The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Espolòn Añejo Tequila
TequilaIssue 109

Espolòn Añejo Tequila

Espolòn · Destiladora San Nicolás

80 proofNAS (aged up to 12 months)Jalisco, Mexico
Espolòn's añejo over-delivers for its price. The oak influence adds depth without masking the agave, and the balance between sweet and spice makes it versatile across neat sipping and cocktail work. A smart entry point for anyone exploring aged tequilas.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cooked agave and caramel dominate the opening, followed by vanilla bean, toasted oak, and a subtle thread of dark chocolate. A background note of baking spices rounds things out.

Palate

Smooth entry with butterscotch and roasted agave, moving into dried fruit and cinnamon at the mid-palate. Oak presence is measured — it frames rather than overwhelms, letting the agave character stay central.

Finish

Medium, with lingering caramel, a touch of pepper heat, and a pleasant oakiness that fades cleanly.

Specifications
Agave
100% Blue Weber Agave (Los Altos de Jalisco)
Production
Tahona-crushed and roller mill, open-air fermentation with native yeast, aged in lightly charred new American oak barrels
Region
Jalisco, Mexico
Cooking Method
Tahona-crushed and roller mill, open-air fermentation with native yeast, aged in lightly charred new American oak barrels
Distillation
Double distilled in copper pot stills
NOM
NOM 1440
Additives Free
No
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Ember Old Fashioned — 2 oz Espolòn Añejo · 0.25 oz agave nectar · 3 dashes mole bitters · Stir with ice, strain over a large cube in a rocks glass, garnish with a flamed orange peel.

Food Pairing

Braised chicken thigh in mole negro with toasted sesame seeds and warm tortillas. The mole's chocolate and chili complexity mirrors the tequila's dark chocolate and pepper notes.

The Story

Crafted by master distiller Cirilo Oropeza at NOM 1440 in Los Altos de Jalisco, Espolòn uses 100% blue Weber agave and wild yeast fermentation in open-air tanks before aging in lightly charred American oak.

Train These Aromas
Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More Tequila Reviews
Tapatio Reposado 110
Tequila

Tapatio Reposado 110

Tapatío

This is reposado with its volume turned up. The 110-proof bottling lets the agave and barrel talk at full register without distortion. Don Carlos Camarena's La Alteña distillery produces this with traditional brick ovens and tahona-crushed agave, and the result is a reposado that hides nothing. Sip it neat or try it in a stirred cocktail where you want agave to lead.

110 proof
Código 1530 Añejo
Tequila

Código 1530 Añejo

Código 1530

Código 1530 Añejo is a masterclass in what happens when spirit and stave become intimate. The use of Cabernet-seasoned French White Oak—rather than the more common American oak ex-bourbon barrels—creates a distinctive bridge between the agave world and the wine world, making it a perfect fit for the 'Barrel's Inner Skin' theme. The wine-stained wood imparts a refined tannic structure and fruit-forward complexity that complement rather than overwhelm the cooked agave heart. This is contemplative, after-dinner tequila that rewards patience.

80 proof
Tequila San Matías Gran Reserva Extra Añejo
Tequila

Tequila San Matías Gran Reserva Extra Añejo

San Matías

Casa San Matías has been making tequila since 1886, and this extra añejo demonstrates a mastery of time and barrel. Three years in American oak have deepened the spirit without erasing its agave identity—a furnace of patience made liquid. At under $90, it punches well above its price class, delivering the contemplative depth of bottles twice its cost. A superb after-dinner pour for those who believe great tequila rewards the same reverence as aged whisky.

80 proof
Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2024
Tequila

Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2024

Fortaleza

Fortaleza's Winter Blend series marries reposado lots of varying age into a seasonal expression that highlights the interplay between agave and oak. The tahona-crushed agave gives it a textural richness that roller-milled tequilas rarely achieve. This is tequila where craft and material are inseparable.

92 proof