El Tesoro’s amazing Mundial Collection releases have both earned our praise, and now the distillery returns with round three, which is aged in Basil Hayden Toast whiskey barrels.

The highlands tequila is a reposado, fully aged for its nearly six months of resting time in Basil Hayden Toast oak barrels that are toasted then flash-charred before being used to age Basil Hayden bourbon. Both prior Mundial releases were anejos, which really let the finishing cask show through. So, what happens when a relatively youthful contender hits the scene?

The short answer is that Mundial Basil Hayden is just a really good reposado. To that point:

El Tesoro Mundial Collection: Basil Hayden Toast Edition Tasting Notes

On the nose, it’s quite perky with agave, showcasing an ample punch of green herbs, white pepper, and baking spices. Toasted sesame oil emerges from there, pairing with aromas of vanilla and a more present cinnamon note to bring the classic reposado character into fuller focus.

The palate offers no real surprises, featuring lots of vanilla, quite creamy at times, but still sharp with peppery herbs and spicy agave. The sweetness evaporates in short order, leaving behind those rather racy agave-driven notes and a clear note of lemon, slightly charred, with a vague hint of honeydew on the finish.

Like I said earlier: It’s an exceptional reposado, though there’s no real indication of the impact of Basil Hayden Toast on it — or much to distinguish it from other top-tier reposado bottlings. (The price, mind you, is quite extreme.) Perhaps an anejo would show off a clearer impact vs. the use of any other whiskey barrel brand for the aging? Who knows? Maybe we’ll find out with next year’s Mundial.

80 proof. NOM 1139.

A- / $175 / eltesorotequila.com [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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