Blind tasted. This one has a medicinal funky smell and taste. It's like if it were from a plastic bottle that imparted its taste to it. This is the only sample I really didn't care for, let alone its hefty price! But all considering I suspect the sample might have gotten somehow spoiled.

Buttery flavor

Woody on the finish, but the oak flavor doesn't come through as much in the flavor. I have a hard time rating the value, as $290 just seems awfully high.

Nice big fruit, vanilla and agave sweetness on the nose. This carries over to the flavor with a nice combo of alcohol and barrel. Nice peppery finish with a balanced amount of sweetness and alcohol warmth. Nice tequila.

It's nearly a liquor. Thick and peppery, also spicy. This is terrible, but if it wasn't $300, this would make SUCH a great cocktail mixer. It needs a dark maraschino cherry.

Wonderful aromas and flavors of wood, stone fruits, nuts, clove and a hint of vanilla. A rich viscosity that lead to a warm and lengthy finish. Thoroughly enjoyable, but the price is a deal breaker

Rated blind. Deep amber color. Very slow thin legs. Nose of lightly toasted virgin oak. Smooth entry, thick and buttery, giving way to toasty oak and dark chocolate flavors. Excellent finish. This is amazing all the way around and I would certainly drink it again, but not too often at this price. I would recommend it to anyone interested in paying top dollar for aged tequila. However, given the choice between one bottle of this or almost four bottles of Fortaleza Añejo, I would have to give my money to the latter.

Dark amber color Big spicy nose Baked Agave Citrus Oak Spicy warm finish

From a blind tasting. More depth of flavor than sample 4, which it was compared with. Fewer bourbon notes more of a french oak or cognac vibe.

The aroma is very oaky but is also slightly briny. The flavor continues to be very oaky but also has a slight note of vanilla. The finish is very strong lingers for a while. Too much oak for me but I could see how others would love this XA.

UPDATED 12/24/2018: Incredibly rich and complex aroma filled with fruit (cherry, apple, pear) and oak. Strong tannins present immediately. Flavor doesn’t have the same complexity as the aroma. (This one has the highest ABV of the entire line at 45. Is the higher alcohol content displacing some of the flavor? Not sure but something is missing.) Flavor does has have some noticeable spice and a bit of fruit sweetness. Moderate to short finish. 12/24/2018 - 6th Annual Xmas XA tasting

Amazing stuff. Defies physics showing how no age is too old for tequila. Has an amazing peppery agave caramel vanilla fruity citrusy flavor.

12/31/17- Aroma is upfront with honey, vanilla, maple, agave, smoke and oak. Have to take a deep inhale to get aromas. Taste a bit of sweetness and then hit with the white pepper and heat. Creamy but long finish with the heat on the throat.

it is a tasty spirit. my viewpoint is that a tequila should taste like it is a tequila. through using different barrels to age, the taste is more of a good armenac or cognac...and for the price you could get 3 other good xa's

Herbs and spicy wood