January 2024

Luminar Mezcal Joven

Luminar Mezcal Joven

40% ABV
$30
Website
Luminar Mezcal Joven

What the Bottle Says

100% Agave
PROTECTED APPELLATION OF ORIGIN
MADE IN MEXICO

Origin: Zacatecas. Agave tequilana

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Mezcal (so read at your own risk!)
Nose:  Sweet, vegetal with fresh but mild green pepper, only a hint of cigar smoke.
Palate:  Viscous, sweet with a vegetal note and a hint of corn and honey.
Finish:  Short and drying, sweet with roasted corn.
Comments: Picked up a 50 mL of this along with two other Luminar offerings. Some of the reviews I’ve read on this called out that it is more like a tequila than a mezcal. While not terribly familiar with either, this definitely isn’t smokey like I’ve come to expect with mezcal. Pretty uninspiring and forgettable.

Rating: Average

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El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Tequila

El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Tequila

40% ABV
$130
Website
El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo tequila
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

To celebrate and honor El Mayor’s 25th anniversary, Master Distiller Rodolfo Gonzalez selected 25 barrels of the distillery’s oldest stock to create a unique, limited-edition tequila: El Mayor Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged. The ultra-premium tequila is aged for 39 months in American Oak bourbon barrels and distilled from Blue Weber agave from the valley area of Jalisco, Mexico. A limited allocation of approximately 6,000 bottles will be available at a suggested retail price of $129.99 per 750-ml. bottle. Distilled and produced at Destiladora Gonzalez Lux in Arandas, Mexico, the limited-edition tequila will be available nationwide in July 2023.

“This limited-edition Extra Añejo tequila is the culmination of 25 years of knowledge, expertise and innovation,” said Graciela Gonzalez, fourth-generation distiller and daughter of Rodolfo Gonzalez. “The result is an extraordinarily smooth, well-balanced tequila with elegant oak hints, baking spices and dried fruit on the nose and palate. It’s a gorgeous expression worthy of marking such a significant milestone.”

The El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged bottle features a silver label and embossed detail around the neck. It is packaged in an attractive black box with silver markings that complement the label.

“The tequila category is experiencing a meteoric rise, fueled by award-winning brands like El Mayor,” said Chelsi Hofmeister, brand manager for El Mayor. “This latest 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo tequila is sure to be sought after by those who recognize and appreciate exceptional tequila.”

For recipes and more information about El Mayor and the limited-edition 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged tequila, or to find a retailer, visit elmayor.com or follow the brands @elmayortequila on Facebook and Instagram.

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Tequila (so read at your own risk!)
Nose: Vanilla, agave, vegetal note, hint of tangerine and nutmeg.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with agave nectar, apples, vanilla, touch of cinnamon and a bit earthy.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with honey, dried fruit and pepper.
Comments: Not a tequila aficionado by any stretch, but of my limited experience, I found this to be quite nice. As a bourbon fan, you definitely get that influence which I appreciate. And this made a fabulous margarita!

Rating: Stands Out

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