I tried two batches ( 5 & 6) that couldn’t be more different. My published score reflects my preferred Batch 6, while Batch 5 earned an 88 from me. Batch 5 feels like it came from a newer barrel—probably first or second use. It shows heavier barrel influence right away, starting with a richer color. The nose is oak forward with pronounced stone fruit notes, giving it a deeper, more layered aroma. Batch 6, likely aged in a second or third use barrel, still has oak but it’s lighter and crisper. The nose is more agave driven, with a fresh brightness and some mineral funk that keeps it lively. On the palate, Batch 5 stays true to its nose: oak, vanilla, and stone fruit dominate. It’s incredibly smooth, not too thick, but with a mouthfeel I really appreciated. Batch 6 brings sweet agave upfront, balanced by oak, pepper, and a touch of salinity. You can still find stone fruit and baking spices, but the agave shines through without being overshadowed. The finish on Batch 5 is super smooth with warm, lingering spices, think cinnamon and clove. But mostly it’s that incredible barrel sweetness that stands out. Batch 6 finishes equally smooth but with a brighter, sharper spice note, contrasting the warmer baking spices of Batch 5. That brightness really won me over. Final thoughts: Batch 5 feels like a bourbon lover’s XA, and that’s a compliment, not a criticism. It’s rich, smooth, and comforting. Batch 6 is a tequila lover’s XA. It’s agave forward, vibrant, and layered. It’s my personal favorite, but honestly, I’d enjoy either batch any day of the week.

Lot 1

Nose: vanilla/ agave/ oak / tea / nutmeg/ chocolate Taste: agave cooked / vanilla/ pepper / cinnamon/ earth/ apple / orange peel/ herbal/ mint / spearmint/ tea / chocolate/ almond Finish: bittersweet with lingering alcohol snd pepper. Clean low viscosity mouthfeel that stays on the bittersweet, mint, pepper for good bit. This extra anejo just wants the bittersweet to be the star of the show but the peppery and earthy tastes take over the stage. There’s a great heavy flavor punch but it doesn’t get out of its own way.

Its hue runs pale, a ghost in glass, Less bold than añejos that came to pass, Even reposados wear deeper cloaks This XA whispers where others spoke. Its breath — a dance of agave sweet, With pepper sharp and oak’s heartbeat, Butterscotch drips through earthen tone, A rich aroma all its own. On tongue, the cooked agave sings, With peppered heat and caramel rings, Oak’s warm cradle, butter’s trace — A velvet shadow, a golden grace. The finish lingers, soft yet bold, A quiet fire that does not fold.

Such a great widely available XA for the price Nose: cooked agave is still the star of the show. Followed by vanilla, caramel, oak, butterscotch, minerals. Palate: the nose carried through on the palate on this one. still lots of cooked agave on this one. Followed by vanilla, caramel, oak, baking, spices, butterscotch, and minerals from the deep well water. Overall such a great widely available XA for the price point. I was able to find this for $100 online so extra point for value.

The aroma introduces light smoky oak, cooked agave with a sweet raisin note, ethyl that burns the nostrils, dill, caramel, and molasses, with a hint reminiscent of new leather. On the palate, prominent dill leads the way, followed by a soft alcohol note, minute brine, honey, cider, cooked sweet potato, and light salinity. The pepperiness adds character and complements the sweetness, with a soft yellow apple essence enhancing the complexity. The finish features light minerality and honey that induces salivation, with a constant thread of dill from start to finish. This lingering dill note persists on the tongue for quite some time after sipping, extending the tasting experience.

This is an XA that hits all the right spots for me. It is so approachable and yet affordable for an XA. Lots of cooked agave for an XA without a ton of barrel. Hints of cinnamon, caramel and brown sugar. Wonderful mouthfeel and a finish that is worth experiencing. I could nose this tequila all day as the aromas are just as great as the palate.

Nose: Love the vanilla. Sweet black pepper with subtle hints of lemon and oak. Mild earthy undertones. Flavor: A deep rich and sweet tequila with vanilla, oak, lemon, and black pepper. The full El Tesoro lineup is a clear winner but this is my personal favorite.

Good barrel flavors and a nice amount of minerality. Maybe I'm just not a big fan of extra anejos. It's just solid for me.

Spectacular profile!

