When the freezing winds of autumn begin swirling round you, you’ll want some technique to heat your self in and out. And whereas a pleasant flannel shirt or winter hat does the trick, a warming spirit is even higher. Positive, whiskey appears to be the preferred alternative on a cold fall day however you positively shouldn’t overlook tequila. Particularly long-aged, nuanced añejo tequila.
Tsuru Goto, meals and beverage supervisor at Society Cafe in New York Metropolis has seen an uptick in visitors ordering añejo tequila this season. “Tequila is clearly experiencing some actual progress proper now, with lots of visitors beginning to flip towards aged tequilas in fall.”
Añejo tequila is matured between one and three years in charred oak. This longer getting older time makes for a extra complicated, flavorful tequila with notes of vanilla beans, roasted agave, oak, and baking spices (amongst different flavors). Due to these flavors, añejos are a terrific option to sip neat to heat you on a cool fall night time.
To search out one of the best expressions of the season, we requested a handful of well-known bartenders to inform us one of the best warming añejo tequilas to drink this fall. Preserve scrolling to see all of their agave-based decisions.
Tequila Ocho Single Barrel
Joe Vandal, proprietor of Coa Cantina in Breckenridge, Colorado
ABV: 52.5%
Common Value: $130
The Tequila:
The Tequila Ocho Single Barrel Añejo is considered one of my favorites. Sitting over 100-proof, it packs a punch in a great way. Some persons are going to bark at me for this, however this juice makes an unbelievable Cadillac-style margarita as nicely. It shines vivid within the cocktail.
Tasting Notes:
I nonetheless get cooked agave, vanilla, oak, and a few warming pepper. It’s a really flavorful tequila that’s well-suited for sipping or mixing.
Fortaleza Añejo
Alex Barbatsis, bar director at The Whistler in Chicago
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $90
The Tequila:
If yow will discover a bottle, Fortaleza Añejo Tequila is a superb añejo tequila for fall consuming. It’s aged 18 months in American Oak barrels and is bound to heat you up. Attempt to observe a bottle down quickly.
Tasting Notes:
Once you sip it, you’ll get huge caramel and butterscotch notes together with a thick, cooked agave mouthfeel. A spicy end provides to the warming feeling.
Casa Noble Añejo
Tsuru Goto, meals and beverage supervisor at Society Cafe in New York Metropolis
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $57
The Tequila:
Whereas there are some extra generally recognized manufacturers on the market, for our splurge sipper we’ve been going with Casa Noble. The standard of the wooden they choose for the getting older course of comes by way of within the steadiness of flavors.
Tasting Notes:
It’s an off-dry añejo with these good flavors of orange marmalade, caramelized agave, dried purple fruit, darkish chocolate, and a touch of black pepper.
Calirosa Añejo
Petr Balcarovsky, lead bartender of The Equipment Room in Detroit
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $65
The Tequila:
My decide is Calirosa Añejo. Aged for no less than eighteen months in barrels that previously held purple wine, it’s a warming, complicated tequila well-suited for chilly fall climate.
Tasting Notes:
Calirosa Añejo tequila has notes of toffee, cinnamon, and dried fruit. These superb qualities would make this gem a unbelievable companion to your book-by-the-fire expertise, particularly on a wet fall night with its soothing bouquet of warming spices of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Siete Leguas Añejo
Benjamin Brinton, normal supervisor of Merriman’s in Waimea, Hawaii
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $54
The Tequila:
I really like Siete Leguas Añejo. Their whole line, throughout the board, is unbelievable. All the time agave ahead with no components (utilizing components is a complete deal breaker for any severe tequila lover).
Tasting Notes:
It has a really clear taste with balanced notes of vanilla and caramel, a bit of cinnamon and baking spice discover their manner in as nicely. The oak could be very well-integrated and by no means overpowering for me.
Dulce Vida Additional Añejo
Wyn Vida, beverage director at Toshokan in Austin, Texas
ABV: 50%
Common Value: $170
The Tequila:
In terms of tequila, I’ll all the time be prepared for an additional añejo. This fall, you’ll discover me sipping Dulce Vida Additional Añejo, which I really like as a result of it’s 100-proof and utterly natural. I want it neat or on a big format ice dice as a way to word the flavors and traits which can be distinctive to it.
