A light amber gleam in the glass I hold, Like fading autumn through branches bold. The scent drifts gently, earth and stone, Cooked agave, oak—foundations grown. A pepper spark where shadows fall, Caramel voices, minerals call. Butter lingers, soft as flame, A rustic whisper without a name. The finish walks a winding lane, Neither fleeting, nor to remain. Medium-long, it fades with grace, A country road time can’t replace.
Terralta Extra Añejo - 5 Años Nose: Rich and rounded classic XA notes lead with butter, caramel and soft vanilla, but there’s still that unmistakable cooked agave holding its ground. Oak comes through with some restraint, giving way to baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. It smells warm and inviting. Palate & Mouthfeel: Medium viscosity with just enough grip from the oak tannin to keep things structured. Along with the oak, you get caramel and vanilla upfront, but it quickly pivots to more complex notes; agave, mineral, orange zest, a flash of cherry, and those baking spices again. Clove peeks through mid palate. Finish: Long and spice driven. Baking spices linger with clove and anise especially standing out, while the cherry note persists alongside a soft glow of alcohol. A subtle minerality carries through to the end. Final Thoughts: Now this is how you do a value XA. I’ve been through a few in this category recently, and this is the only one that, even with five full years in oak, still feels like an agave spirit first and a barrel aged one second. It doesn’t try to be a bourbon or a dessert pour - it knows what it is and delivers with restraint, clarity, and purpose.
Vessel: CT Jarrito Nose: Cooked Agave, Peach, Oak, Butter, Carmel, Grass, Minerality Palate: Barrelspice, Peach, Floral, Pear Finish: Peach, Chamomile, Anise, Thyme This was lovely, and although I got this from a sample swap, I do appreciate the value in this bottle and will be rating it accordingly. I found this to be slighly lighter than than the pasote anejo and much lighter than the G4 Anejo. I feel like this is an Añejo that a blanco/repo lover can enjoy pretty easily as the barrel aging feels feather light. *This got a higher score in part because of the extreme value.
Lou explains why this is his #1 favorite high-proof blanco tequila.
Lou and his friend Warren get into Terralta Añejo, made at the famous El Pandillo distillery.
Lou does a video review comparing Fortaleza, G4, Terralta, Pasote, and and Volans tequilas.
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Additives in tequila? I bet you’ve never thought about it. But whether you are for or against additives it’s useful to know how they are used, the rules that govern them, and how to sleuth them out.