Kirkland Tequila Añejo

Neat. NOM 1173, Lot A-1 Nose: Sweet with caramel, vanilla, and hints of oak, carob, leather, and alcohol. Taste: Follows the nose. Oaky caramel vanilla, syrupy sweetness, followed by a touch of spicy cinnamon and cocoa towards the end. The finish has cinnamon spice, tannins, and a saccharine sweetness. Overall: It tastes good, but it's not a fine artisanal tequila. The agave presence is lacking. It feels heavily reliant on additives. It has its appeal. The value is good, comparable to other añejos that are more expensive for smaller bottles.

⌚: Opened. Cooled prior. Allowed to rest for roughly five minutes. 👀: Light yellow with hints of gold, nice chill, no legs observed; 👃: Aroma is intensely sweet like sugar cubes, honey, and a touch of butterscotch, with some vegetal notes appearing later, vanilla, and barely any oak; 👅: Surprisingly light body, sweetness is prominent, honeysuckle, a hint of pepper; 🏁: Lacks complexity or nuance, finish is very brief, no lasting flavor, you get what you pay for, but this one is quite a good value in small servings.

I've recently begun exploring tequilas suitable for sipping neat. While I've always enjoyed margaritas, palomas, and shots, I've been seeking añejos that are enjoyable either straight or on the rocks. This one fits the bill perfectly. It offers a pleasing combination of oak and floral notes that strongly evoke sake. Compared to others I've tried, like Cazadores, it's lighter yet smoother. Kirkland has truly excelled with this product.

I typically don't explore tequila much, but this is quite good compared to my past experiences. I enjoy it in margaritas and bloody Marias, and it's sweet with a wonderful agave taste when sipped neat. Even my partner, who seldom drinks tequila, keeps a bottle at her place because she enjoys the taste and offers it to visitors. A solid deal for $20.

I refer to this as “Costcomigos” - conduct a side-by-side comparison, and the only distinction you'll detect is slightly more burn in this one. The downside is that it likely contains significant additives to achieve its flavor profile. If I'm having more than one drink, I'll start with something superior and then switch to this.

I'm genuinely impressed with this for the cost. Añejo, 1 liter for $20? It has an initial agave hit characteristic of tequila, then sweetens and boldens on the palate with caramel and burnt sugar, finishing with a slight warmth. A solid purchase if you come across it.