Description

Espolòn Tequila Añejo is a 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila matured for a total of twelve months to develop a richer, deeper expression of Espolòn's agave-forward house style.

The tequila spends its first ten months in new American oak barrels before being finished for two additional months in Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels. This dual maturation builds layers of roasted agave, earthy wood, butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, dried fruit and chocolate while retaining the balance and character of the spirit beneath the oak.

Bright reddish-gold in appearance and medium to full bodied on the palate, Espolòn Añejo has a velvety texture and sufficient depth to be enjoyed slowly on its own or over a single cube of ice.

Official Product Highlights

• Made from 100% Blue Weber Agave
• Añejo tequila
• Aged for a total of 12 months
• First aged 10 months in new American oak barrels
• Finished for 2 months in Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels
• Bright reddish-gold appearance
• Balanced, medium-to-full-bodied profile
• Velvety mouthfeel
• Designed particularly for sipping neat or with an ice cube

Official Tasting Notes

Appearance

Bright reddish-gold with an inviting richness that reflects its extended barrel maturation.

Aroma

Roasted agave and earthy wood are balanced by a gentle butterscotch note.

Palate

Medium to full bodied with a velvety mouthfeel, revealing caramel, vanilla, dried fruit and chocolate alongside the underlying roasted-agave character.

Overall Style

Rich, balanced and complex, with oak and bourbon-barrel influence adding depth without obscuring the character of the agave.

Official Serving Suggestion

Espolòn recommends enjoying its Añejo slowly, either on its own or with an ice cube.

The brand's featured cocktail is the Espolòn Old Fashioned, where the depth of Espolòn Añejo is complemented by agave syrup and two dashes of bitters.

Official Food Pairings

Espolòn recommends pairing the depth of Tequila Añejo with sweeter flavours, particularly:

• Desserts
• Chocolate
• Truffle with orange peel

BBPH Serving Suggestions

• Serve neat in a tequila or spirits tasting glass to appreciate its mature oak and agave character.
• Enjoy over one large cube of ice for a slower, gradually opening serve.
• Use in an agave-forward Old Fashioned with restrained sweetness and aromatic bitters.
• Pair with an after-dinner course as an alternative to whisky, Cognac or aged rum.
• Allow a few minutes in the glass before drinking to reveal its layered oak, fruit and confectionery notes.

These are Barrels & Beyond PH serving suggestions and are supplemental to Espolòn's official recommendations.

BBPH Pairing Suggestions

• Dark chocolate and chocolate-based desserts
• Chocolate truffles
• Orange and chocolate desserts
• Crème brûlée
• Caramelised nuts
• Churros with chocolate
• Flan or caramel custard
• Aged cheeses

These additional pairings are suggested by Barrels & Beyond PH. Espolòn's specifically published pairing direction is desserts, chocolate and truffle with orange peel.

Technical Information

• Brand: Espolòn
• Official Product Name: Espolòn Tequila Añejo
• Category: Tequila
• Classification: Añejo
• Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave
• Total Ageing: 12 months
• Primary Maturation: 10 months in new American oak barrels
• Primary Barrel Char: No. 2 char
• Finishing: 2 months in Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels
• Finishing Barrel Char: Wild Turkey No. 4 alligator char
• Alcohol: 40% ABV / 80 Proof
• Distillery: Casa San Nicolás
• NOM: 1440
• Production Area: Los Altos de Jalisco
• State: Jalisco
• Country: Mexico
• Bottle Size: 75cl / 750ml

Craftsmanship

Espolòn begins with 100% Blue Weber Agave harvested by hand by jimadores. The agave piñas are then steam-cooked in custom-built stainless-steel autoclaves developed by founder and Maestro Tequilero Cirilo Oropeza to achieve delicate extraction and a balance between fresh and cooked agave character.

The cooked piñas pass through roller mills to extract their remaining sugars. The leftover fibrous agave, or bagasse, is repurposed as fertiliser, including for use by local farmers.

During fermentation, Espolòn continues one of Cirilo's distinctive traditions by playing classical music while the yeast works.

Distillation combines traditional pot stills and column stills. The pot still contributes a more earthy character, while the column still creates a lighter, fruitier profile. Espolòn then selects and blends its preferred cuts to achieve its characteristic agave-forward balance.

For Espolòn Añejo, maturation takes the process further. The tequila first rests for ten months in new American oak barrels with No. 2 char before receiving a two-month finish in Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels with No. 4 alligator char.

Espolòn Tequila is distilled and bottled at Casa San Nicolás, NOM 1440, in Los Altos de Jalisco.

The Story Behind the Añejo Label

Espolòn's Añejo label celebrates the Jarabe Tapatío, internationally known as the Mexican hat dance. Traditionally associated with romantic courtship, the dance has also become an enduring symbol of Mexican cultural identity and independent spirit.

The imagery reflects a theme central to Espolòn: respecting established Mexican traditions while retaining the rebellious creativity to challenge convention. The Añejo label honours that tradition while celebrating those willing to create something new.

Across the Espolòn range, the illustrated bottle designs draw inspiration from the work of Mexican artist and printmaker José Guadalupe Posada.

Award-Winning Tequila

Espolòn's official Añejo page lists Gold recognition from several international spirits competitions:

• ASCOT Awards – Gold Winner
• New York International Spirits Competition – Gold Winner
• Beverage Testing Institute – Gold Winner

About Espolòn

Espolòn was created from the vision of Maestro Tequilero Cirilo Oropeza, who sought to combine longstanding Mexican tequila-making traditions with his own technical and creative approach.

In 1996, Cirilo began building Casa San Nicolás, NOM 1440, in Los Altos de Jalisco. The distillery became Espolòn's home and a place where the brand describes art and science as working together in the pursuit of tequila with a distinctive character.

The name Espolòn means “spur” in Spanish, referencing the rooster that became one of the brand's defining symbols. Espolòn's identity also draws heavily on the work of revolutionary Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada and on the music, colour, pride and traditions of Mexico.