Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo 2026 Ode to Agave

Germán González has quite a background. A second-generation master distiller, his great-grandfather was president of Mexico. His father created and launched Chinaco in the late 1970s, which became a pioneering, high-end tequila brand.

Germán wanted to take the art of tequila production even further and theorized that agave aged in the right barrels could stand alongside the world’s great Cognacs and Scotches.

Founded in 2014, Tears of Llorona is evidence of his idea.

The name means “tears of the weeping woman” and references a Mexican folk story about a mother who either lost or drowned her children, depending on the version you’re told. It’s not the cheeriest narrative for a tequila brand, but it’s definitely memorable.

The brand makes just one expression: an extra añejo tequila aged for at least five years.

Envisioned by González, it is crafted by legendary distiller and blender Enrique Fonseca at La Tequileña (NOM 1146), in the town of Tequila.

In an unusual twist, the tequila is made in the Valley but produced exclusively with estate-grown agave from the Fonseca family’s Highland plantations.

Each year, Fonseca develops themes for Tears of Llorona’s three batches, using them to guide the intricate blending process behind each 9,000-bottle release.

The most recent batch, “Ode to Agave,” is an homage to Fonseca’s deep connection to agave cultivation and a celebration of the agave’s essence. Consequently, this edition of Tears is more agave-forward than most and a bit lighter in color, as well.

These significant batch-to-batch variations are possible because each release is treated like a wine cuvée, combining 40 to 50 barrels that previously held brandy, Scotch, sherry, or wine, made from a combination of American, French, and European oak.

The icon on the neck label, near the signature swing top, indicates which batch you’re drinking, and the brand’s website has an archive with production notes for each of them. The “Ode to Agave” batch I reviewed here features an agave on the neck label.

Aroma: Orange peel, vanilla, cooked agave, cinnamon, and nuts. It is not as chocolate- or toffee-like as other editions I’ve tried.

Flavor: Honey, cherry, cinnamon, and cooked agave are still very much present, even after five years in flavorful barrels.

Finish: Long and harmonious, with orange, cherry, and a whisper of smoke.

Yes, Tears of Llorona is an expensive tequila. But it’s exceptionally well made and is sold in a one-liter bottle rather than a 750 mL bottle, so you’re getting 33% more tequila than usual. This was a purposeful decision by González, who has said he wants to make sure there’s enough Tears to share.

This is one of my favorite extra añejos, and it’s one I often share because it showcases what tequila can do when it embraces a more European flavor combination.

More from Tears of Llorona: All of our Tears of Llorona coverage, including reviews, lists, scores, and more.