Review: Tears of Llorona Tequila #3 Extra Anejo

Tears of Llorona (“ur-ona“) is one of those unicorn tequila bottles that sit up there with Clase Azul, waiting for whales to purchase a celebratory shot. At roughly $300 a bottle, it is only available in one expression — the “#3” extra anejo.

The number 3 refers to process, as Llorona is aged in three types of barrels — Scotch, sherry, and brandy — for a long five years. A swing-top closure on the bottle ensures that, well, I guess that you’ll never lose the cap.

Master distiller Germán González Gorrochotegui is the son of the creator of Chinaco — and in fact Llorona is made in the same distillery where his dad’s tequila is still produced. I’ve long wondered about Tears of Llorona, named after the Central/South American myth of “the one who cries,” until we finally got a healthy sample to check out. So let’s stop crying and start sipping.

Tears of Llorona Tequila #3 Extra Anejo Review

The nose here is every bit as rich and unctuous as you expect. Heavy aromas of maple syrup, fig jam, macerated raisins, and creme brulee dominate an extremely sweet attack — though somehow it never comes across as overwhelming and pushy. Many very old extra anejos come across as just dripping in liquified brown sugar and vanilla, but Llorona keeps a semblance of balance and even finds room for some gentle black pepper and green herbal notes.

There’s not a major departure on the palate as the tequila digs deeper into its punchy dessert-like qualities, though it continues to temper any thoughts of overbearing sweetness with spice and chili, those figs and maple notes laced with rosemary and cayenne. The underlying agave is quieted here, and by the time the finish arrives the sweet and savory have combined to create a lovely combination of sugar and spice. It’s on this conclusion that Tears of Llorona really coalesces and elevates itself into a cohesive whole — one which is hard to put down.

Many a tequila fanatic has complained about how far removed from blanco tequila extra anejos like this tend to be. To be sure, they represent a wholly different experience than the unaged stock — but you don’t hear anyone complaining about what wood does to whiskey, do you?

86 proof. NOM 1146.

A / $300 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

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