So, I’d been seeing this bottle around, looked kinda different from the usual Don Julio stuff I knew. Kept telling myself I should grab one next time I was out.
Finally did it the other day. Was at the store, saw it sitting there on the shelf, and thought, “Alright, today’s the day.” Wasn’t even sure what specific version it was, just knew it looked like a newer addition to their lineup, at least new to me. Grabbed the bottle – nice heft to it, looked pretty slick, gotta admit.
Got home later that evening, felt like the right time to crack it open. You know that little ritual – peeling off the seal, the satisfying little ‘pop’ of the cork. Poured a bit into a glass, just neat. Wanted to get the real taste first, no ice, no lime, nothing to mess with it.
Gave it a swirl, took a sniff. Smelled like agave, yeah, but maybe a bit… sharper? Hard to put my finger on it. Looked good in the glass, nice color.
Alright, the moment of truth…
Took that first sip. Okay. Definitely tequila. It had that familiar warmth spreading out. Smooth? Reasonably smooth, yeah. Didn’t have a harsh bite, which was good. There was a bit of sweetness upfront, then the agave flavor came through pretty clearly.
Had another sip, thinking about it. It wasn’t quite like the Blanco, not quite like the Reposado I usually go for. It felt like it was trying to be somewhere in between, maybe? Or just something different altogether. There was a finish… kinda peppery? Left a little tingle.
- Smell: Agave, a bit sharp.
- Taste: Smooth start, some sweetness, clear agave, peppery finish.
- Feel: Warm, not too harsh.
Sat with it for a while. It’s decent, don’t get me wrong. Solidly made stuff. But did it blow me away? Honestly, not really. It felt a little… safe? Maybe I was expecting something more distinctive because it looked different.
Finished the glass. My final take? It’s alright. A perfectly fine tequila. Good quality, like you’d expect from Don Julio. But for me, personally? I think I still prefer their classic Añejo or even the 1942 if I’m feeling fancy. This new one… yeah, it was okay. Glad I tried it, ticked that box. Not sure I’d rush out to buy another bottle right away, though. Might stick to my old favorites for now.