Nose: Cooked Agave, Vanilla, Citrus (orange) Oak and Baking Spices, Carmel and sweet cream or custard. Taste: Spice, Oak, Agave, Butter scotch and Nutmeg and anise are really coming through very strong in this one. Finish: Oak, Carmel, Citrus, Butter scotch and light vegetal notes. This is a very underrated Extra Anejo in my opinion!

Aroma of cooked agave with strong cedar notes (I know it was aged in oak), then some oak, mint, spices. Flavor of agave, briwn sugar, light caramel, mint, cinnamon. For sure can taste the El Tesoro profile. Well balanced, not over woody. A gem.

This Lot 1 was from Felipe Camarena's last barrels, so if you have the 1st lot, treasure and savor it. Not as dark as his other XAs but still a worthy bottle to continue his legacy. Agave, fruity, herbaceous, buttery, butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, spices, not too oaky. Nicely balanced. Some lot 1s may still be out there and the price seems to be going up on these. I grabbed a case upon release at 69 and now I see them at up to 169...

Tried this during a Tequila Tasting event. After going through a Blanco, Reposado, and an Añejo this was the ultimate price. It was amazing. Creamy, caramel, dark chocolate finish. Not too oaky. One of the best tequilas out there.

Aroma: Light, clean aromas of honeyed cooked agave, minerality, and sweet vanilla. Taste: Naturally sweet agave and honey, with the same clean minerality. Finish: A tasty conclusion of flavorful agave notes combined with vanilla, light caramel, and cinnamon. The flavor lingers for a while and does not lose any of its pleasantness. Overall: A superb, well-crafted tequila.

Re-visiting following the Tasting Panel Training Class Nose- cooked agave, caramel, honey, minerals and tobacco Taste- Cooked agave, black pepper, earthy, leather Finish- great lingering cooked above and a nice black pepper finish with minimality notes

Nose: Floral with tropical fruit. Ripe melons and bananas. A hint of tart apricot and minerals. Warming vanilla and almond aromas. Gentle white pepper and an herbal element trying to peek through. Flavors: Medium pepper heat initially crowds out some of my earlier floral and tropical impressions. As my palate acclimatizes, I pick up salty caramel, some nuttiness and a coffee note. Also some honey, licorice and delicate oaking. Lots of sweet agave still on center stage here. Some slight bitterness creeps in.

Nicely balanced xa, slight heat with light barrel notes. Prefer the Paradiso 5 yr over this expression

Incredible XA. A real joy. Vanilla notes while keeping the agave. Very easy to drink.

Another great one from 1139. First, the light color is just amazing for an XA. Then, the aroma is filled with vegetal and mineral notes and virtually no classic barrel. The agave is also clearly present in the aroma. The flavor opens with a nice pepper spice and flows to present the sweet agave and subtle mineral notes. The finish is medium length with a slight bitter almond taste. This is a great tequila. 12/24/2020 - 8th Annual Xmas XA tasting

Super clear for an extra Añejo. Really warm, inviting aroma. Agave, slight pepper, caramel, butterscotch, citrus and a little lactic on the nose. Agave carries through nicely on the pallet. Definitely get oak, mild cinnamon, vanilla and a little smoke. The finish has a little oaky bitterness with semisweet chocolate coming through and ends with a hint of almond and mint. Great expression but probably not what some would expect from a tequila that’s been aged 5 years. The agave still shines here and it’s complemented nicely by the barrel.

One of my favorite XA's. The use of the older bourbon barrels gives the agave room to still shine, with hints of oak, caramel and spices from the barrel.

Aroma : Sweet cooked agave with dried fruit, oak, and caramel. There is also some earth and mineral tones as well. Taste : Light bodied with a notable agave presence for an XA. There is some fruit, oak, and caramel here from the nose, as well as some butter and hazelnut. Finish : Long with sweet barrel notes, as well as a certain grassy quality that melds well with the earth and minerality. Another great expression from El Tesoro. Now I just need to get my hands on one of their special edition XA's.

This Extra Anejo absolutely rocks my world. This is a very light XA with oak notes, but that’s not the star of the show AT ALL. The agave is still very much up front but the sharpness is mellowed big time and has been replaced with naturally infused caramel and vanilla touches. keep it coming!

Used a jarrito glass for this expression and it was the right choice. An explosion of aromas that stay around for a good while. Impressed on how much cooked agave flavor I could taste accompanied of black pepper and oak towards the end. Very well done XA.