September carries the title of National Bourbon Heritage Month, and for a whole lot of guys in this country, that means one thing: bourbon gets the spotlight for thirty straight days. But there's a spirit sitting on the shelf next to the bourbon that deserves a second look this month, and it comes from an unexpected place. It's tequila, and not just any tequila. It's one that was practically built to win over the bourbon crowd.
The spirit in question is Espolòn's Tequila Añejo, and the case for it starts with something bourbon drinkers already understand and respect: barrel aging.
What Makes This Añejo Different
Most tequila drinkers are used to blanco or reposado styles, spirits that spend little to no time resting in wood. Añejo is a different animal altogether, and Espolòn's version takes that extra step even further.
This tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber Agave, which is the standard for quality tequila production. But the real story is in the barrels. The spirit spends 10 months resting in new American oak barrels, then gets finished for another 2 months in barrels that previously held Wild Turkey Bourbon. That second stage is the part that should catch the attention of anyone who already loves bourbon, because it means this tequila is picking up character from the exact same wood that shaped one of the most recognizable bourbons in the country.
That combination of new oak followed by bourbon barrel finishing is what gives this Añejo its depth. It's not trying to taste like tequila that happens to be aged. It's aiming for something richer, something that speaks the same flavor language as a good bourbon or dark whiskey, while still keeping its roots in agave.
The Look, The Smell, The Taste
Pour this one into a glass and the color alone tells you something different is going on. It has a bright reddish-gold hue, the kind of shade that hints at real time spent in wood before it ever hits your lips.
The nose is where the balance really shows. There's roasted agave up front, which grounds it as a true tequila, but that's layered with earthy wood notes and a touch of butterscotch that gives it some sweetness right out of the gate.
Taste-wise, this is a medium-to-full body spirit with a velvety mouthfeel, meaning it coats the palate rather than just passing through. The flavor notes read like a tasting card for a fine whiskey: caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and chocolate. Those are the exact flavors bourbon fans go looking for, which is precisely why this Añejo makes such a strong case as a crossover spirit for National Bourbon Heritage Month.
Why It Works For Dessert And After-Dinner Drinking
Because of that caramel-vanilla-chocolate flavor profile, this tequila pairs naturally with sweet food. Desserts in general work well alongside it, and chocolate specifically is a strong match given how much of that flavor is already present in the spirit itself. For something a little more specific, try it with truffle finished with orange peel. The citrus note cuts through the richness of both the truffle and the tequila, while still letting the caramel and chocolate notes in the spirit shine through.
This makes the Añejo less of a shot-glass spirit and more of a sipping spirit, one that belongs in the same conversation as a nice bourbon poured after dinner.
How To Drink It The Right Way
For anyone who wants to treat this tequila the way they'd treat a good whiskey, there's a clear answer: the Old Fashioned.
Building an Old Fashioned with this Añejo instead of bourbon or rye is described as an irreverently distinguished way to enjoy the drink. The agave syrup and two dashes of bitters accentuate the depth already built into the tequila from its time in oak and bourbon barrels. It's a familiar format for anyone who already drinks whiskey cocktails, but with a completely different base spirit doing the heavy lifting.
For a guy who already knows how to make an Old Fashioned, swapping in this tequila is a low-effort, high-reward way to try something new without abandoning a drink he already trusts.
Award-Winning Credentials
This isn't just a tequila riding on a clever barrel-finishing gimmick. It has picked up recognition to back it up, including gold wins from the Ascot Awards, the New York International Spirits Competition, and the Beverage Testing Institute. Three gold wins across three different competitions is a strong signal that this isn't just marketing talk, the liquid itself is holding up under real scrutiny from judges who taste spirits for a living.
The Story Behind The Label
There's more going on with this bottle than just what's in the glass. The label itself is tied to a piece of Mexican cultural history, and understanding it adds some weight to what's being poured.
The design draws inspiration from Maestro Cirilo's ambition to challenge established norms, a spirit of pushing back against the expected that runs deep in Mexican tradition. Specifically, the label honors the Jarabe Tapatío, which most people outside Mexico know as the Mexican hat dance. That dance celebrates romantic courtship and has grown into something bigger than that over time, becoming a symbol of Mexico's independent spirit.
The label is meant to serve as inspiration to those who break the rules that need breaking and create what needs creating. That's a fitting message for a tequila that's breaking its own rules, taking a spirit rooted in agave and putting it through a bourbon barrel finishing process typically reserved for American whiskey.
The Bottom Line For This September
National Bourbon Heritage Month doesn't have to mean bourbon exclusively. For guys who consider themselves loyal to whiskey and bourbon, there's an argument here worth taking seriously: a tequila that spends real time in American oak, gets finished in actual Wild Turkey Bourbon barrels, and comes out the other side with caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, and chocolate notes that could just as easily describe a fine whiskey.
Even for someone who's never reached for tequila outside of a margarita, this Añejo gives a legitimate reason to pour a glass this month, whether that's neat, in an Old Fashioned, or alongside a piece of chocolate or truffle after dinner. It's not asking anyone to abandon their bourbon. It's just asking for a seat at the same table.
