El Padrino de Mi Tierra Añejo

Rating: 10/23 I remember liking this quite a bit, but then I tried the blanco version and disliked it intensely. Regardless of the outcome of this tasting, I will not be recommending the blanco to anyone. Nose: The aroma is somewhat sweet, but much less intense than I recalled. Another Anejo has a much richer aroma (full disclosure: one is in a Glencairn while this is in a copita, so that might influence it; I wasn't planning a side-by-side comparison and didn't have another copita readily available). After a couple of minutes, the aroma develops, and I detect some butterscotch with hints of toffee and banana. It's a pleasant, delicate aroma, though not one I'd typically associate with tequila, even an anejo. There are some nice suggestions of baking spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), as well as a faint hint of chocolate syrup adding some richness in the background and a good amount of vanilla too. I might detect some cooked agave in this, but there isn't much left to identify this as tequila. It does possess a light, indulgent quality that could make it a good choice for dessert. Assuming the palate and finish hold up. Palate: The palate is on the lighter side. The cooked agave becomes more apparent and blends quite well with the light butterscotch and banana, but it clashes somewhat with the more bitter aspect that transitions from a hint of chocolate syrup to lime. The alcohol is noticeable here and does disrupt the palate, although it's a marked improvement over the blanco. There isn't enough rich indulgence to overlook its shortcomings as a tequila, nor enough tequila character to compensate for its lackluster indulgence. It's light and not very complex. It reminds me somewhat of certain other tequilas, though perhaps executed with less finesse. I'm thinking of a somewhat more flawed anejo from a popular brand. There's definitely some vanilla, as if it's trying to be like a certain high-end tequila, but it absolutely doesn't achieve the rich decadence of that particular bottle. Finish: The finish is very uninspired. It's present and then it vanishes, leaving only a hint of caramel, cooked agave, and alcohol behind. Very forgettable. A score of 9 to 11.

I enjoy being toasted on Halloween. I'm not entirely sure many adults don't. So, on my journey to explore more tequila, I've decided to make this Halloween a Tequila....Thursday? Close enough. I impulsively picked up a small sample of this from a liquor store. Let's get into it. The aroma brings to mind sugary sweet agave. Agave syrup, caramel, and vanilla lead the way. Some subtle spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon hit the back of the nose. It's an unusual tingling sensation on what is otherwise a very mild, sweet aroma. Quite a sweet Anejo indeed! But with some interesting nuances. First, the palate starts as sweet as anticipated. It opens with some mild caramel and butterscotch. But shortly after, it bursts with cinnamon and black pepper, making the center of your tongue tingle and spread outwards. The agave is present, but it's not the main focus like it is in a certain other Anejo. The spice lingers into the finish. And that finish is definitely drier than the rest of the taste. Finally, some tannic oak appears alongside the spice. Pepper definitely remains until the end. This is a decently long-lasting finish, quite similar to a good whiskey. This Anejo achieves a pleasing balance of sweet, spicy, and herbal. It's rather good, especially considering its fairly reasonable price. Grab a small taster from a store and discover it for yourself!

The nose offers a pleasant, rich, sweet vanilla that is somewhat reminiscent of Clase Azul Reposado. It also carries a hint of mint. The palate is sweet and rich with a moderate mouthfeel, abundant vanilla, and mint. Some warming spice emerges, leaving a slight tingling sensation. It is sweeter and richer than Patrón Añejo, which tastes more like rubber and is more bitter. While El Padrino isn't necessarily more complex, its profile is richer and more pleasing. Ultimately, it's not a highly complex tequila, but it serves as a good alternative to Clase Azul Reposado due to its richness and sweetness. Clase Azul is sweeter, with a more playful mushroom note (similar to Corralejo Reposado). This, however, possesses greater richness. It's slightly less complex, but still very good. A surprisingly good find from a store brand. It surpasses Tres Amigos. It's surprisingly close to Clase Azul Reposado in quality – and Clase Azul was already a worthwhile purchase! Honestly, there's a possibility I prefer this one! It lacks the richness of San Matias Extra Añejo, though. I likely prefer the San Matias better. It remains smooth with good flavor, but the sweetness seems rather artificial.

Neat. The aroma is sweet with abundant caramel, oak, cocoa, agave, and pepper. Hardly any heat. The taste is quite sweet, featuring caramel, agave, milk chocolate, a touch of oak and smoke, plus some cherry, cinnamon, and black pepper. The finish, surprisingly, is sweet with cocoa and black pepper. It has a medium-rich mouthfeel and is very smooth. It's enjoyable and easy to drink, but in an artificial way. I suspect this has many additives. It's almost like rum and schnapps, but with more strength, yet still smooth. Imagine tequila blended with Kahlua. I'm sure people who dislike tequila will like this. For purists, the juice is probably a 2. It is what it is. I'm not discarding it, but likely wouldn't purchase it again.

An intense Agave Spirit from NOM 1438 in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, made with 100% Tequilana Weber & local volcanic spring water, double distilled after fermentation in copper pot stills & aged for over a year in ex-Bourbon barrels. It begins aromatically with notes of caramel & oak; its rich life adds notes of agave, vanilla & spice; leading to a long & complex end. February 2018 / January / February / May 2019 / February 2020 / April 2023

A real miss. I'd prefer a large bottle of Kirkland. Initially, it showed promise, but then the alcohol dominated and erased any real character. The finish offered a hint of the barrel, but it wasn't quite right. Fortunate I only sampled a small amount, as I'd be furious if I'd bought a whole bottle. At least it isn't rough; that's the sole positive point.