Storywood is a very unique tequila brand that fuses the mixed heritage of its founder, chef Michael Ballantyne who was born in Scotland, raised in Texas, and has a mother from the San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. After opening a whisky bar in his mother’s hometown, he was exposed to craft tequila in depth for the first time and fell in love with it. Together with master distiller Luis Trejo at distillery La Cofradia (NOM 1137) in the Valley of Jalisco, he produces a wood-aged line of tequilas using Speyside scotch casks.
The añejo is made from Valley Blue Weber agave cooked for 72 hours in stone/brick ovens (hornos). The aguamiel is extracted using a corkscrew mill and fermented in stainless steel tanks using wild yeast before being 2x-distilled in copper pot stills. It is aged for 14 months in hand-selected Speyside scotch casks sources from Speyside Cooperage in Dufftown, entering the casks at 55% ABV before being brought to bottling 80 proof (40% ABV) using spring water from the Volcán de Tequila.
The lote (lot/batch) under review is #L-A09042210. I’ve used Denver & Liely Mezcal glasses for multiple tastings over two months.
COLOR: Gold (slightly darker than the brand’s reposado)
AROMA PROFILE: Fascinating mix of a lightly peated scotch single malt with earthy cooked & musky raw agave, fresh herbs, vegetal/grassy notes (roasted chili pepper), light baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), black pepper, roasted nuts, vanilla, very light caramel, & some floral notes.
PALATE: Cooked & musky raw agave mixed with lightly peated scotch single malt with a light smokiness, roasted nuts, oak/barrel notes, honeyed orchard fruits (apricot & pear), caramel & vanilla, a kick of black pepper & baking spices (same as the nose), creamy milk chocolate with chili peppers, orange peel, some salinity, & some oak tannins, anise, & spiced honey on the finish.
MOUTHFEEL: Medium viscosity in the glass & a medium creamy mouthfeel
FINISH: 9 seconds
VALUE: Unique tequila that challenges the palate while also being enjoyable to me as a fan of both tequila & malt whiskies.
ALWAYS ON SHELF/BUY AGAIN? Yes – This will be a great introduction to tequila for single malt fans iffy about trying agave spirits.
___________________
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 