The World’s Best Añejo And Extra Añejo Tequila According To The Latin American World Spirits Competition

The inaugural Latin American World Spirits Competition (LAWSC) awarded Best-in-Class honors to three Tequilas in the Añejo, Extra Añejo, and Cristalino categories. Eleven Tequilas made the final rounds. Below is a brief description of the winners, along with tasting notes.

The LAWSC, held in Guadalajara, Mexico, in November 2024, is the latest addition to the Tasting Alliance’s family of international wine, beer, and spirit competitions. The Guadalajara Visitors and Convention Bureau was a co-sponsor. The event featured several hundred entries, many of whom were not well-known to American Tequila enthusiasts.

Victor Martinez, Global Ambassador for Agave Distillates and director of the

Heritage Center at Sauza Tequila, a division of international beverage giant Beam Suntory, described the event as “the first international competition focused on agave spirits, held in Mexico and judged predominantly by Mexican judges.”

Hornitos Black Barrel Añejo Tequila, 40% ABV, 750 ml, was the Best-in-Class Añejo Tequila.

The Hornitos Tequila brand was established in 1950 by Don Francisco Javier Sauza, a third-generation member of the renowned Sauza Tequila family. “Hornitos” refers to the ovens, traditionally used to roast the agave.

Hornitos Black Barrel undergoes a triple-barrel aging process. It starts as a premium Añejo Tequila, aged for 12 months in American oak barrels. The Tequila then undergoes an additional four-month maturation process in deeply charred American oak barrels and another two months in specially toasted barrels.

This triple maturation process gives Hornitos Black Barrel a distinctive, American whiskey-like character, blending the complexity of Tequila with the smoky notes of a barrel-aged whiskey. Indeed, Black Barrel’s rationale was creating a Tequila that would appeal to American whiskey drinkers.

The Tequila is a deep amber with golden hues, reflecting the influence of the heavily charred barrels. On the nose, it exhibits aromas of vanilla, butterscotch, smoke, charred oak, and caramel, along with hints of dried fruit and spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg.

It’s sweet and robust on the palate, featuring toffee, caramel, some dried fruit, sweet honey notes of cooked agave, and a touch of black pepper and cinnamon spice. The combination of smoke, charred wood, caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and spice notes give the Tequila a nuanced complexity.

The finish is long and distinctly sweet, with lingering vanilla, charred oak, and mild spice notes.

The LAWSC Judging Panel described the Tequila as expressing:

An elegant sweetness, with perfectly integrated vanilla, allowing the rich agave notes to shine through, and finishing with a smooth, lingering aftertaste.

Also making the final round was Azul Imperial, Extra Añejo Tequila, 40% ABV, 750 ml. At an average retail price under $20, this expression is an outstanding value. The LAWSC described the Tequila as expressing:

A perfect balance of agave and wood, with complex layers of caramel and brown sugar, all while maintaining a strong agave presence throughout.

Both the US (45% ABV) and the Mexican (38% ABV) versions of Tres Generaciones Tequila Añejo made the final round for Best Añejo Tequila. The Judging Panel described the Tequila, as exhibiting:

A rich, creamy profile with notes of vanilla, crème brûlée, and butterscotch, balanced by oak, tobacco, and caramel, while hints of brown sugar and peppery spice add complexity.

Finally, Casa Maestri Reserva MFM Casa Maestri Reserva MFM Añejo Tequila, 40% ABV, 750 ml also made the final round. The Judging Panel described the Tequila as offering:

A balanced profile with sweet orange and cooked agave notes, complemented by a jammy richness and a smooth, lingering finish.

La Perseverancia 150 Aniversario 1873 Edición Especial Extra Añejo 40% ABV, 750 ml, was the Best-in-Class Extra Añejo Tequila.

La Perseverancia is Casa Sauza’s historic distillery. Founded in 1873 by Don Cenobio Sauza in Tequila, it has been instrumental in shaping the Tequila industry with a consistent record of innovation.

