Tequila San Matias Gran Reserva Extra Añejo

I’m generally not a tequila fan ( but I love mezcal...2nd most after whiskey). I find tequila simply either too hot, or unidimensional, meant to be in mixers rather than sipping while watching Netflix. But, I decided to open up my bottle, more so spurned by starting to watch Money Heist on Netflix ( Spanish series—-really well made). Some twisted logic triggered me in having tequila while watching Money Heist ( I’m sure a red Tempranillo wine would’ve made more sense...but I only had tequila or whiskey on hand ). This is excellent especially considering it’s only $40-45! It balances notes of agave, vanilla, cinnamon and a bit of oak really well. If tasted blind, I’d have guessed this is 2-3x of the price I paid. Extremely well balanced, and silky smooth. Hides the ABV really well. Considering I’m not a tequila fan, this may change my opinion of that category. Bella Ciao , in the words of the Money Heist song

San Matias Extra Anejo Southern Spirits Single Barrel Tranquility Barrel #136 First off it took me forever to want to taste this. As first impressions from nosing were not inviting. I just could not get into the smell, as it was off-putting. It made me believe it was possible additives were present. Nose: Sweet Church Wine Agave Caramel Maple Palette: Sweet Mellow barrel spice caramel Maple Maple cream donut Agave fades quickly Light underwheming pepper Christmas cookie spices Vanilla “Concentrated elixir” does describe this well Rich Light grape

Neat. Aroma is agave, oak/cedar, vanilla, creme brulee, slight dessert/baking spices such as allspice. Reminiscent of the Holidays. Taste is true to nose: Sweet agave and honey and hints of vanilla and allspice. Very well balanced with fresh cut oak/cedar and a little black pepper. Finish is also perfectly balanced with some residual sweetness and the wood tannins Overall, very delicious and an unbeatable value. Sweet, but balanced and lots of real wood character. Not nearly as sweet as a 1942 or Clase Azul, but it is a little richer than something like El Tesoro. This ones a crowd pleaser that an aficionado can also enjoy, and for about half price. This bottle will always be on my shelf

Ripe raspberry up front followed by toffee and a light spice. Rich and complex

This is a weird tequila. It tastes a bit like a Sherry bourbon. This flavor is strong with a lot of cherry and a rounded nature that includes wood and some subdued spices. The flavors are good, but the cherry is strong. It doesn't taste like cough syrup. This is a good and interesting drink, but may not be a good choice for someone looking for a good tequila. The wood is very present and is developed well without tasting like floor polish. This drink tastes like a wiskey mixed with a brandy with a little bit of banana fruitiness. The finish tends toward the bitter side and it is good but needs some help in improving the core flavor. There's a lot of flavor and some herbal elements that make this interesting, but it's not as refined as Don Julio 1942. It tastes a bit like a mezcal. The rich, varied flavor is good, but the cherry element might be a bit much and there is no brilliant flavor here. That said, I enjoy it and the alcohol does not overwhelm. Wood is there and builds out the flavor without tasting too much like floor polish. Given the price, this is an excellent buy. The flavor is balanced and tasty. Everything lands nicely unless you are particularly (and I mean particularly) sensitive to cherry cough syrup flavor. It is reminiscent of plenty of mezcals but is more balanced and generally rich. Smoke, iodine, cherry, sweet, tart, wood, toffee. The balance here is exceptional and the flavor is brilliant. This is an odd tequila, but an excellent drink. It's sometimes infiltrated by a bit of alcohol flavor, but is mostly unperturbed. It smells distinctly of roasted sweet peppers and onions. The palate has both of these flavors but also has some nice fruit. Some caramel darts through too. It's fairly rich but isn't oppressive. This is a very complex tequila that is balanced in an interesting way. There is some wood and also a little smoke but those original notes do keep coming through. A little bit of cherry comes out of the peppers in a surprising way. This is an exquisite tequila at an unbelievable price. This is a truly amazing tequila. It may be a bit harsh, but it is pronounced, representing everything that makes a tequila. Spice, pineapple, grape soda, lime, caramel, vanilla, wood. This actually starts to taste like a bourbon. I wouldn't say it's the most complex tequila, but it is balanced in a weird way. The fruitiness lasts for a long time and tastes very good. Mint is there to add some dryness, but it doesn't taste out of place. The flavors don't fit together in that way that is quintessentially tequila. The wood can really sneak up because it isn't just oak: some cedar notes come through (and somehow they don't overwhelm). This is a delightful tequila.