DON CAMILO 10 YEAR EXTRA ANEJO FRENCH OAK TEQUILA
JALISCO, MEXICO
WHY BUY:
Don Camilo isn’t a household name, but after our recent tasting of this 10 Year Extra Añejo, we think you need to make its acquaintance. It uses cold-distillation (to preserve aromatics), volcanic water, and agave that developed its character over six sugar-concentrating years … and — get this — still comes in at 20% off many bottles in its age class and quality of detailing. In other words: an incredible value. This is a limited-production gem that you’re not going to find on every back bar in America — a small mercy for those of us who prefer discoveries to remain ... discoverable.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
The initial impression is one of great gentleness — a smoothness that belies its proof, and suggests the kind of patience in production that speaks of assuredness. As it opens, layers of dried stone fruit and subtle baking spices emerge, with hints of toasted almond and dark chocolate providing depth without sweetness. What's most striking is what's missing: the heavy-handed oak that can sometimes overwhelm tequilas that spent far less time in barrel. Instead, the French oak has acted as a frame that enhances rather than obscures the underlying character of the agave … and that will come as a revelation to anyone who's been weaned on the standard extra añejo formula.
THE STORY:
The tequilero, Arturo Fuentes Cortes, has distilled everything from agave to grapes, but for this, his latest expression, the main ingredient might have been patience. But let’s back up for a moment. Distillery Fabrica de Tequilas Finos sits, enviably, at the foot of the Volcán de Tequila, where pristine volcanic water seeps through layers of stone. That’s one of the foundational pillars of this remarkable tequila. The other is the six-year-aged agave. From there Fuentes Cortes worked his magic. He selected 94 French oak barrels, and, after a cold-distillation to refine its base properties, did something radical in our instant-gratification era: he waited. For ten years. When, finally, he cracked open a barrel to taste, even this 45-year vet found himself momentarily speechless at its depth and refinement. To honor one of the legends of the spirit, he named it after Don Camilo, grandfather of the former Fábrica de Tequilas Finos owner and a renowned collector of rare tequilas.
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
To develop higher sugar content and more complex flavors than the industry-standard plants, the organic agaves are allowed to mature for a full six years before harvest. Fuentes Cortes employs cold distillation to preserve the delicate aromatic compounds that make tequila so distinctive, before filling those carefully selected French oak barrels. The aging takes place in temperature and humidity-controlled cellars, allowing for consistent maturation throughout the decade-long process. And last — but by no means least: the deep artesian well at the distillery provides pristine volcanic water for production.
ABV:
40% (80 proof).
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we buy and source directly from the producer to ensure perfect provenance and condition. Secure yours today!