In 2023, to commemorate its 150th anniversary, Casa Sauza released the Sauza 1873 Limited 150th Anniversary Edition Extra Añejo Tequila. This special edition blends Extra Añejo Tequilas aged between 4 and 10 years in American white oak barrels.

The Tequila is a dark amber, indicative of its extended aging. The nose features aromas of roasted agave, vanilla, caramel, well-seasoned oak, and hints of dried fruit and spice. It’s sweet on the palate, featuring roasted agave, caramel, vanilla, seasoned oak, dried fruit notes of raisin and fig, spice notes of cinnamon and clove, and a touch of chocolate. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering dried fruit, spice, and oak notes.

The LAWSC Judging Panel described the Extra Añejo Tequila as featuring:

An agave-driven profile with oak notes, complemented by the herbal freshness of rosemary and lavender and a subtle nuttiness, while a hint of black pepper adds depth and complexity.

Three other Extra Añejo Tequilas made the final round. El Tequileño Extra Añejo 65th Anniversary Edition, 40% ABV, 750 ml, was described by the LAWSC Judging Panel as being:

Exceptionally elegant and complex, with aromatic chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar notes, fresh floral hints, a rounded, balanced profile of mellow agave, and a slight sweetness.

Black Sheep Tequila 7 YO Additive Free/Organic Extra Añejo, Los Altos, 40% ABV, 750 ml, was described by the Judging Panel as exhibiting:

A beautifully balanced, aromatic profile with rich notes of dark chocolate, spice, and brown sugar, complemented by creamy caramel, delivering a smooth and complex experience.

Another Black Sheep expression in the final round was Black Sheep Tequila Añejo, Los Altos, 40% ABV, 750 ml. The Judging Panel described the Tequila as showing:

Elegance and complexity, with aromatic notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and fresh honey, balanced by well-integrated oak and leather, a smooth, mellow mouthfeel, and a sweet nose that leads into a long, satisfying aftertaste with a nice presence of agave.

Patrón Tequila Cristalino, 40% ABV, 750 ml, was the Best-in-Class Cristalino Tequila.

Patrón Cristalino Tequila is a premium expression that combines the complexity of aged Tequila with the clarity and smoothness of a Blanco. Crafted from Patrón Añejo, it undergoes a meticulous filtration process using a complex, multi-staged charcoal filtration, which removes the color imparted during aging, while preserving the rich flavors.

The Cristalino Tequila is crystal clear. On the nose, it showcases aromas of caramel, creamy vanilla, and lightly toasted oak. It’s smooth and rich on the palate, with a distinctive mouth weight, featuring caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and subtle spice flavors. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of vanilla, caramel and cooked agave.

The LAWSC Judging panel described the Patron Cristalino Tequila as exhibiting:

Elegance and complexity, with exceptional oak integration and a mellow, well-balanced profile. It offers aromatic notes of vanilla and a lingering, smooth finish that showcases its refined, rounded character.

The other Cristalino Tequila finalist was Tres Generaciones Tequila Añejo Cristalino 35% ABV, 750 ml. The US bottling is at 40% ABV. The LAWSC Judging Panel described the Cristalino Tequila as featuring:

A refined, fruity profile with floral notes of agave and vanilla, layered with hints of cherry, baked apple, and cinnamon. Minerality, white and black pepper, and subtle salty and acidic nuances add depth. The finish is smooth, creamy, and sweet, with rich caramel and a touch of anis.

The inaugural Latin American World Spirits Competition highlighted a range of outstanding Añejo, Extra Añejo, and Cristalino Tequilas. Although the major Tequila producers swept most of the Best-in-Class winners, the finalists featured a range of less-known Tequila producers. Many of these brands are available in the US, even if not widely distributed. If you are an enthusiast of Tequila, they are worth seeking. All of them are outstanding.

See the Tasting Alliance web site for a detailed listing of all of the medalists. See also, The World’s Best Tequila from the NY World Spirits Competition.

Salud