The Best Añejo Tequilas

El Tesoro uses 100% estate-grown agave harvested from Los Altos (Highlands) in Jalisco for its tequila production. After cooking for three days, these agaves are then crushed using a two-ton stone tahona. After distillation, the añejo tequila ages for 2-3 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. It is bottled at 80 proof. Note: Packaging update in April 2018 for the three main marques in the portfolio. (SRP $85)

Siete Leguas is produced at their two distilleries El Centenario and La Vencedora, each employing a different process to prepare the agave for distillation. At one they use a tahona, a large millstone pulled by two mules which was the first method used to crush agave. At the other a molino, an old-fashioned roller mill, is used. The juices are combined and distilled twice in copper stills and filtered to remove all impurities. Their añejo is then aged for 24 months in white oak barrels.

Milagro uses 100% blue weber agave from the Highlands of Jalisco to produce their tequilas. Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Añejo Tequila is aged from 12-24 months in a combination of French and American oak. Individually handcrafted bottles are created by glass artisans, each one hand numbered with a beautiful hand-blown agave plant inside.

Produced at the Productos Finos de Agave (NOM 1416), this tequila is produced from agaves from the Highlands of Jalisco. This añejo tequila has been aged for 14 months in reconditioned whiskey barrels. And yes, this is George Clooney's tequila.

This additive-free añejo tequila from ArteNOM is produced at Tequileña (NOM 1146) in Tequila, Jalisco under Maestro Destilador Enrique Fonseca. Made from 100% blue weber agave grown in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, the tequila is slow cooked in low-pressure autoclaves, crushed using screw and roller mills, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and double distilled in copper alembic pot stills. It is aged for a total of 28 months, including 14 months in ex-Cabernet Franc French oak barrels followed by 14 months in American oak casks that previously held either Canadian whisky or Tennessee rye whiskey. Bottled at 41.3% ABV.

Cincoro Tequila is a brand founded by five NBA owners: Michael Jordan of the Charlotte Hornets, Emilia Fazzalari & Wyc Grousbeck of the Boston Celtics, Wes Edens of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Añejo tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave sourced from both the Highlands and the Lowlands of Jalisco. After double-distillation, the tequila is aged for 24-28 months in ex-American whiskey barrels. Bottled at 80 proof. Cincoro gets its name from "cinco" meaning five and "oro" meaning gold.

Código 1530 tequilas are produced in Amatitán, Jalisco, a town which was established in the year 1530, hence the brand name. It is made using 100% blue weber agave harvested after 7 years. Código 1530 Añejo is aged for 18 months in Napa cabernet sauvignon French white oak barrels and bottled at 40% ABV. Additive free.

Fortaleza Añejo Tequila is made from 100% blue weber agave grown in the Tequila Valley of Jalisco. The piñas or hearts of the agave plants are roasted in a traditional stone oven before being stone crushed. The juice called "mosto" is fermented for 3.5 days in open air wood tanks using natural yeast present in the air and plants to ferment the mosto. The fermented product is double distilled in copper pot stills before the spirit is aged for 18 months in used whiskey American oak barrels.

Uno Dos Tres is an Organic tequila brand created by David Ravandi. The añejo (also called “Tres” or 3) is aged for 18 months in white oak. The tequila is sourced from the Tequila Valley (aka Lowlands) and is certified organic by the USDA and the EU.

Don Julio 1942 is technically an añejo as it is aged for only 2 1/2 years in used American oak barrels, though it misses the extra añejo qualification by only 6 months. 1942 is the year that Don Julio Gonzáles established his distillery, Tequila Tres Magueyes. This Highland tequila, along with their Real bottling, is distilled a 2nd time in a smaller stainless steel pot still that has a maximum capacity of 3 barrels per distillation.