Pinot Noir Meets Rosé In Latest Limited-Edition Añejo from Inspiro Tequila

(Photo: Inspiro)

On Tuesday, Inspiro expanded its catalog of additive-free tequilas with an expression aged in two types of wine barrels.

The brand’s new Special Reserve Añejo spends its first four months in ex-rosé French Oak casks before transferring to pinot noir barrels for an additional 15 months. The end result is bottled at 44% ABV — four notches higher than the brand’s flagship Blanco and Reposado, the latter of which is purportedly the first tequila to ever be aged in rosé casks.

Unlike those offerings, the Special Reserve Añejo has been whittled down to a limited release of just 600 bottles. The expression is now available for preorder at a suggested retail price of $129.99.

“A few years ago when we were developing our Inspiro Tequila Rosa Reposado, a first-of-its-kind tequila aged in ex-rosé wine barrels, we had also experimented for a time with finishing that tequila in pinot noir barrels,” CEO Mara Smith remarked in a news release.  “Though we ultimately decided not to continue to use those pinot noir barrels for our Rosa Reposado, the tequila in those casks continued to age, and when we tasted it recently, we realized we had something truly special.”

Inspiro was founded by former attorney Mara Smith in 2020. Distilled, owned and led by women since its inception, the brand’s flavor profile was overseen by maestra tequilera Ana María Romero Mena, who also had a hand in bringing to market renowned imprints including Mijenta and Volcan de Mi Tierra.

The brand is easily identifiable on liquor store shelves from its pinkish hue imbued by ex-rosé barrels. Variously dubbed “rosa” or “rosado” tequila, the technique has taken off like wildfire over the past few years with high-profile co-signs from some of the biggest names in the industry. If you’ve spent any time browsing the tequila aisle in recent months, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the usual suspects — more than one is backed by a celebrity.

Unlike the vast majority of its competition, however, Inspiro abides by a confirmed additive-free recipe. It’s also worth noting that the brand is distilled at NOM 1614, the same facility behind fan-favorite Tres Agaves and the recent internet darling Cazcanes.