from the Penasco Tequila line. In fact, it was the first time I'd even heard anything about the brand. It's from NOM 1433 (Tequila Quiote), which makes a few lesser known brands including one that I enjoyed called Tequila Don Anastacio. The first thing that I noticed was that it was really light in color for an XA. The bottle looks nice and has the price to match. Let's hope the tequila is as good as the packaging. Price: $70-80/bottle Aroma: Cooked agave, vanilla, some vegetal notes and baking spice. Solid nose. Initial Taste: Light sweetness. Some green notes and spice. Body: Medium bodied. Some oak and smoke along with light vanilla, vegetal notes and pepper. It has a lot of elements, but none of them take over. Finish: A complex finish where the oak and pepper linger the longest, which is strange not not unwelcome for an extra aged tequila. I like it, but the flavors aren’t bold enough. For something near $75, there needs to be a more unique profile or a bolder flavor. The nice thing about it is that it definitely retains the agave characters. At the same time, the flavors aren't that bold and don't hit you like you might want from a tequila in this price range. Still, a very solid effort from Penasco. I's definitely like to try the lesser aged expressions to see if they can keep the profile at half the price. ]]> Wed, 11 Dec 2013 16:29:43 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3109 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3109 So, I am in this well-known mega-chain wine and liquor store in New Jersey and I see this bottle on the shelf. It comes in a beautiful presentation box - and the price was right ($80). So, I bought it. I didn't even know that Cazadores made an extra añejo - so it turns out this is their first excursion into these uncharted waters. Of course, everyone is familiar with the distillery in Arandas and it has been owned by Barcardi for some time. To me, the products from Cazadores taste more like La Valle tequilas than Los Altos. This tasting was going to be interesting. I like sweeter tequilas, so my favorites are heavily skewed toward Los Altos. Right off the bat, the price and presentation were really great. But, it's what's inside that counts. In a tasting glass, there is a dark rich copper color. The legs are thick and drain slowly to the liquid's surface. Did not notice any pearling. On the nose, there are multiple elements competing for dominance. I detected vanilla and agave with some fruity undercurrents. First taste is smooth with spicy accents - plenty of alcohol - but also quite sweet. Subsequent tastings evolve into more subtle flavors such as allspice with oak and a little smoke. Plus, it goes without saying, more vanilla. The tequila is fairly viscous, coating the mouth completely. Upon further sipping, the flavors intensify and the alcohol level ceases to be noticeable. A little sangrita between sips and with good friends, good food and good music - a person could drink this all night. It's the best Cazadores offering I have ever tasted. But, as with most extra añejos - it's a limited edition. Get it soon or you might miss it. So - I put this tequila right in the middle - between the highlands and the valley. Aged for three years but there is very little barrel influence. It's a surprise well worth trying. ]]> Thu, 31 Oct 2013 07:11:32 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3068 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3068 I concure with the previous reviews. This is a great Tequila at a great price. Very enjoyable. Not overdone not to woody. Very smooth. Extra anejo only in it's catagory but actually it is in my opinion a great anejo for a great price. ( I paid 35 bucks at high time wine) Highly recommended. ]]> Fri, 20 Sep 2013 06:07:06 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3025 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3025 Quite possibly the king of special edition or barrel tequilas is Casa Noble. They have single barrels specifically chosen by stores and many different types of expressions of tequila available. This is the SB Añejo chosen by Hi Time Wines. It is aged in French oak barrels for 5 years. They described it as such: "Aromas of vanilla, toasted wood, cocoa, smoke, fennel, citrus, clean earth, herbs, coffee and daedal spices tease, tempting you to taste. The opulent mouth-feel delivers a presentation of the complex aromas that are mature, deep and interlacing. The finish persists with lissome expressions of the flavors and passes deliberately with dry niceties that entice you to sip again." While any of my readers know that I might not put it quite as eloquently (can someone please look up daedal for me?)...I will do my best to tell you if I agree and if I think it's worth it in the lofty price range. Price: $95-100/bottle Aroma: A really interesting nose where the agave is interlaced with big oak aromas and chocolate, spice (possibly daedal) and a hint of smoke. Very inviting. Initial Taste: There's a nice mix of sweetness for the barrel aging along with the lowland agave that gives it a great dessert flavor without it being too syrupy. Body: A really oily and creamy body that coats the palate really well. As it moves back on the tongue, the more bitter flavors of oak/chocolate/smoke mix harmoniously. Finish: An extremely long finish where the dark chocolate and smoke seem to linger the longest. There's even a hint of coffee essence that is there as well. From start to finish, this is complex and delicious. If you are looking for a tequila to sit down with for a relaxing evening or to pair with a cigar, this is the one that you are looking for. It mixes the green aspects the agave, the sweet aspects from mellowing and the bitter notes from the oak in a wonderful fashion. As you know, I don't often recommend tequilas in the $100 range too often, but if you are so inclined to like the profile above, this one will definitely not disappoint. It is truly a unique and delicious extra añejo journey. ]]> Mon, 02 Sep 2013 02:09:02 +0000 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3019 https://tequila.net/tequila-reviews/extra-anejos/discussions/review.html?id=3019 This is an exquisite tequila, soft yet bold - a tequila that, happily, requires some commitment in getting to know it. The nose, like its colour, is deep and dark: vanilla, oak, sour fruit, black chocolate, and agave. Body is rich and oily. It glides over the tongue, leaving in its wake sharp notes of smoky wood, nutty fruit, dark spice, earthy agave, and more bittersweet chocolate. But it's the finish, that Casa Noble finish, that affirms the beauty of this tequila: big and bitey despite its 5 year rest. A lovely pepper spice and light heat slowly evolve into a lengthy after-finish of warm tart sweetness. This is a refined and amazing tequila. ]]> Wed, 28 Aug 2013 23:03:14 +0000