The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Espolòn Reposado
TequilaIssue 22

Espolòn Reposado

Campari Group · Destiladora San Nicolás, Los Altos de Jalisco

$2580 (40% ABV) proofRested 3–5 months in new American oak barrelsLos Altos, Jalisco — where master distiller Cirilo Oropeza designed the Destiladora San Nicolás from the ground up, a facility so architecturally impressive it won 'Best Tequila Factory' from the School of Architecture in Guadalajara.
Espolòn is proof that applied heat, carefully controlled, separates good tequila from great tequila. Cirilo Oropeza's decision to quarter the piñas — doubling the surface area exposed to the autoclave's heat — extracts more sweetness and complexity from the agave than conventional methods.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Roasted agave, tropical fruit, vanilla, light oak, with warm cinnamon and a hint of black pepper

Palate

Sweet cooked agave, caramel, pineapple, vanilla cream, oak spice, and a peppery warmth that builds gradually

Finish

Long and spicy with lingering agave sweetness and toasted oak

Specifications
Agave
100% Blue Weber Agave, Los Altos highland grown, piñas quartered for increased surface area
Production
Custom-designed autoclaves (22-hour cook), piñas quartered before cooking, column and pot distillation
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Cocktail — The Fuego Paloma: 2 oz Espolòn Reposado · 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice · 0.5 oz fresh lime juice · 0.5 oz agave nectar · 2 oz grapefruit soda · Pinch of smoked salt on the rim. Build over ice.

Food Pairing

Pair with: Grilled street corn (elotes) with chili-lime crema — the char on the corn echoes the roasted agave, and the spice is a natural match.

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
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
Siembra Azul Añejo
Tequila

Siembra Azul Añejo

Siembra Azul

A quietly excellent Añejo that resists the modern impulse toward heavy oak and sweetness — David Suro's Siembra Azul remains a benchmark for honest, agave-first tequila at a fair price.

80 proof