As the weather turns cooler and the days grow shorter, drinkers are looking towards nuanced aged spirits. And while whisk(e)y might be the top choice, don’t sleep on tequila this fall and winter. Especially extra añejo tequila.
I’ve spent almost two decades writing about alcohol. If you ask me, one of the best alternatives to whiskey is extra añejo tequila. This dark auburn-hued spirit is matured for a minimum of three years (and often aged for much more).
The result is a multi-layered, nuanced spirit that has the roasted agave, vegetal sweetness, and spices you expect from an aged tequila. The longer aging period adds flavors that whiskey drinkers enjoy as well. This includes toasted vanilla beans, wintry spices, dried fruits, toffee, and charred oak. It’s on the pricier side of the tequila world, but well worth it for whiskey drinkers.
Four extra añejo tequilas for whiskey drinkers
Now that you’ve learned a little about the appeal of extra añejo tequila, it’s time to find some to add to your home bar cart. Below, you’ll find the best examples of extra añejo tequila for whiskey drinkers. Just keep in mind that – like with a long-aged whiskey – you’re going to pay a little more for an epic extra añejo tequila. Still interested? Keep scrolling to see them all.
Tears of Llorona
Fans of tequila know all about the appeal of Tears of Llorona. This small-batch tequila is released in limited quantities. It was matured for five years in a mixture of different barrels, including single malt Scotch whisky, sherry, and brandy casks. The result is a sublime, highly sippable tequila filled with flavors like caramelized sugar, dried fruits, vanilla beans, cinnamon, and oak. It’s the kind of expression you’ll want to sip neat on a cool evening.
G4 7-Year Extra Añejo
Made from 100% Blue Weber agave by renowned master distiller Felipe Camarena, this 84-proof expression was matured for a minimum of seven years in ex-George Dickel barrels. This creates an epically smooth tequila centered on flavors like roasted agave, dried fruits, chocolate, cracked black pepper, vanilla, and pipe tobacco. Warm and memorable, it’s a great compliment to a roaring fireplace.
Don Fulano Imperial
Don Fulano Imperial is an extra añejo tequila aged exclusively in French oak barrels from regions such as Burgundy and Bordeaux. This results in a memorable, mellow tequila that carries a myriad of notable flavors, including raisins, dried cherries, coffee beans, chocolate, maple candy, cinnamon, pipe tobacco, and gentle roasted agave sweetness. Sip it neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a cocktail you’d normally use whiskey to make.
ArteNom Seleccion 1146
If you only purchase one of the extra añejo tequilas on this list, make it ArteNom Seleccion 1146. It might be the least expensive expression on this list, but it’s no less noteworthy. Aged for a total of three years, it spends time in French oak barrels and oak whiskey barrels. This results in a complex tequila filled with notes of roasted agave, candied nuts, chocolate, caramel, baking spices, and oak. It’s the perfect sipping tequila for an unseasonably chilly night.
