AT A GLANCE

• Owned by: Citryve International

• Distilled by: Tequila Cascahuin (NOM 1123), El Arenal, Jalisco, Mexico

• Agave: Tequilana Azul

• Cooking: Brick Ovens

• Crush: Roller Mill

• Fermentation: Stainless Steel Tanks

• Still Type: Stainless Steel Pot Still with Copper Coils

• Spirit Type: 100% Agave Añejo Tequila

• Strength: 40%

• Price: $50

Tequila El Rey Añejo is a 100% agave tequila from Tequila Cascahuin NOM 1123, in the lowland valleys of Jalisco. Tequila Cascahuin was founded in 1904 by Salvador Rosales Briseno and they allow at least two percent of their agaves to flower. While this is a good start, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Universidad Autónoma de Mexico have suggested that a minimum of 5% of agaves (about 200 per hecter) should be allowed to flower to maintain both a healthy bat population and enough genetic diversity in the plans.

According to the brand, 8 year old blue agaves are harvested from the lowlands surrounding Mount Cascahuín outside the town of El Arenal. The agave piñas are halved and then cooked for 72 hours in brick ovens. The cooked piñas are then shredded and pressed with a roller mill and the juice is pumped into large open top fermentors made of stainless steel. The must is allowed to ferment with the ambient yeast in the distillery before it is double distilled in stainless steel pot still that have an internal copper coil. The coil serves the dual purpose of heating the contents of the still and helps remove any sulfur from the spirit that might taint the flavor. After distillation, the añejois allowed to mature for 14 months in both toasted and charred American oak barrels. After aging, the tequila is filtered and bottled at 40% ABV.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: On the nose there are nice aromas of black pepper followed by barrel notes of caramel and vanilla which is to be expected with an añejo tequila. As the tequila sits in the glass more of the green agave notes start to show through.

Palate: On the palate the tequila is very smooth with zero alcohol burn. The añejo draws a nice sweetness from the barrel which presents as flavors of caramel and vanilla, which then blends nicely with spice flavors of cinnamon, black pepper, layered with citrus and cooked agave.

Finish: On the finish the spirit lingers with beautiful flavors of orange marmalade and roasted garnet yam.

Conclusion: The El Rey Añejo is simply delicious and a fantastic value at $50. The tequila strikes a perfect balanced between the underling agave character and the barrel notes picked up during maturation. This is an excellent añejo which should be enjoyed neat, or used to make a decadent Oaxacan Old Fashioned or even a standard Tequila Old Fashioned.