Tequila Añejo
40% ABV.
DO-BE-L
The bottle of Maestro Dobel Añejo Tequila proudly states this tequila is made by Juan Dobel. It says so on the neck of the bottle with a signature and all. It’s striking because you don’t associate a surname like Dobel with tequila. It’s like walking by a pizza joint named Pedro Pérez Pizzeria. You’d likely keep walking. However, we’ve evolved as consumers, and are willing to give Juan Dobel’s tequila a chance. After all we love cigars with names like Rocky Patel, Pete Johnson, and Jonathan Drew on them. It’s when you dig a little deeper that things get interesting.
Juan Dobel is actually Juan Domingo Beckmann Legoretta; Dobel is actually an acronym/
nickname that combines DOmingo BEckmann Legoretta. Juan Domingo Beckmann Legoretta is the CEO of José Cuervo; yes the same José Cuervo that messed you up on spring break. Their flagship product, José Cuervo Gold, is the world’s best-selling tequila in spite of the fact that it isn’t made from 100% agave and tastes like it can strip the paint off the hood of your car. In fairness José Cuervo also produces several fine products like their Reserva de la Familia series but the name certainly carries baggage.
It’s no surprise that Mr. Domingo Beckmann Legoretta, the 6th generation at the helm of the world’s biggest tequila company, decided that Maestro Dobel would be a separate project, a separate company altogether. The truth is that Maestro Dobel is being produced differently. For one thing, it is made of 100% blue agave from the family’s lowland fields. The agaves have to be fully matured before harvest, roughly eight to ten years. The agave juice is extracted by a roller mill, which is a modern, mechanized version of the stone tahona used by artisanal distilleries. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the tequila wort goes through a double distillation before it ends up in American white oak barrels for aging. The difference is immediately evident at first sip.
GOLF ANYONE?
In March, 2021 the PGA Tour announced that it had entered into a multi-year partnership with Maestro Dobel Tequila, naming it the “Official Tequila of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions.” The partnership debuted at The Players Championship where they unveiled “Diamante Tee Time” featuring the world’s first Cristalino tequila, aged tequila that is filtered giving consumers a clear spirit with an aged flavor.
TASTING NOTES
This añejo tequila has a light amber color in the glass with excellent viscosity. The nose is loaded with a balanced attack of caramel, vanilla, cooked agave, and oak barrel. The palate delivers a ton of whiskey flavors; there are moments when you have to remind yourself that it’s tequila. However the agave flavor comes in on the finish along with cinnamon, caramel, and vanilla. There is a delicate spicy pepper note that sneaks in just before the door closes that manages to add a little balance. This tequila would work extremely well for whiskey lovers wanting to try tequila. It would also work well as an interesting twist to classic cocktails like a Manhattan or a Boulevardier if you sub out the whiskey for Maestro Dobel Añejo.
Cigar Pairing: Montecristo White Series
Pairing Notes
The cigar is smooth and creamy with notes of wood, soft spice, and a touch of citrus that complements the tequila’s more rich characteristics. The pairing is flexible in that if you prefer to knock down the tequila’s caramel and vanilla, you take the puff before the sip. This combination leaves you with more agave and oak barrel notes in the spirit. In reverse, the cigar’s creaminess is amped up to 11 and the tequila’s sweet notes and viscosity coat your palate combining perfectly with the cigar’s wood and spice.