Corazón (Corazon) de Agave Single Estate Añejo (anejo) is produced by family-run distillery Casa San Matías (Matias), NOM 1103 in Jalisco, and master distiller Rocío Rodríguez. Casa San Matías produces a number of other tequilas including Rey Sol extra añejo, the San Matías tahona series, the San Matías Gran Reserva line, & the Pueblo Viejo line. The reposado under review here is part of the distillery’s budget-friendly Corazón de Agave Single Estate line, which also includes a blanco, a reposado, an extra añejo, and single barrel store picks finished in American White Oak barrels formerly used for Sazerac whiskies including Buffalo Trace, W. L. Weller, Blanton’s, and Eagle Rare. Corazón de Agave also produces a special release line-up, the “Expresiones” series.
The Corazón de Agave Single Estate Añejo is produced using roller mill extraction, clay oven cooking (for 48 hours) of the 7 to 10-year-old Weber Blue agaves harvested from a single farm in Los Altos, open-air fermentation for 72 hours in stainless steel tanks with a mix of proprietary yeast and native natural open-air yeast, double distillation in stainless steel pot stills, and oxygenation after the second distillation. It is cut to 80 proof (40% ABV) using natural spring water and is then aged in American White Oak barrels for 16 to 18 months. In the glass, it is a light golden yellow color (like an apple juice) and coats the sides of the glass nicely with legs/tears and pearls.
This tasting notes review is based on five separate tastings on 2, 3, 8, 11, and 15 October 2024 using both Riedel tequila flute and Glassique Cadeau tequila copita glasses.
Like the Corazón de Agave Single Estate Reposado, the añejo’s aroma profile is quite understated. On the first tasting on 2 October with no resting there was a waft of alcohol with a sweetness that was a mix of cooked agave with light sweet baking spices, caramel, vanilla, oak/barrel spices, light white pepper, and a distinct fruity smell like a mix of red berries and citrus. After resting in the glass for over 30 minutes, the aroma profile had opened up and were more prominent, beyond the initial alcohol, on the nose. The profile remained the same but the other aromas, aside from the alcohol, had become more discernible. The alcohol was still there but it was no longer as overpowering as it was right after the bottle was cracked open.
On the palate with no resting the añejo had a lighter mouthfeel, though it did briefly coat the mouth (and continues to have a short-lived mouthfeel). The sip started with a light hit of cooked agave and sweet baking spices, caramel, vanilla, and the fruity/citrusy sweetness from the nose followed by a hit of pepperiness and alcohol heat/warming in the mouth and throat. There was also a slight hint of anise-like/vegetal bitterness on the backend with a light smokiness and some oak influence/barrel spice from the aging process. The flavor profile was and remains rather subtle and understated, more so than some añejos.
After resting for over a half hour in the glass, the light mouthfeel remained with a relatively short finish after swallowing a sip. The flavor profile remained the same as before it rested with the cooked agave and sweet baking spices, fruity sweetness with citrus, pepperiness, a very slight hint of anise and oak tannin short-lived bitterness, ending with a nice warming sensation on the tongue after swallowing a sip.
On subsequent tastings, the waft of alcohol from the aroma profile was significantly less than on the neck pour. The most prominent aromas were/are of fruit (like juicy red berries, raisins, and figs with citrus), light caramel and vanilla, light cooked agave and sweet cinnamon and other baking spices, light pepper, and a hint of oak influence.
The palate continues to have a light mouthfeel, briefly coating the palate before dissipating pretty quickly. It did and continues to coat the glass well. The flavor profile remains largely the same, though the alcohol hit seems to get stronger the lower the bottle gets, which isn’t unusual. The fruit-forward flavors remain prominent. There continues to be a light hint of smokiness.
While it’s not the most complex añejo, this well priced budget añejo (just over $31 in my area) is enjoyable and will make for a nice regular sipper, like it’s single estate reposado sister in the line-up.
_______________________
1792 Bourbon Agave Spirits American Single Malts American Whisky ArteNOM Añejo Tequila Blanco Tequila Blended Whisky Bourbon Whisky Bruichladdich Buffalo Trace Cocktails Código 1530 (Codigo 1530) Dulce Vida E.H. Taylor Elijah Craig El Tesoro Extra Añejo Tequila Four Roses Gin Glassware Glenlivet Irish Whisky Limestone Branch Distillery Liqueurs Lost Lore Maker's Mark Mezcal Mijenta Mt. Defiance Distillery Patrón Penelope Reposado Tequila Reviews Rye Whisky Scotch Whisky Siempre Single Malt Whisky Spirits Tequila Tequila Ocho Tequila Partida Virginia Virginia Distillery Company Whisky
Agave Spirits+ Journey 