Tasting Notes:
The flavour profile has robust vanilla and tobacco notes which can be excellent for a comfy night time, with heat cinnamon and butter topping it off. Light spices all through are certain to maintain you heat if a roaring fireplace doesn’t do the trick.
Tequila Komos Añejo Reserva
Mike Herchuck, director of operations at American Social Bar & Kitchen in Miami
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $105
The Tequila:
My new obsession is Tequila Komos Añejo Reserva. It’s mushy and easy however doesn’t style like a vanilla cupcake like lots of common tequilas do as of late.
Tasting Notes:
It begins with black pepper and shortly goes to baking spices. All are warming and excellent for fall. For an añejo, it doesn’t cover the true agave taste that many do.
Patron Sherry Cask Aged Añejo
Amber Milner, director of beverage at Diplomat Seaside Resort in Hollywood, Florida
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $90
The Tequila:
Patron Sherry Cask Aged Añejo is my favourite as a result of you may nonetheless style the agave within the tequila, however you have got the sweetness coming from the sherry cask which picks up lots of these fall flavors which can be recognizable.
Tasting Notes:
What flavors make it nice? Pecans, vanilla, and clove all convey you into the autumn season. The latter wraps you up like a blanket and provides an additional warming really feel.
Corralejo Añejo
Dennis Child, head bartender at Kagi Maldives Resort & Spa in Maldives
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $45
The Tequila:
The Corralejo Añejo. It’s the slow-sipping tequila you’ve been ready for within the fall. Freshly squeezed tangerine and lemon can elevate these characters to their peak.
Tasting Notes:
This Tequila could be very easy within the mouth and has a mix of sunshine butterscotch, vanilla, and tremendous wooden spices making it barely candy. That being stated, it has sufficient spice to heat you whilst you sip it slowly on a cold night time.
Teremana Añejo
Resa Mueller, bartender at R&D Philly in Philadelphia
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $40
The Tequila:
With the climate slowly getting colder and the gravitation in the direction of comforting baking spice taste notes throughout meals and beverage, I search for an añejo tequila that also has some lightness to it with simply sufficient from the barrel to make it really feel cozy and alluring. Teremana Añejo hits the mark right here.
Tasting Notes:
The vanilla, caramel, and toasted wooden layer in on prime of cooked agave to maintain it gentle sufficient for a type of hotter days however nonetheless has sufficient physique and taste to face out and heat you on a colder night time. This tequila punches nicely above its weight, coming in at a comparatively reasonably priced value level so that you don’t need to really feel too responsible about having an additional pour to get you thru the results of the Daylight Financial savings Time change.
ArteNOM Seleccion de 1146 Añejo
Vincent Bolognini, head bartender at Due West in New York Metropolis
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $80
The Tequila:
With the climate cooling and the nights getting longer, I lean in the direction of the ArteNOM Seleccion de 1146 Añejo. First matured for fourteen months in former Cabernet Franc wine barrels, it then spends one other fourteen months in American white oak that initially held both Tennessee rye whiskey or Canadian whiskey relying on the batch.
Tasting Notes:
The nostril has a fantastic aroma of baking spices and the primary sip has a delicate sweetness with underlying tones of darkish chocolate and orange zest; the end is lengthy, engaging, and really warming.
Olmeca Altos Añejo
Dana Lachenmayer, head bartender at The Wesley in New York Metropolis
ABV: 40%
Common Value: $44
The Tequila:
The recipient of many awards and for good motive, Olmeca Altos is my favourite añejo tequila to sip on this fall. Growing older in smaller 200-liter bourbon barrels ensures a extra complicated taste profile and a pleasant easy touchdown.
Tasting Notes:
Notes of dried fruit, almond, caramel, and vanilla are balanced with delicate notes of black pepper, herbs, and a toasty high quality. That is my go-to tequila to sip neat to heat me on an unseasonably cool night.