Don Julio Reposado Double Cask Lagavulin Finish

This tequila caught my attention right away because of the double aging in Lagavulin casks. Now, full disclosure: I'm a sucker for experiments like this. I like Lagavulin, and Don Julio is my preferred tequila brand, so it seemed like a match I had to try. It felt like a potential 'your chocolate is in my peanut butter' scenario. So, first off, to get to the main point: I really enjoyed this tequila quite a bit, and it's one I can see myself sipping occasionally with a smile. Want more detail? How did it all come together? Glad you asked. The aroma can best be described as Don Julio with a subtle Lagavulin undertone. Almost too subtle, I thought. So I got out a bottle of Lagavulin and a bottle of Don Julio 70 and poured small glasses of each to refresh my memory of their individual scents. After doing that, I tried the limited edition DJ again and detected more of the Lagavulin. But the persistent feeling was that perhaps it should have remained in the Lagavulin cask a bit longer. Moving on to the taste. Because if you just want to smell things, you should go outside and smell flowers and save $60. So... first impression after a sip? I was wrong. This does NOT need more time in the Lagavulin cask. It's a beautiful layer of Lagavulin over a solid base of DJ Tequila. It adds depth without creating something that doesn't resemble what is, at the end of the day, still a great tequila. Well done to the creators. I don't expect to finish this bottle quickly, but I can see myself really enjoying it over time as something slightly different to sip. I might even go back and buy another bottle before this one disappears from shelves! A song to listen to if you want to grasp my point: 'Personal Jesus' sung by Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash represents the Don Julio. The song is the Lagavulin. You'll get the idea. Enjoy and Salud!

Considering how much I enjoyed the blanco, the use of Lagavulin casks, coming from one of my top 5 favorite distilleries, is quite the prospect. I think this type of experimentation is great; needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to this. Nose: Very similar to the blanco. A ton of citrus: grapefruit, lemon, and lime. Plenty of agave, as expected. In the background, there's a hint of sea salt and seaweed. The Lagavulin influence isn't pronounced, more suggested. Palate: Here, the Lag influence is a bit more prominent. It's still all about the agave and that grapefruit, lemon, lime citrus combination. Nice fresh cucumber, now paired with seaweed and sea salt. There's a prominent vanilla note, something I usually associate with whiskies, which was notably absent in the blanco, meaning the cask influence is palpable in more ways than one. Mid-palate brings black pepper and a second wave of salt. Finish: The citrus notes are present but toned down in favor of seaweed/salt and more pepper. A bit of caramel and vanilla lend credence to the whisky barrel aging. Medium in length. This is a hell of a drink. It's great to see this type of experimentation succeed. Don Julio has me off to a great start on my tequila journey. While the Lagavulin influence is less prominent than I had anticipated, it makes a beautiful contribution to a quality agave spirit. My experience is very limited, but I'd say this is the whiskey drinker's gateway to tequila. I can't imagine it being done any better. Well done, DJ.

Don Julio ranks among my top tequila choices, and I also have a fondness for Lagavulin, so I've been eagerly anticipating this since I first learned about it weeks ago. The aroma is primarily that of a typical reposado tequila, with just a faint whiff of smoky grass. The taste immediately hits with smoke, so much so that if I hadn't poured it myself, I'd mistake it for a fine mezcal. That's not inherently negative; I do enjoy a smoky spirit occasionally. It's a highly distinctive drink, but I can't help feeling a bit underwhelmed. Considering the cost and the reputations of both distilleries, I had expected a five-star encounter. This falls short of that. It's quite good, and I'll certainly finish the bottle, but I suspect its appeal lies more in its novelty than its inherent deliciousness.

Drank 750ml neat from a Glencairn at home. I was really anticipating this one. The nose is full of citrus, mainly lime and grapefruit, over a foundation of herbal agave with a salty kick. There are subtle hints of smoke and sea air, although I can't honestly say if that's due to expectations from Lagavulin. The taste is more agave-forward, with citrus and smoky oak emerging. You definitely get the smoky Islay finish coming through. It reminds me of a very good mezcal, which is a significant advantage, especially at this price. I really enjoy this as a sipper, and if I didn't feel guilty, I would love to use it as the base for an amazing margarita. Highly recommended. 10/28/19.

This is a good tequila. Now, don't get me wrong, but based on my expectations, I was disappointed. Even compared to other reposados I've tried, this one doesn't measure up. With Don Julio Añejo being a long-time favorite spirit, this doesn't meet that standard. It's smooth with a hint of scotch. I was hoping for a more robust agave flavor, which was present but not developed enough. There's a slight taste of alcohol. I'll drink it again soon to reconsider this initial impression.

I enjoy scotch, all varieties, especially peated ones. I'm not a big fan of tequila; it reminds me of poor choices from my twenties. However, I felt compelled to purchase this. Sipping it neat, it's genuinely very good. It shouldn't work, but it absolutely does. The finish includes a touch of peat that removes that tequila-induced shiver. Well done.