Last Updated on: 6th April 2024, 12:51 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as an agave spirits distiller.
Discover the differences between Don Julio Añejo vs Don Julio 1942 in this in-depth comparison and decide which Tequila is better for You!
Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as an agave spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.
Written by: J Highland
Don Julio Añejo vs 1942: Head-to-Head
Don Julio Añejo: Bourbon-like nose with vanilla, oak, caramel. Warm palate of cinnamon, vanilla, oak, slight smoke. Long, warm finish. Neat or rocks. Well-balanced, complex.
Don Julio 1942: Rich aroma of vanilla, caramel, oak. Velvety palate with caramel, chocolate, agave. Long, warming finish. Best neat. Luxurious, smooth sipping experience.
Key Difference: Both are categorized as Añejo Tequilas, Don Julio Añejo is aged 18 months whilst Don Julio 1942 for 30 months.
Verdict: Don Julio Añejo provides a blend of warmth, spice, and smoke, ideal for those who appreciate nuanced flavors. Don Julio 1942, a step up, offers a luxurious, smooth, and richly flavored experience, with its extended aging process contributing to its complex character, states tequila expert Neil Coleman.
Related: Best-Tasting Don Julio Tequila
Don Julio Añejo: A Well-Balanced Añejo with Hints of Bourbon
- Nose: Oak, vanilla, caramel, orange
- Palate: Cinnamon, oak, vanilla, smoke
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Neat, rocks
- Similar to: Don Julio 70
Aroma: Don Julio Añejo presents a bourbon-like nose, featuring notes of vanilla, oak, caramel, and a touch of orange.
Taste: This Añejo tequila offers a warmth upon first sip, followed by prominent cinnamon that lingers throughout the experience. The flavor profile combines bourbon-like vanilla, oak, sweet butterscotch, and a touch of smokiness.
Finish: The finish is long and warm, leaving lingering notes of cinnamon and oak.
Overall: Don Julio Añejo is a well-balanced and enjoyable sipping tequila with a harmonious blend of flavors. It avoids excessive sweetness and boasts a unique character thanks to its smoky notes and rich agave flavor. While it was previously considered the brand’s top offering, the introduction of the highly-regarded 1942 shifted that title.
Additional facts:
- Aged for 18 months in ex-bourbon barrels.
- The extended aging process creates a deep amber color and enhances wood and caramel notes, differentiating it from the Reposado expression.
Don Julio 1942: A Luxurious Añejo Tequila for Sipping
- Nose: Vanilla, caramel, agave, oak
- Palate: Agave, vanilla, citrus, chocolate
- Alcohol content: 80 proof (40% ABV)
- How to drink: Neat
- Similar to: Clase Azul Reposado
Aroma: Don Julio 1942 opens with a dominant vanilla scent, followed by hints of caramel, roasted agave, and oak.
Taste: This Añejo tequila boasts a velvety smooth texture and a complex flavor profile. The initial taste features caramel, transitioning to notes of chocolate, agave, and oak. Its richness is balanced by a subtle smoky undertone and a lack of any burning sensation.
Finish: The finish is long and warming, leaving lingering notes of agave, oak, and cinnamon.
Overall: Don Julio 1942 is a premium tequila best enjoyed neat for a smooth and flavorful sipping experience. The familiar notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak along with the lack of burn make it appealing to a wide range of drinkers, including those who enjoy bourbon.
Additional facts:
- Aged for 30 months in ex-bourbon barrels.
- Named to commemorate the year Don Julio Gonzalez made his first tequila, at the age of 17.
Both Don Julio Añejo and 1942 are Añejo Tequilas
To be labeled as an Añejo or aged Tequila the spirit must be stored in oak barrels between 1 and 3 years.
Don Julio Añejo was aged 18 months while 1942 was aged 30 months, therefore both are Añejo tequilas.
Price comparison
Prices are approximate and stated in USD:
| Price | Tequila |
| Don Julio Añejo | $66 |
| Don Julio 1942 | $190 |
Specs comparison
| Characteristics | Don Julio Añejo | Don Julio 1942 |
| Type of tequila | Añejo | Añejo |
| Aging length | 18 months | 30 months |
| 100% agave | Yes | Yes |
| Grinding method | Roller mill | Roller mill |
| Stainless steel tank fermentation | Yes | Yes |
| Wood tank fermentation | No | No |
| Cooking method | Stone/Brick Ovens | Stone/Brick Ovens |
| Double-distilled | Yes | Yes |
| Additives | Unsure | Unsure |
| ABV | 40% | 40% |
| Proof | 80 | 80 |