Insolente Extra Añejo

Rating: 17/23 Nose: Not significantly fuller than the añejo, but richer with more syrupy character. Delving deeper, I detect a hint of cheese. Within the syrup, there's abundant vanilla, some spices, and spearmint contributing complexity, almost a fruity note (slight wine grape? tangerine?). A touch of wood is present, more like canvas. Faint nutty oil. A dash of papery mustiness. Palate: Much more packed with wood and fullness. Somewhat grassy with caramel mixed into fainter stewed agave, plus a good amount of spearmint. I get plenty of woody spice (clove, ginger, cinnamon). Vanilla. Still sweet, but a rich bitterness provides balance. The faintest chili. That cheese note eventually emerges as it airs. Very faint red wine sweetness. A sprinkle of black pepper. A sort of spring water or hummingbird feeder sweetness. A tiny hint of allspice. Finish: The vanilla and spearmint are more prominent here. Woody with ginger primarily. Long-lasting. A hint of cheese. Sweet. - Conclusion - This is really good. It's certainly my favorite Insolente. I could be persuaded that the plata or reposado is superior if I could be convinced that the cheese flavor is a desirable characteristic. The slight hint of cheese here works, though. This is at least a 15 and could be a 17. An 18 is a faint possibility, but unlikely. I'm settling on 17.