Don Julio 70 Anejo Claro

Don Julio 70 is a 40% ABV tequila from Los Altos, the Highlands of Jalisco, and it belongs to the small category of "claro" añejos. It is aged in barrel like any añejo, then charcoal filtered to strip out the color. The result is a clear, water-white spirit that has had the oak treatment without the amber look. That makes it hard to place on the usual Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and Extra Añejo ladder. In the glass it looks like a blanco. Its structure sits closer to an añejo. The agave in a Highlands tequila usually leans sweeter and fruitier than Lowlands bottlings, with cooked agave, citrus peel and a floral edge. Aging adds vanilla, light caramel and baking-spice notes, and a rounder texture. Charcoal filtration generally trims the heaviest oak flavors and the darkest color. A spirit like this usually keeps a gentle sweetness and a softer finish while the peppery bite of a young blanco recedes. Expect agave to stay in front, with the barrel in support. The details of the aging and filtration beyond what the producer states are not given here, so treat these as typical expectations for the style and not a measured profile. Because the spirit is clear and smooth, it works best neat. Pour about an ounce and a half into a caballito or a small tulip-shaped tasting glass, at cool room temperature. A single large ice cube in a rocks glass is a good alternative if you want it slightly chilled and a little softer. Salt and lime are better left out of a pour like this, since they cover the delicate sweetness you are paying for. In cocktails, it suits drinks where the tequila needs to be heard. A Margarita made with fresh lime and a restrained measure of orange liqueur or agave syrup will show more depth than one made with a basic blanco. The same goes for a Paloma, built with grapefruit soda or fresh grapefruit juice, lime and a pinch of salt over ice. Ranch Water, which is tequila, lime and sparkling mineral water in a tall glass, is also a good fit, and the roundness of the spirit keeps it from tasting thin. These drinks are all fine uses, but a spirit with this much aging character is easiest to appreciate in a simple, spirit-forward serve.