Don Julio 1942

Don Julio 1942 is a tequila from Los Altos, the highland part of Jalisco, bottled at 40% ABV and aged a minimum of two and a half years. That puts it in the añejo tier, which in the Mexican tequila categories means more than a year in oak, and it sits well above the unaged Blanco and the two-month-to-a-year Reposado. Los Altos agave is generally grown in red clay soil and tends to give rounder, sweeter, fruitier spirits than the more herbal, peppery lowland style, so expect that sweetness to be the base the barrel works on. Time in oak does the usual añejo work. The raw, vegetal bite of a Blanco softens, and cooked agave sweetness takes on vanilla, caramel, toasted oak and baking-spice notes, with a long, smooth finish. Styles like this usually keep some roasted agave in the background, often with dried fruit or a touch of chocolate or coffee, but the barrel clearly leads. If you want to taste the plant itself, a Blanco is the better pick. If you want a tequila that behaves more like a lightly aged whisky or brandy, this is the bottle. Most people will want to sip it neat. Pour a measure into a caballito, a tall tequila shot glass, or a small snifter or Glencairn, which concentrates the oak and vanilla aromas. Room temperature shows the most. A single large ice cube in a rocks glass is a fair compromise if you prefer it cooler, though chilling mutes the aromatics and heavy dilution wastes the aging. Salt is unnecessary here, and a lime wedge would work against the barrel notes. A slice of orange or a few pieces of dark chocolate pair better. Cocktails are possible but not where this tequila is strongest. A Margarita made with it will be rounder and warmer than the usual bright, citrus-led version, so use fresh lime, a little orange liqueur or agave syrup, and a rocks glass with a salted half rim. Its best cocktail use is a spirit-forward drink such as an Old Fashioned built with agave syrup and a dash of bitters, which lets the oak show. A Paloma or Ranch Water, with grapefruit soda or lime and sparkling water, will work, but the carbonation and acidity cover most of what you paid for. For those long drinks, a Blanco or Reposado is the more sensible choice.