Don Julio Añejo Review: Everything you need to know!

Don Julio Añejo is one of the best-selling Tequilas of its kind, but is it good? Discover everything about it in this review.

Don Julio Añejo flavor profile: How does it taste?

• Nose: Oak, vanilla, caramel, orange.
• Palate: Nutty flavor, cinnamon, oak, vanilla, smoke.

Don Julio Añejo has a bourbon-like nose with vanilla, oak, caramel and a touch of orange.

On the palate is a bit warm up-front, with a rich cinnamon note noticeable from start to finish. Don Julio Añejo has bourbon-like vanilla and oak flavors, with sweet butterscotch and oaky and smoky notes.

The finish is long, pleasantly warm, with more cinnamon making it the backbone of this tequila and oak.

Does it taste good?

A pleasant sipper especially for bourbon lovers

Don Julio Añejo is a nice sipper, not overly sweet, nicely balanced, with a smoky character, pleasantly warm and still rich in agave flavor.

Overall, DJ Añejo is great as long as you like a rich cinnamon flavor, a light hint of smoke and can enjoy pleasant warmth on the way down.

Remember that this was Don Julio’s best Tequila until the arrival of the much revered 1942.

We are genuinely talking about a top Añejo Tequila.

Don Julio Añejo Rating: is it good?

Yes, this is a solid top-rated and top-shelf Tequila

Don Julio Añejo is a nice sipper, not overly sweet, nicely balanced, with a smoky character, pleasantly warm and still rich in agave flavor.

Overall, DJ Añejo is great as long as you like a rich cinnamon flavor, a light hint of smoke and can enjoy pleasant warmth on the way down.

Remember that this was Don Julio’s best Tequila until the arrival of the much revered 1942.

We are genuinely talking about a top Añejo Tequila.

Unfortunately has lost its shine due to the arrival of 1942 and Don Julio 70. But before the arrival of those tequilas, Añejo was the best tequila from Don Julio and remains popular among old-school aficionados that like to enjoy a bit warmth in their drinks.

Don Julio Añejo might not be as tasty and smooth as 1942 but it solid and way more affordable providing good value for the money.

Don Julio Añejo drinking guide: how to drink it?

Rocks

• Drink it neat and enjoy its nice tasting notes that will be that will be of the liking of bourbon aficionados.

• If you find it a bit warm add large ice cubes avoiding dilution, it would be a crime to water-down such a good dram.

• This is not the type of tequila that I would use as a mixer to make margaritas unless you want to make a bourbon cocktail with it.

• Generally, Añejos are not good as mixers or shooters as they are pricey and are meant for sipping.

I have compiled a list of affordable Añejos that you should look into when looking for an inexpensive Tequila to make cocktails.

Is it good for Margaritas?

Too pricey

Yes, you can can make a margarita with Don Julio Añejo but I’m not of fond of using a sipping tequila for mixing purposes, especially one with a rich cinnamon flavor that won’t sit well in a marge.

If you want to use an añejo to make margaritas I suggest you use the Espolon Añejo which is way cheaper and makes a better mixer but not a good sipper.

Don Julio Añejo: how is it aged and made?

By aging Don Julio Blanco for 18 months in bourbon barrels

This Tequila is the product of barrel aging Don Julio Blanco in small batches for 18 months in bourbon barrels.

The time spent in the barrel gave Blanco and amber hue along the vanilla, oak and cinnamon flavors rich in Don Julio Añejo.

Don Julio Añejo price

United States	$64
Canada	$100
Great Britain	£50
Australia	$135

Don Julio Añejo alternatives

Casamigos Añejo and Patron Añejo

Casamigos Añejo and Patron Añejo are usual suspects yet I would include Siete Leguas Añejo and Herradura Añejo.

Alcohol percentage

80 proof (40% ABV)

You might find this as a shocker but Don Julio Añejo is offered at 80 proof (40% ABV) in the United States while in Mexico at a mere 76 proof (38% ABV).

So if you go south of the border expect to buy a watered-down Don Julio and unfortunately this happens across all brands due to some tax regulations in Mexico that go beyond the scope of this post.

Ingredients

Don Julio Añejo is made using three ingredients:

• Water
• Blue Agave
• Natural yeasts

That’s it, just 3 ingredients are needed to make tequila… 4 if you include the barrel.

Does Don Julio Añejo use additives?

Unsure

This Tequila smells and tastes legit to me but I can’t assure anything as distillers do not disclose that “little fact”.

Unfortunately, the use of additives has almost become the norm in the industry as a means to standardize aromas and flavors from batch to batch.

The rules that govern tequila allow the use of additives as long as they remain below 1% of the total volume, but not because something is legal it means is right.

If you are concerned about the use of additives I suggest you look into my round-up of Tequilas free of additives where I present the best.

Don Julio Añejo Cheat Sheet and Specs

Type of Tequila	Añejo
Aging length in months	18
Proof	80
ABV	40%
100% agave	Yes
Double-distilled	Yes
Is it good?	Yes
Is it top-shelf?	Yes
Does it expire?	No
Sweet?	Yes
Warm?	A bit
Smoky?	A bit
Good for begginers?	Bourbon drinkers
Good for cocktails?	No
Calories per shot	69
Gluten-free	Yes
Keto-friendly	Yes
Kosher	Yes