AN Authentic Style

ESPANITA TEQUILA CONTINUES TO INNOVATE WITH DOUBLE

BARREL REPOSADO

By Michael Tulipan

The art of barrel aging has a new showpiece with the debut of Espanita Tequila’s excellent Double Barrel Reposado. Building on its reputation for meticulous aging and high-quality agave spirits, Espanita Tequila set out to show what an aged Reposado could be when different wood was used in the process. The Double Barrel Reposado serves as the first release in the line.

While aging tequila produces crowd pleasing bestsellers, Espanita Tequila President Marina Wilson believes that tequila is challenging to age since the strong flavors imparted by the oak can overwhelm the spirit. “While some think that the longer the maturation period is, the better the taste would be, this is not entirely correct,” she says. “It is very easy for a delicate aromatic tequila to turn into a generic brown spirit where its true heart and soul, its agave presence, is all but gone.”

To create the Double Barrel Reposado, the distillery team starts with Espanita’s traditionally handcrafted Blanco tequila that has been produced in small batches from 100% mature Highlands blue agave. The small batch slow distillation allows for better separation of the “heads” and “tails” from the purest middle portion of the batch that represents tequila’s sweet spot, the “corazon.”

For the two-step aging process, the Blanco is first rested in American oak casks for up to four months, followed by maturation for another two to four months in single use, recently emptied Kentucky bourbon casks sourced directly from the distillery. Under the careful eye of Espanita’s master distiller, the goal of the “perfect match” develops through the interaction of the agave spirits with the toasted oak barrels.

“We are fully committed to producing aged tequila that features harmonic balance between the underlying 100% Highlands Blue Agave foundation, with its unmistakable aromatic fruity and citrusy Los Altos terroir, and wood-derived flavors and aromas,” shares Wilson. For the Double Barrel Resposado, the ex-bourbon casks mellow the spirit and contribute flavors and aromas of caramel, nuts like walnut and almond, vanilla bean and brown butter.

This authentic style tequila features an excellent structure and nuanced bourbon accented finish with a flavor profile that lends itself to sipping or in a premium cocktail. Wilson suggests swapping Double Barrel Reposado for other tequilas in cocktails to give more depth of flavor to your creation. You can also pair the spirit with liqueurs and amaros like Yellow Chartreuse, Aperol and Campari, as well as fruits like orange, pineapple, and ripe berries.

Double Barrel Reposado is quickly gaining fans across the United States and already has been awarded 97 points and a triple gold medal at the 2022 MicroLiquor Spirits Awards.

Continuing its dedication to innovation, Espanita plans to launch a Double Barrel Añejo in the second half of 2023, along with collection of “Signature Infusions” using the highest quality Mexican grown ingredients like lime, grapefruit, and pineapple.