Don Julio Añejo

Smooth, richly refined flavours with just the right amount of heat. Don Julio Añejo is “aged to perfection” and you should find out why.

What makes Don Julio Añejo special?

Velvety warmth, rich vanilla with butterscotch tones makes this añejo special. It is also not as woody as what you may expect from an aged tequila. These attributes come from18 months of ageing in barrels previously used to age bourbon. most importantly however the agaves used to make this tequila are aged for a minimum of 7 years. Tequila is not made from quick grown cash crops and the process of aging doesn't start at the end in a white-oak barrel, the true aging starts in the agave fields. The agaves used to produce Don Julio Añejo are a minimum of 7 years old, thus allowing each agave to grow into its full and sweet potential.

Don Julio Añejo review

Nose

A big statement aroma. In contrast to the taste, it is citrus fruit that is a dominant note in the aroma. Some detect lime, others orange. There are also butterscotch and vanilla tones.

Taste

The first flavours that hit you are butterscotch and vanilla. There is also a touch of citrus and notes of oak.

Aftertaste

A long warm finish of honey and oak notes.

Appearance

A formidable looking bottle for your drinks shelf. Wide, with grand styling and a pretty round head; polished wood encasing the cork. The cork produces a loud satisfying ‘pop’ on opening. The dark brown glass is nod to the oak barrels the drink was aged in - the tequila itself is gold in colour.

How much is a bottle of Don Julio Anejo?

£57.99 per bottle, making Premium Tequila one of the most competitively priced retailers you will find in the UK.

What are the different types of Don Julio?

Don Julio Blanco. The Spanish word Blanco translates into English as "White". A Tequila Blanco maintains the most of the original sweet agave profile out of all the different expressions of tequila. The reason Don Julio Blanco is labelled a blanco is because it has not been aged at all.

Don Julio Reposado Tequila. Out of all the aged tequilas the reposado tequila is rested for the least amount of time and so contains a small but noticeable hint of light oak, gained from aging in oak barrels. The word "Reposado" translates into English as "Rested". Simply put this is a blanco tequila that has spent a few months aging in an  American White Oak barrel before being bottled. 

Don Julio Añejo. The Spanish word "Añejo" translates into English as "Aged" and you can learn more about Don Julio Tequila Añejo by continuing to read on.

Don Julio 1942 and Don Julio Añejo, mentioned above, are both añejo tequilas however the Don Julio 1942 differs as it is aged for a lot longer. This gives Don Julio 1942 a much deeper and hearty oak taste, gained from the additional time aging in the barrel.

The 1942 is the most popular Don Julio expression that we sell. The bottle presentation is elegant, sleek and arrives hugged in a beautiful presentation box. 

Now, back to the Don Julio Añejo tequila below.

How big is a bottle of Don Julio Añejo?

700ml, which gives you 28 shots in each and every bottle of Don Julio Añejo.

Don Julio Añejo tequila cocktail ideas

First get to know this añejo by sipping it neat or on the rocks. But when entertaining then, try this twist on a cocktail classic. The bourbon tones found in this añejo make it a good replacement for whiskey in a Manhattan cocktail. It is essentially two parts tequila, one part Vermouth (chill the vermouth bottle before mixing). Add a few dashes of Angostura bitters for spice, or if you would prefer a fruitier twist go for Orange Angostura bitters. Then mix in ice cubes. Strain into the glass, then garnish with an orange wheel or cherry on a cocktail stick.

• Two oz of Don Julio Añejo
  
• One oz Sweet vermouth
  
• Three dashes of Angostura bitters.
  
• Garnish with orange slice or cherry

Don Julio Añejo pairing suggestion

Pair with the finest luxury dark chocolate you can source. The strength of the añejo together with the bitter sweetness of the dark chocolate combine wonderfully.

Where does Don Julio Añejo come from?

It starts life in highlands of Jalisco state in sun baked days and cold nights. These extremes bring out the best in blue agave plants. To avoid the heat, the jimadors (harvesters) venture out as early as possible to cut the pinas from the plants. It is then fermented in the legendary La Primavera distillery and aged in American bourbon oak casks for 18 months.

Don Julio – The producer of Don Julio Añejo

Julio González-Frausto had a hunch that blue agave grown in the highlands would taste better than on the plains. Until then, way back in the 1940s, tequila had not been thought of as high-end drink. Fortunately, Julio’s hunch was right, and a legend was created. The company is also well known for its blanco, reposado and 1942 tequilas.