Suerte "Kings Crown XA" 7 yr. - NOM 1530 - 2016 - 40%
Like many tequila fans, I started out loving aged expressions and worked into my love of blancos. The more quality blancos I tried, the more appreciative I was of longer aged expressions that manage to preserve core agave flavors. I haven't established my maturation sweet spot yet for extra anejo tequila. Favorites have ranged from 5-10 years which is a massive swing - likely having more to do with the production methods and barrels used then the specific time spent in them.
Suerte Blanco didn't quite line up with my palate, and (like the Arette Blanco) I wasn't as quick to explore the XA versions after trying the blanco. The Arette XAs proved that line of thinking was a mistake. Suerte XAs have been released as single barrels ranging from 5-8 years old, each bearing a symbol important to the brand. This Kings Crown Edition is from 2016 and was aged 7 years.
Nose: Solid bourbon influence. Apples. Medicinal cherry. Mocha. Big oak. Pecan. Brown sugar. Vanilla. Caramel. Agave underneath but dialed back.
Flavor: Agave comes through up front. Drinks more like a cognac around the agave - herbal, floral, fruity, medicinal. Dry and earthy. Baking spice. Oak takes over the back end.
Structure: Full bodied. Long. Soft. Nice action in the finish.
Proof Integration: Kicks right where you want it too without dropping flavor.
Score: 7 (Highly Recommend) Clarity of the notes and structure are great. Complexity is really special. A little heavy with the barrel at times. Profile is a touch dry for my preference. Certainly worth a try if you have the opportunity.
You May Also Dig:
Calle 23 Anejo Single Barrel - complexity and structure are similarly well done
Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour