Eight years of patience and a centuries-old cellar in Jalisco have shaped Fuenteseca Reserva into one of the most extraordinary extra anejo tequilas to emerge from the Tequila region, bearing the unmistakable hand of master distiller Enrique Fonseca.

Distilled in the spring of 2008 at NOM 1146, this expression combines two distillation methods: three-quarters crafted in a double-copper column still with plates removed to achieve a lower proof, and one-quarter in an alembic pot still. The resulting distillate was then split between used California red wine barrels of American white oak and dark French oak casks, all rested for the full eight years in a damp-climate cellar dating to the early 1900s, originally built as a water cistern. That cool, humid environment slowed the aging process to produce a tequila of rare depth and integration.

• Nose: Red wine character mingles with red soft fruits, dried sweet cherries, and warm vanilla for a rich, inviting aroma.
• Palate: Cooked agave leads into sun-dried grapes, crisp red apple, warm vanilla, and drying oak tannins for a layered and complex mid-palate.
• Finish: Sweet and full on the approach, closing with a long, dry tannic finish that lingers beautifully.

The depth and wine-barrel complexity of this Fuenteseca extra anejo make it an exceptional choice for sipping neat, though it also elevates a classic Old Fashioned or a spirit-forward Manhattan for those who enjoy exploring aged tequila in cocktail form.

Best enjoyed neat or over a single large ice cube to let the full 8-year character open up. Fuenteseca Reserva Extra Anejo is produced from highland blue agave in the Tequila region of Jalisco, Mexico.