Riazul Tequila Anejo

Picked this up from Wine World after reading the reviews here. For $50 this is a HUGE disappointment. From the moment I took my first smell I picked up a very familiar "cheap" smell that I swore I had encountered before. When I looked up the NOM I almost fell over. EL CHARRO!!! About two years ago a company in south FL went belly up and left an entire warehouse of booze sitting to be auctioned off. One of my local liquor stores took advantage of this and purchased tons of El Charro and were selling them off at $8 a bottle. At that price I bought a few bottles. It was not bad, but not good either but a bargain at $8. NOTHING I would ever pay more than about $15 for. So essentially what we have with Riazul is El Charro put into USED COGNAC barrels so sub par juice can be sold at a premium price. It tastes way too much like cognac. I don't like my agave juice to taste like other alcohols. I have this same feeling about almost all of the tequilas who age in used whiskey barrels, just don't do it. If I wanted to taste whiskey or cognac I would buy whiskey or cognac. This tequila is OK. I can deal with it, but that is as far as it goes.

I also must disagree with other peoples feelings about the presentation. I actually think the bottle looks quite classy.

You do not buy this tequila for the bottle, what a bad decision in presentation but the good news the actual tequila is good. It has a nice complexity with agave notes, spices, some flower notes and fruits typical of tequila from los Altos. The barrel is precent with caramel some almond and butter. Nice body and color, the aftertaste is long and full of aromas from the tequila and the barrel.

This is a unique anejo. Like no other I've tasted. And I have to admit that I was disappointed the first time. But after a few days I was curious enough to go back for seconds. Then thirds. Lather, rinse, repeat. In short, I "learned" to like it. Now, I truly enjoy it. This has a rich, complex flavor with (strangely enough) a hint of cinnamon, which is what I objected to, initially. After adjusting my attitude, I realize that's just one component to this anejo's multifaceted character.

But what's with the bottle? That postmodern rectangular shape with the industrial, focus-group approved graphics looks like an oversize perfume jug.

First off talk about a bottle scaring you away. It looks like a large bottle of cologne. I usually buy my liquor online, but needed a last minute gift for a dinner party. Found it locally (NYC) for $59. I don't pay that much for favorites like Corrido or Don Pilar. I tasted it in a shot glass which was not my choice. I was expecting quite a lot with such a high rating from members and editors, but I was quite disappointed. While I did find the nose interesting with scents of wood and vanilla, I found the taste very un-tequilalike. I think the spices were a bit much. They were too overpowering and, for me, seemed to mask the earthiness I come to expect from the agave. My rating is generous.