Berries, nuts, herbs, caramel and vanilla On the palate this is sweet agave, barrel, vanilla and cinnamon. This is another fantastic Mundial collection.
As a Laphroaig fanboy, going into this I was very excited. Laphroaig is notorious for its trademark, unapologetically medicinal, peat implementation in all of their whisky along with costal maritime notes. Unfortunately, I was a bit let down by this release. Not because of the infamous scotch overtaking of El Tesoro’s base distillate, in fact quite the opposite. The Laphroaig casks imparted very little and left me a bit wanting. There is a subtle smoke characteristic here & maybe a hint of peat, but that’s about it in terms of cask influence. The El Tesoro distillate was doing most of the talking, and although I do enjoy anything La Alteña, I was hoping for a bit more from the Laphroaig casks to justify the namesake release. Also, the price seems a bit high, especially considering the languid Laphroaig influence.
Really good stuff here. Across the board from nose palate and finish I got caramel, baking spices, sweet cooked agave and some wet oak. It’s an expensive and rare bottle but I liked this one.
Robert Denton Import
To help ease your shopping experience, we decided to see how well bottles $50 and under would perform against bottles $100 and over in the only fair way we know how. That’s right, we’re talking about a blind taste test!
Sorting through the options can be overwhelming, which is why we always opt to trust the experts. To get their take on a workhorse option, we asked bartenders to share with us their go-to tequilas.
The 12 finalists are tequilas that offer vibrant and varied aromas and flavors with good texture and a pleasing aftertaste.
Here's the reason for the añejo and extra añejo shortage that you probably didn't know was coming.
Tequila's success has created an enormous strain, imperiling the health and viability of the blue Weber agave on which tequila depends, as well as the farmers who grow it.
Lou cracks open one of the most rare and cherished tequilas made. Watch as he goes nuts tasting it.
In a "You Can't Take It With You" episode, Lou opens up a 70th Anniversary bottle of El Tesoro de Don Felipe Extra Añejo.
Lou Agave talks about why he likes El Tesoro products, including this añejo.
One hundred percent. The term seems straight forward enough. You see it listed on labels constantly. But in the case of 100 percent blue agave tequila, you shouldn’t be so sure.
Nose: Bright and lively at first pass, with agave holding steady beneath oak, mint, and crisp apple. There’s a lift of citrus that keeps things fresh, joined by a trace of burnt sugar and cherries that hint at sweetness without overwhelming. Palate & Mouthfeel: Medium in weight, carrying a balanced mix of agave and oak. Black pepper adds some heat while vanilla and caramel smooth the edges. A note of strawberry licorice adds an unexpected twist - sweet, a bit nostalgic, and distinct against the oak spice. Finish: Barrel influence takes charge here, with spice and toasted wood pushing through to the end. It’s clean but firm, leaving a clear mark of cask character. Final Thoughts: This pour is well made and easy to enjoy, showing a polished barrel profile without losing all sense of agave. That said, the standard El Tesoro Extra Añejo feels more complete and balanced to me - less oak driven, more naturally expressive.