Cazcanes Astor Select Single Barrel D18 Anejo Tequila

I have a confession: I don’t generally like aged tequila. Many tequila makers use oak aging to mask bad juice and impurities, leading to overpriced garbage that reeks of vanilla extract and overcooked caramel. But when an esteemed producer, Cazcanes, teamed up with Astor I knew to expect the unexpected. Cazcanes, under the guidance of Master Distiller Francisco Jiménez Lazcarro at Tequileria TAP in Amatitán, has been making waves by exposing the general public to traditional tequila. Astor’s Select Single Barrel D18 Anejo Tequila, aged for 18 months in medium charred American Oak, adds a punctuation mark to all of the hype. Deep agave notes of ripe banana, raw honey, passion fruit, and spice cake give way to a palate that’s sweet, but complex with a long, warming, and slightly peppery finish. Perfect for connoisseurs and skeptics alike.