Review: Alma del Jaguar Anejo Tequila

Laying claim to status as the fastest growing tequila brand in the U.S. (for the moment, anyway), Alma del Jaguar hit the scene in 2023 with big ambitions, not just to make premium tequila but to help wild jaguars in northern Mexico, too. (A portion of proceeds goes toward supporting the Northern Jaguar Project, a U.S.-Mexico effort managing the Northern Jaguar Reserve in Sonora, Mexico—the largest privately managed wildlife refuge in the country.)

Alma de Jaguar is made with Los Altos agave grown at 6800 feet of elevation, fermented with a unique blend of 80% wild yeast and 20% champagne yeast, is double distilled in copper pot stills from Santa Clara del Cobre, and is bottled unfiltered.

The three classic expressions are offered, plus a high-proof blanco. We received only the anejo for review — its most recent launch — which is aged in both American and French oak for an unstated length of time. We turn our attention to the product presently.

Alma del Jaguar Anejo Tequila Review

This is a burly, aggressive tequila, especially for an anejo. Initial notes of coconut husk, caramel, and sesame seed give the nose a dusky quality, tempering its more dessert-like qualities with overtones of wet wood, green herbs, and ground pepper. You can sense that the underlying blanco must make for an aggressive base, but significant time in oak has taken things in a new direction.

The palate doesn’t stray terribly far from expectations, featuring a mix of sweet and savory elements, showcasing meatier coconut and sesame oil, alongside more exotic notes of coffee, dark brown sugar, and torches lemon. A bolder, wood-heavy character gives the finish some power, along with a surprising amount of tannin to contend with, leading to a layered conclusion of toasted coconut, dark chocolate, baking spice, and a pinch of racy cayenne. Green agave notes manage to linger even after all of this makes its exit. Cool stuff, and I love the cause, but this is a bit scattered for my taste.

80 proof. NOM 1414.

B+ / $80 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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