Casamigos Anejo Gift Set

Casamigos Añejo is an aged tequila, and this gift set packages it as a present. The listing doesn't say what else is in the box, such as glasses or extra bottles, so check the contents before you buy. Under Mexican tequila rules, an añejo has spent between one and three years in oak barrels. That time in wood is what separates it from a blanco or reposado. Expect a darker amber color and a rounder, softer profile than unaged tequila. Aged expressions like this usually show vanilla, caramel, toasted oak and baking spice, with cooked agave underneath. The exact profile and proof for this bottle aren't given in the details here, so treat those notes as the typical range for the style, not measurements. Añejo does best served neat at room temperature or with a single large ice cube. Chilling it hard mutes the oak and sweetness, which are the point of paying for barrel aging. Sip it slowly and let it open up for a minute in the glass. A tulip-shaped copita or a small snifter concentrates the aroma better than a standard shot glass. A rocks glass is a good alternative if you're using a big cube. Mixing is possible, though it makes less sense here than with a blanco. If you do, choose drinks that let the barrel character show. An añejo Old Fashioned, made with a teaspoon of agave syrup, two dashes of aromatic or chocolate bitters and an orange peel, is the natural fit. A Manhattan-style twist with sweet vermouth also works. Skip the lime-and-soda drinks, since citrus tends to bury the oak. For food, aged tequila suits dark chocolate, roasted nuts, flan, caramelized fruit and grilled or slow-braised meats. Sipping it alongside a lightly smoky dish or a not-too-sweet dessert is a good way to use it.