October 17, 2006

Fina Estampa Anejo Tequila Review

Fina Estampa Anejo
100% Agave Anejo Tequila
Imported from Mexico
80 Proof (40% ABV)
Typical Price: $40-$45
Fina Estampa Website

We've come to the third bottle in this week's Tequila Trilogy, and we're still going strong on Fina Estampa. We've been high all week on their presentation, their price point and most of all their liquor, so let's trudge on and see how their Anejo stacks up. For the uninitiated, Anejo tequila has typically been aged in oak barrels for ~~a minimum of~~ one to three years, and all we can say is it's a good thing we weren't around or we probably would have chewed through the wood to get at the lovely cactus juice inside. Do you think that means we have a problem?

Color:
Clear

Nose:
Far less pepper, with more sherry notes and even a whiskey back end, followed by a whiff of smoke

Taste:
This stuff is smokey, oily and thicker, as though its time sitting in the oak cask caused it to lose extra water that would impede the flavor. There is a nice sweet burn on the finish, and the smoke lasts for a good while after you swallow. It's warm in all the right places and still has some latent peppery flavor just to remind you of the blanco it came from.

Verdict:
Good stuff, and definitely worth a try for tequila enthusiasts. This is the kind of bottle you sit down with when you're trying to work your way through a complex problem in your life, then finish the bottle without even thinking about it. It's smooth and smokey and has a hint of mystery...and it's a mystery we like all the way to the end. Drink this guy straight or on the rocks, and don't forget - slow and steady wins the race.

Below is a list of the states where you can currently get your hands on a bottle:

Oregon
California
Idaho
Colorado
New Mexico
Michigan
Florida
Georgia
Tennessee
New York
New Jersey
Indiana
Illinois