Herradura Ultra Añejo Tequila

Nose: Vanilla, sweet caramel, roasted agave, toasted oak, and a hint of dried fruit. Clean and inviting, with more depth than the clarity suggests.

Palate: Smooth and full. Caramel, vanilla, baking spice, soft oak, and a gentle agave sweetness running underneath. The bourbon barrel influence is clear but well-balanced - it adds richness without overwhelming the tequila character.

Finish: Long and warm. Vanilla, sweet spice, and light oak that lingers. Exceptionally clean for a tequila with this much barrel time behind it.

• 100% Blue Weber Agave
• 49 months in bourbon barrels
• Cristalino - charcoal filtered
• One of Mexico's oldest distilleries
• Tequila Valley heritage since 1870
• Bourbon barrel character

Casa Herradura has been producing tequila in Amatitan, Jalisco since 1870. That's not a marketing line - it's one of the longest-running tequila operations in Mexico. They were among the first to commercially produce tequila and are credited with creating the reposado category in the 1970s. The estate includes its own agave fields, a traditional hacienda, and NOM 1119.

Now part of the Brown-Forman portfolio (the same group behind Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve), Herradura benefits from serious resources while maintaining the production standards that built its name. Their commitment to longer barrel ageing than the legal minimums is a consistent theme across the range - and Ultra Anejo is where that commitment hits its peak.

Neat is the move. Pour it into a good glass, give it a moment, and let it open up. The cristalino style makes it clean enough to drink straight, with no barrier to entry, but there's enough going on that it rewards some attention. Also excellent over a large ice cube or in a Tequila Old Fashioned - the bourbon barrel background makes it a natural fit. If you want to keep things simple, it holds up well in a premium Margarita, too.

At Tequila Brothers, we recommend Herradura Ultra Anejo for customers who want:

• A cristalino with real depth - not just filtered colour, but genuine barrel character
• Nearly four years of aging, well beyond the anejo minimum
• A smooth, versatile pour that works neat or in premium cocktails
• A bottle from one of Mexico's most historically significant distilleries

It's also a strong pick for whisky drinkers. The bourbon barrel aging creates familiar vanilla and caramel notes that land in comfortable territory for anyone used to American oak. Different enough to be interesting, familiar enough to click straight away.