Taster’s Club’s Top 10 Tequila Extra Añejo Picks for 2023
Written by Emma C | Updated April 2023
Indulge in the world of tequila like never before with Extra Anejo Tequila, a category renowned for its exceptional aging process. Aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels, this tequila variety boasts a richness and complexity that captivate the palates of tequila aficionados. The extended aging period allows the flavors to evolve and mature, unveiling a remarkably smooth and sophisticated taste that sets it apart from other tequilas. If you have an appreciation for life's finer pleasures, Extra Anejo Tequila is an experience that simply cannot be missed. We’ve tasted many great extra anejos and are here to help you find the best bottles with this Taster’s Club top 10 tequila extra añejo bottles guide for 2023.
Best Extra Añejo Tequila Recommendations In Our Bottle Shop
Best Overall
1. Tequila Avión Reserva 44
Handcrafted in limited batches, Avión Reserva 44 is aged for at least 36 months in American oak barrels. It has aromas of cooked agave, hazelnuts, and vanilla, flavors of honey, caramel, vanilla, almonds, and oak, and a medium-long, nutty, and spicy finish.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Honey, Caramel, Vanilla, Oak, Almond | ABV: 40%
2. Alquimia Reserva De Oro Extra Añejo 14 Year Tequila
Extra Añejo Reserva de Oro is aged 14 years in white oak barrels. This sipping tequila has spicy aromas and flavors of dark caramel on rye, cedar plank, nutmeg, dark chocolate, cinnamon, cardamom, and toasted almonds. With a lively, fruity medium-full body and a very long, warming finish, the spirit evokes notes of flamed orange, toffee, flan, and a dark roasted agave finish.
Region: Los Altos | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Cedar, Nutmeg, Spice, Chocolate | ABV: 50%
3. Corralejo Tequila 1821 Extra Anejo
Aged 36 months in charred American oak barrels, this estate-grown tequila is made with 100% Blue Weber Agave hand-harvested from the maker’s fields in the state of Guanajuato. Perfected by the French in distilling Cognac, the 400-year-old Charentais double-distillation method allows for exceptional aroma and flavor retention.
Tasting Notes: Oak, Agave, Pepper | ABV: 40%
Best for Gift
4. Komos Tequila Extra Anejo
Matured for a minimum of three years in French oak white wine barrels and American bourbon barrels, this tequila reveals opulence and an extraordinary complexity. The palate comes alive with flavors of dried orange peels, candied ginger, and toasted pecans.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Dried Orange Peels, Ginger, Toasted Pecans. | ABV: 40%
5. Jose Cuervo Tequila Reserva De La Familia Extra
Reserva de la Familia® Extra Añejo stands as the crowning achievement within the Jose Cuervo tequila range. It begins with the careful selection of the finest 10-12-year-old agaves, with only the most flavorful inner portion of the agave's heart chosen to craft this exceptional 100% Blue Agave Extra Añejo Tequila.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Honey, Oak, Agave, Black Pepper | ABV: 38%
6. Number Juan Tequila Extra Añejo
Aging for 3.5 years in retired & charred white oak American bourbon barrels allows every essence from the barrel to come forth in Number Juan Tequila Extra Añejo. From earth to barrel to bottle, this 11-year process delivers a superior & world-class spirit with oak, vanilla, pepper, and caramel flavors.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Oak, Vanilla, Pepper, Caramel | ABV: 40%
7. La Adelita Extra Anejo Tequila
After the initial notes of honeyed heather, sassafras, marzipan, and apricot nectar, the palate awakens with flavors reminiscent of sweet milk chocolate and white-peppered orange blossom. This captivating aroma lingers throughout, delivering a Cognac-like sipping experience.
Region: Los Altos | Tasting Notes: Fruit, Oak, Cooked Agave| ABV: 40%
Best Value
8. San Matias Gran Reserva Extra Añejo Tequila
In 1993, Casa San Matias introduced the first extra añejo tequila to the world. San Matias Gran Reserva is a one-of-a-kind drink with a noble character that reflects the precision identifying the brand for over 130 years. The spirit offers aromas of agave, oak, cinnamon, and fruit, with flavors of vanilla, caramel, and oak, and a long, peppery-sweet finish.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Caramel, Oak | ABV: 40%
Best Splurge
9. Herradura Selección Suprema Extra Añejo
Incredibly complex yet very smooth and aged for 49 months in American white oak barrels, Herradura Selección Suprema is the brand’s most premium ultra-rested tequila. It takes on an extremely rich, dark amber color with cooked agave, spice, and floral notes, along with a lasting, subtly-sweet aftertaste.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Agave, Spice, Floral | ABV: 40%
10. Don Fulano Extra Imperial Extra Anejo Tequila
Experience Don Fulano Imperial, an extra añejo tequila aged 5-12 years in French Oak barrels from renowned wine regions with a sherry cask finish. Bursting with fruity and spicy notes, it's the pinnacle of tequila craftsmanship, blending the Highlands of Jalisco and the Valleys of Tequila in every sip.
Region: Jalisco | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Vanilla, Oak, Dried Fruit | ABV: 40%
With these mouth-watering Taster’s Club best extra añejo tequila picks for 2023, all available in our bottle shop, you'll always be ready to go whenever last-minute guests pop in or you're simply craving something different. Or, for a more curated experience, join our Tequila Club. With two tiers to choose from, you’ll get a new monthly selection from award-winning producers.
Tequila Extra Añejo FAQs
What is tequila?
Tequila is a distilled alcoholic spirit and type of mezcal that comes from the Mexico-native Blue Weber agave plant. When the plant matures, which usually takes over 7 years, agave farmers (jimadors) harvest it and send its hearts to distilleries, which then create tequila.
Mexican law states that tequila must be produced specifically in the Mexican regions of Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas.
How is tequila made?
To make tequila, ingredients are gathered to create either "Puro” tequilas - those wholly made from 100% Blue Weber agave - or “mixto” tequilas - those with at least 51% agave (and the rest being sugars). From there, the tequila wash is mixed and fermented for about 5-7 days, then strained to remove solid material (as this can affect purity).
Once that's done, the wash goes through two distillations. The first is without separating the heads, hearts, and tails, and the other distillate is separated. If the spirit is to be aged, this comes next – for instance, extra añejos are aged for at least 3 years.
What is tequila's history?
During the time of about 1,000 B.C., the Olmecs drank pulque, a milky fermented drink originating from the agave plant's sap. Later on, the Aztecs adapted it for themselves during the Spanish invasion of the 1400s when the Spanish appropriated the drink. Agave and mud were used to distill spirits until the 1600s, at which time the first mass distillery was built (by Marquis de Altamira, and this was in Tequila, Jalisco). Then, in 1758, the Cuervo family got into tequila making, as did the Sauza family in 1873. These makers are both still prominent in the industry today.
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