Don Julio 1942 Tequila

This has more umami than 3 Amigos anejo, but the umami is not strictly mushroom. There is a depth of flavor here that pulsates unlike any other tequila I have tried. There is caramel mixed with cinnamon and ginger as well and aside from a hit of spice, the whole thing is quite smooth. This is a remarkably deep and all around good tequila. The price is high, but it is a safe bet if one is looking for quality. In the right (or wrong) circumstances, this tastes a bit like Corralejo reposado as the umami mushroom flavor shines through. Compared to actual Corralejo to reposado though, this has more of a caramel flavor. That said, the fact that they can be compared so directly is a feather in Corralejo's cap. At the end of the day though, Corralejo is bitter and mushroomy, whereas Don Julio 1943 has a beautiful balance. T1 reposado, on the other hand, while not terribly exciting, is we'll balanced for most occasions: a Blanco for anejos and an anejo for blancos. Although there is not a ton of variation over the life of this drink, there is sweet caramel mixed with creamy milk chocolate with some wood and occasional hints of mushrooms. The flavors all blend seemlessly, making this a hedonistic treasure. The real downside is that it's flavor is situationally dependent in that in certain situations it will taste far less delicious. Despite the issues with lack of variation and context dependency, the flavors here are so spot-on in the right context that this drink must not be overlooked. The finish is superb. Wood, caramel, brown sugar, herbal agave notes. It's rich if not super full. The flavor is quite good, but not mind-blowing. A really solid tequila. In the right context, it has a rich, vegetal, and toffee sweetness that finishes with a rich, orange note that is reminiscent of Bushmill's 21. It isn't as good as Bushmill's 21, but it is sure good. Caramel, wood, cabbage. It tastes a bit younger than expected, but it's still quite good. There is some mild cinnamon backing it, but just a little bit. The nose is sweeter than the tongue, but the tongue has a nice richness from the wood and bland vegetable flavors. The young nature is a bit reminiscent of an American Single Malt (but a bit sweet with some vegetal flavor). It has less spice and personality than. Swift (the original kind), so it's not a brilliant American Single Malt flavor. The finish is slightly bitter and quite herbal. It's good and unique, while also tasting like an anejo tequila, though it does not have the depth and varied flavor that it could (but the flavors that it doesn't have are on point). The flavor does not have a ton of variety, but it is rich and deep with young wood, chocolate, and prominent toffee dominating. There are some creamy elements and even some hints of sour cream. The flavor is rich by tequila standards but not by whiskey standards. In the right context, this is a brilliant, sweet, rich drink. Otherwise, it is a bit disappointing. Compared with Tequila San Matias Extra Anejo, the flavor is richer, but less vsried, but also less cherry and less alcohol. The thing is though that the variety of flavor in the San Matias is versitile in a way that makes it always work out. These two drinks are roughly mat hex in terms of quality, but San Matias is a fraction of the price. That said, they are entirely different beasts. This absolutely crushes the Don Julio Anejo. It has tons of toffee and vanilla with that Don Julio cardboard. It's smooth with some cinnamon and nutmeg mixed with some mild tangerine. It's so tasty with a decent complexity. It's good, but it could use more richness and then an extra layer of complexity. There is more richness and sweetness than in Don Julio Reposado. There might be less complexity, but it is very good. This mixes the best of Don Julio Anejo and Don Julio Reposado. It isn't as full as I would like and some more creaminess would help, but it has a nice degree of caramelization and a good woody presence. The classic Don Julio flavor is there and it gives it a nice refreshing complexity. There is some mint, but it is well under control. The cocoa presence is nice as a rich backing and it even brings in some hints of dark roast coffee, but it is under control. The earthy element is unusually present, but it isn't excessive. The vegetal presence and spice are there but they avoid some of the younger flavors like bell peppers. It's rich for a tequila, but not as rich and full as I would like it to be. The caramel sweetness is nice and makes this an easy sipper with some complexity. For a similar effect at a lower price though, get some of the Reposado and Anejo and mix them. The finish is long and nice with both to h was and sweetness coming through but it isn't as hedonistic as it seems like this drink should be.

I respect the grind, but this was the day I realized I’m not an añejo fan.

Always have a bottle in the house ready to share with friends. A great introduction to tequila. Smooth and flavorful