Review: El Mayor Tequila Rosado Reposado – Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Aged
After years of cranking out extra anejo special editions, for 2024, El Mayor has turned its attention elsewhere: to the humble reposado, in the form of this “Rosado” tequila, which presents itself in a vibrant shade of pinkish orange. The color comes from finishing in cabernet sauvignon casks for nine months — which means it must not be aged in bourbon barrels for much time (if at all) in order to stay under the one year threshold that defines the reposado style.
Despite the pink color that may connote cotton candy, the nose of the tequila is bold with agave, showcasing the peppery, herbal quality at the core of the spirit, well above any impact from the barrel(s). Notes of fresh mint, a hint of charred wood, and some toasted coconut notes are featured as the tequila opens up with time in glass — classic reposado elements, really.
The palate finds that the tequila has ample sweetness up its sleeve, that coconut popping alongside a healthy slug of vanilla, then moving into notes of cola, expressed orange oil, and a lemon peel note as the finish approaches. There’s a certain bitterness here that’s fleeting but also interesting, adding a twist to what could have been an overly sweet experience. Chalk that up perhaps to the cabernet sauvignon barrel. While it’s not at all associated with lemon notes, the tannins in the barrel could be responsible for that gentle bitterness that’s doing some magic here — like the drops of Angostura in your Old Fashioned.
It’s a tequila that’s delightfully easy to sip on its own but which also works perfectly in a margarita thanks to its subtle citrus elements — and its reasonable price, all things considered.
80 proof. NOM 1603.
A- / $45 / elmayor.com
El Mayor Tequila Rosado Reposado - Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Aged
$45
