One of the coolest things about aged tequilas is how central the specifics of the barrel/cask/wooden vessel used for aging is to shaping the final spirit’s color and flavor profile (aromas and flavors on the palate).
This photo shows two different lotes (batches) of añejo produced by the same brand, Terralta, at the same distillery (El Pandillo – NOM 1579) by the same master distiller Felipe Camarena) – The one on the left was bottled on 14 November 2025 (Lote #LT0004A40E) and the one on the right was bottled on 16 December 2019 (Lote #LT0003A40). The difference in color is very clear – the 2025 lote incorporates newer ex-American whisky (bourbon and/or Tennessee whisky barrels) while the 2019 lote much, much more repeatedly used ex-American whisky (predominantly George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey) barrels.
After an initial side-by-side comparative tasting, the flavor profiles of both lotes are also distinct from each other. The November 2025 lote has a much richer aroma profile characterized by deep baking spices (predominantly cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg) mixed with red/dark berries (black cherries and black currants) while the December 2019 lote has an extremely light, subtle aroma profile that requires a lot of focus to pull notes from – The dominant aromas for me are “green”/herbal/vegetal/grassy notes, white/light colored orchard fruits like peaches and apricots, very light caramel and vanilla, and minerality.
On the palate, the November 2025 lote has deeper vanilla and caramel flavors and a finish with a much more prominent and, for me, less well integrated kick of anise and oak tannin bitterness on the finish. The December 2019 lote has anise and oak tannins on the finish too, but the bitter notes in it are, for me, much more seamlessly integrated with the other flavors which include a much punchier “green” set of notes than are in the November 2025 lote, lighter & fruitier caramel and vanilla, citrus peel, and white/light colored orchard fruits, and roasted Blue Weber agave/baking spices.
The December 2019 lote bottle has been open since the very end of January, but the aromas & flavors haven’t really changed much with aeration. I’ll see if the November 2025 lote’s aromas & flavors shift at all over time as it aerates & opens up.
Though they’re close, the November 2025 lote Terralta añejo also is slightly darker in color than a lote (Lote #LT0001XA40, bottled on 25 March 2019) of Terralta extra añejo!
Bottom line = Terralta is a beautiful tequila brand made by one of the very best master distillers and distilleries and I absolutely love the lote/batch variation in craft/artisanal tequilas!
More to come!
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