Jose Cuervo Uncorks World’s First Tequila Finished in Mole Casks

(Photo: Jose Cuervo)

Jose Cuervo is expanding its high-end Reserva de la Familia line with a touch of oak, dried chiles and cocoa.

On Wednesday, the spirits juggernaut unveiled what it says is the world’s first tequila finished in mole-seasoned barrels. The tequila — named, * deep breath*, Reserva de la Familia Private Cask Collection Edition No. 2 Mole Cask — begins with 100% Blue Weber agave aged in a combination of new American and French oak, before finishing for three to four months in red Oaxaca mole-seasoned medium-toast barrels.

The brand didn’t dive too far into the details of the mole itself. The recipe it’s based on, however, typically makes use of red chilies, such as ancho or guajillo, toasted nuts, chocolate, warming spices and dried fruits.

“Mole is one of our country’s greatest culinary traditions, built layer by layer over generations, much like tequila itself,” Alejandro Coronado, Maestro Tequilero for Reserva de la Familia, remarked in a news release. “Our challenge wasn’t simply introducing mole into the barrel. It was finding the point where its notes of cacao, dried chile and spice would complement, not overpower, the natural elements imparted from the agave like fresh pepper and melon.”

The limited-edition release is now available for preorder online at a suggested retail price of $120. The tequila is bottled at 40% ABV and is expected to hit shelves nationwide in September.

Jose Cuervo may be the first brand innovating tequila plus mole, but it isn’t the first distiller snagging onto a similar concept. In fact, the most recent example hails from none other than Vermont.

At the end of last year, the always flashy WhistlePig unveiled a $600 rye whiskey finished in barrels seasoned with pulque curado, which the brand recreated with a blend of agave, cacao and a mix of Mexican chiltepín, guajillo and pasilla peppers.

It was one of the best spirits of 2025. If Jose Cuervo’s latest experiment can hold even a fraction of the same flavor, then drinkers are in for a treat. Reserva de la Familia Extra Añejo has long been our favorite bottling from Cuervo, and it would be cool to see the centuries-old brand expand with something truly new.