Tequileña
Fuenteseca
43%
8 years
Fuenteseca has reputation within the agave spirits community for ultra-aged expressions, and this extra añejo is no different. According to the brand, 25% of the liquid was matured in American white oak previously used to age California red wine and the other 75% was matured in dark French oak. The tequila was distilled using lowlands agaves extracted via a mix of roller mill and screw mill, before bottling at 43% ABV. The batch we tasted for review was distilled in late spring 2008.
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A dense, oozing aroma of salted caramel dominates the nose. Everything else is surprisingly reminiscent of an Irish whiskey; maple, cloves, pear, a little bit of rose water and plenty of vanilla.
Roasted agave and piquant minerality play ball against caramel, cocoa nibs, baking spice and apple. Though it's unabashedly oak forward, there's just enough room for vegetal notes of jalapeño, bell pepper and oregano to seep through in the background. An interesting balance you rarely see in extra añejos.
Cinnamon, black pepper, pear and slate-like minerality rear their head for a drawn-out finish.
Though caramel is undeniably the star of the show, I was most impressed by the subtler flavors of minerality and green pepper that managed to make their presence known. It's a fascinating balance you're likely only to find in a quality tequila. I'd recommend this to anyone who has a few hundred bucks to spare, especially given its eminent crossover appeal. Smells like Irish whiskey, drinks like cognac and finishes like tequila. A little bit of something for everyone.
89
Disclosure: The producer provided this sample to review free of charge, and without expectation of review or rating.
