El Jimador Añejo Tequila

Nose: Exhibits a somewhat sweet and slightly sharp aroma. Notes of caramel, with a suggestion of powdered sugar. Mellow wood notes are present, along with a dry, somewhat unusual scent rather than the rich, bold character of bourbon. The nose isn't particularly exciting; it's decently full and slightly rich, but a chalky mineral sweetness prevents it from being truly impressive. Palate: Significantly richer than the reposado, with a prominent woody flavor. It shares some cedar notes, but the primary impression is French oak. It's bitter with a bold woody presence, hints of creosote, mint, and a light mineral edge providing contrast. Citrus notes are faint, leaning towards lemon more than in the reposado. It retains a slight sharpness (but not harshness) and remains on the sweeter side with a light, natural-tasting caramel flavor. It attempts to emulate Fuentaseca but lacks its sophistication. It tastes more like tequila than Cuervo Gold, but perhaps not as genuine as El Jimador Reposado. It's quite decent with good balance, but not overly complex and doesn't strongly resemble what I'd identify as tequila. It's quite sweet, but not excessively so. Finish: The French oak lingers, accompanied by minerality and faint suggestions of agave. Nothing strongly identifies it as tequila. Primarily, it tastes like an unobjectionable, light spirit aged in French oak long enough to mask its character but not so long as to taste excessively woody. I'm conflicted about this one. I find myself simultaneously enjoying it and being put off by it. It's notably better than the reposado, and its affordability makes it suitable for margaritas. It bears some resemblance to Gran Centenario Reposado, but with less of a musty paper note and more of that peculiar sharp orange essence. The quality of the two seems comparable. Perhaps my previous rating of the Reposado was a bit harsh at a 10 instead of an 11. This tastes fine to me. Compared to other tequilas, it seems to fall in the 11 to 14 range. I'm mainly deciding between a 12 and a 13. I'm leaning slightly toward a 12, but I'm undecided. It's not El Mayor Anejo, which is significant because even that is a rather mediocre tequila. Nevertheless, it's certainly not bad. I briefly considered a 13, but I believe a 12 is the appropriate rating.

Rating: 9/23 This bottle has been nearly empty for months, so this tasting might not be fully representative. Nose: Sweet, minerals, powdered sugar. Faint cooked agave with caramel that's close to banana. This smells concerning. Palate: Super smooth. Some spices (cinnamon, ginger, a bit of some sort of pepper). Some earthiness is present that borders on smoke. Less intense sweetness and more fullness than I anticipated. Still, I detect some powdered sugar coating my tongue. A hint of lime, but it's really just a suggestion. Lots of minerals, as if this was made with hard water. Faint waxiness. Some caramel with a hint of banana. There is some pleasant cooked agave flavor here, but it often gets overshadowed. Finish: Minerals scented with cooked agave. A bit of that banana caramel. Some earthy bitterness at times. Powdered sugar coating my tongue. - Conclusion - Why did I think this was good at one point? It has abundant minerals and powdered sugar. I would have guessed that this was a mixto. This isn't the absolute worst, but it's a definite pass. A 12 is certainly not achievable here. I believe the highest I could rate it is a 9 - or perhaps a 10. A 6 seems too harsh, so it will be between a 7 and a 9. I'm undecided between an 8 and a 9. I'll give it the 9.

The aroma is sweet but not overpowering, revealing caramel and pleasant, subtle fruit notes. It also presents hints of orange blossom, vanilla, and white pepper. The taste starts sweet, but with a more artificial alcohol presence and a caramel flavor that seems too young for my preference. It then evolves, becoming richer with more prominent orange peel. A slight hint of young bourbon is present, but the rich vanilla, a touch of milk chocolate, and thick texture significantly improve it. This is a considerable improvement over the reposado, though it seems to be trying too hard and isn't truly exceptional. It would be fantastic in margaritas, especially a Cadillac. The floral and tropical fruit notes harmonize, tempering the impression of its youth. The flavor profile is typical of añejo tequila: young bourbon with more engaging notes and less cloying sweetness. The reposado is lighter with more white pepper. It's not terrible, but it's too delicate. The sweet caramel and vanilla here are distinctly superior to anything in the reposado, which itself narrowly surpasses the Blanco. While this exhibits a more butterscotch-like character than Herradura Reposado, they are comparable. It's not bad, but it's too light.

Robust nose with notes of smoke, agave, citrus, vanilla, oak, and cinnamon with brown sugar; reminiscent of an early summer campfire with graham crackers emerging. A smooth, sweet agave body with light cherry fruitiness, developing into vanilla and caramel, then cinnamon and brown sugar. Light citrus notes. Rich, oily, with a subtle umami texture. A silky, warm blanket mouthfeel; thick and viscous. The finish is smooth with agave, vanilla, cherries, and oak. Satisfying, smooth, easy to drink and enjoy. Tasted neat.

I'm a bourbon enthusiast and have sampled nearly every available bourbon. I've used el jimador reposado for margs for years; it's good. But now, I'm exploring sipping tequila neat, and this is an excellent starting point. I could also easily craft a superb old fashioned or Manhattan with this anejo. I'm already a fan!

I find this spirit has a more aggressive bite than their Repo, which is contrary to how increased aging typically behaves. It's not a matter of being smokier or oakier, but rather a sharp, unpleasant prickle on the palate. It's serviceable for cocktails when options are limited, but superiorly balanced spirits are readily available.