Arette Artesanal Gran Clase Extra Anejo 750 ml

In the valley town of Tequila itself, brothers Eduardo and Jaime Orendain make Arette Artesanal Gran Clase, an extra añejo tequila aged past the category's three-year mark in used bourbon barrels. Destilería El Llano is one of the oldest working distilleries in the region, and the family's lowland style survives all that oak — cooked agave and a flicker of tropical fruit still lead the nose ahead of fresh-cut wood. The palate runs to dark caramel, vanilla, and malt before a long, warming, barrel-spiced finish. Extra añejo at this level competes with fine whiskey for the after-dinner slot, so pour it the same way: neat, in a snifter or rocks glass, with time to open up.

Tequila80 proof · Mash bill: 100% Blue Weber Agave · Used bourbon barrels (American oak) · Tequila Valley, Jalisco