Fuenteseca Reserva Extra Anejo 18 Year Old 1995 Tequila (750ml / 43.5%)

Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca distilled this lot in September 1995, and consisted of 75% tequila distilled in copper column stills and 25% tequila distilled in copper alembic stills. The entire run was laid into 180L Canadian white oak casks previously used to age Canadian rye whiskey, at a warehouse located at 4,600’ in the town of Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco. The casks remained there for six years. In 2001, the tequilas were extracted from their casks, blended together and re-barreled, with 47% returned to Canadian white oak casks and the remaining 53% going into 220L European dark oak barrels previously used to age California red wine. The refilled casks were then moved from Atotonilco el Alto to a hillside facility El Chapingo, with its cooler, breezier climate, and left to age for an additional twelve years.

Fuenteseca Tequila has long held a revered place in the tequila world with aficionados seeking out the extra extra aged spirit.

Extra añejo tequilas in the Fuenteseca line start at a minimum of 7 years and reach all the way up to 21 years. Given that blue weber agave takes 8-10 years to mature to be used to make tequila, these expressions can take nearly 30 years to produce! Enrique Fonseca began experimenting with aging extra añejo tequilas back in the early 2000’s and not only varies the time the tequila rest, but the types of barrels and altitudes in which they rest. From the traditional American and French oak barrels to used bourbon casks, or wine barrels, Enrique has created some of the most unique aged tequilas available.

Most other sipping tequila producers fill their barrels and casks and they stay put for the duration of the aging but not with Fuenteseca tequila. As Enrique tests and tends to the barrels, he will sometimes move them from one location or elevation to another to achieve the tequila aging speed and profile he is looking for. The Fuenteseca Reserva Extra Añejo 21 year, for example, was aged in Canadian rye whiskey barrels for 10 years on a dry, earthen-floor in Atotonilco before being moved to a higher, cooler climate in a different town for an additional 11 years.

AROMA: Unique, sweet fruits, floral and some citrus. earthiness and complex.
TASTE: The flavour opens with spice - cinnamon and pepper. A little fruit and floral flavour follows but not nearly close to the incredible complexity in the aroma. Medium finish that stays spicy on the tongue.
BARREL: Canadian white oak ex-rye whisky, European dark oak ex-wine
ENJOY: Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.