This 5-year extra añejo was aged in French Limousine Oak and Spanish casks that previously held wines from Burgundy (France) and Jerez (Spain). It’s produced by Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca at La Tequileña in Tequila, Jalisco but they use estate-grown agaves from the Highlands.
I’m drinking from the Chisholm Trail high-proof spirits glass because of its wide opening and squatty base. There are many rich and dense flavors. Figs, dates, and caramelized agave are prominent. Behind those notes sit some stewed red fruits and just a touch of barrel spice and brown sugar. The barrel spice is nice and rounded with a hint of sweetness.
The flavors are also rich but it’s lighter on the palate than on the nose. The caramelized agave sweetness and the sherry hit first. The spice from the barrels is peppery and quickly follows the initial flavors.
Tastes of tobacco, black currant, plum, and black pepper are present too. The French Oak sweetness is present but not overpowering.
Overall this is a layered and complex extra añejo that should be enjoyed neat and allowed to open up for a few minutes. It’s dark and rich, but the agave is still present after 5 years of aging. An excellent effort.
NOM | 1146 |
|---|---|
Agave | Jalisco (Los Altos) |
Cooking | Autoclave |
Extraction | Screw mill, roller mill |
Water | Deep well water |
Fermentation | Open-air stainless steel tanks, with proprietary yeast |
Still | Copper pot stills |
Age | 5 years in French Oak barrels, Sherry casks, and Hungarian oak barrels |
ABV | 40% |
