Casamigos Añejo Tequila

Friends can be a bad influence. I'm primarily a dedicated whiskey drinker. Of all the tasting notes I've documented on this excellent platform, only one was not whiskey, and surprisingly, it was another Añejo Tequila. I suspect some of my companions are steering me towards Añejos because they are the most "whiskey-like" tequilas. One day during a dinner out, I was surprised. A companion ordered an Old Fashioned for me at a fine dining establishment. It was an Old Fashioned, but... sweeter. The notes seemed brighter than I recalled... with a hint of herbal spice. I wondered what this delightful drink was. It was then revealed to me. The Old Fashioned was made with Añejo Tequila. After asking around, most of the Tequila enthusiasts I encountered recommended Casamigos as a good starting point. So, I bought a bottle of this, some bitters, and an orange to craft my own Tequila Old Fashioned. But first, I poured myself a dram of Casamigos Añejo neat into a Glencairn glass and began my tasting... The nose presents bright, zesty citrus and that familiar herbal, freshly cut grass scent characteristic of tequila. However, there's also a subtle sweetness beneath that bright aroma, perhaps a hint of butterscotch. The palate is exceptionally subtle, almost imperceptible. When I smell tequila, I almost immediately anticipate the sharp, medicinal herbaceous jolt of face-puckering alcohol that I experienced with cheaper tequilas in my youth, but... not here. This is nowhere near that. In fact... I'm rather enjoying this. Oh no.. am I changing my ways? The flavor profile is decadently sweet, reminiscent of vanilla wafers and marshmallows. There's a whisper of smoky, charred oak, but the taste is overwhelmingly sweet. I can detect a subtle spice – not herbal, but more of a peppercorn type of spice. The finish brings back the familiar herbaceous quality of tequila. A touch of mint (not the cooling kind, but the pungent herbal variety) mingles with some lemon peel for a more classic tequila finish. The finish is quick and light (compared to whiskey; I'm unsure how it compares to other Añejos). What a pleasant surprise this turned out to be. The thought of tequila often brings to mind memories of scantily clad women in nightclubs downing shots of Patron to Lil Jon's ubiquitous party anthem. But a tequila to sip and savor like whiskey? One that shines in an Old Fashioned? Absolutely, I'm in.

Soft, incredibly pleasant sweet agave on the nose, with hints of dark sugars and vanilla. Actually, the tasting notes from the producer are quite accurate. The sweet agave flavor is strong on the palate; it's certainly a sweeter añejo, so your enjoyment will depend on your preference for sweetness. The vanilla seems to create a naturally creamy mid-palate and it remains warm and sweet all the way down. The barrel aging adds a slight bitterness, but it's not really overwhelming. It's not particularly complex for an aged tequila; it offers some subtle oak notes and works well as an agave distillate. I generally steer clear of these celebrity-endorsed brands because they typically don't justify the cost for merely putting a name on a label without contributing to the contents. If you like a rich and smoky tequila, you'll find more satisfaction in a Herradura or another well-crafted tequila for less money, but I certainly wouldn't refuse this as it's a good, aged, everyday drinker overall. Cheers!

Honestly, I wasn't really into this. Maybe the cold weather made it feel less like a pleasant sipping drink, and I might have preferred something smokier or warmer. However, something about it just didn't quite work for me. A little too smooth, a little too underwhelming.

I'm not a big tequila fan, but this one surprised me with how much I liked it. Light, sweet, fruity, and I didn't detect any bitterness at the end (which is good). It's supposed to be spicy, but as someone who drinks high-proof whiskey, I really can't find any. At least, not what I'd consider spicy.

For the price, I would definitely skip this one. The Blanco and reposado are quite good, but this one is significantly less impressive. It's too light, not very complex, and has too little alcohol. It lacks some punch and body, probably due to excessive dilution. Stick with the other two options.

The aroma presents notes of vanilla cake, lemon, cotton candy, leather, and a hint of agave. The palate is sweet, peppery, and smooth, with flavors of vanilla, oak, leather, caramel, agave, and a touch of black pepper and citrus peel. The finish is bitter and woody. Solid product.