Casa Noble - Anejo Tequila
$55
Casa Noble – Anejo Tequila
Proof: 80
Age: Anejo – 2 Years
Distillery: COL LA COFRADIA, TEQUILA, JALISCO, MEXICO
Type: Tequila – Anejo
Mash: 100% Blue Agave
Website: Casa Noble Tequila
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Sweet Agave Dominate on the nose. It’s clear this is 100% Agave. Vanilla, Lemongrass, and a little Musty / Wet Earth once you get past the Agave.
Taste/Palate: Very smooth. Slightly dry. Minimal Heat. Once again Sweet Agave Nectar is up front combined with Vanilla. In the Midpalate you get some Earthy Spice, White Pepper and Olive.
Finish: The Heat picks up slightly on the finish but it’s still very calm. The midpalate carries through to the finish and it rounds out nicely reminding you of the Agave once the slight heat fades away. After sitting for about 5 minutes and I’m typing out this review there is a lemon tart taste that sits in my mouth. I can barely tell I had a tequila on the long-term aftertaste.
Verdict: Very Very good sipping Tequila. It’s less sweet then lets say Don Julio 1942 that is more dessert forward (Caramel, Vanilla, Toffee, etc.). When put up against 1942 this is equally as smooth but I would consider this Earth Forward. The Agave is evident, but the supporting cast is more Lemon, Spice, and even Green Olives. If you are looking a Savory to compliment a Sweeter food dish or balance out a cocktail, Casa Noble – Anejo delivers a very smooth, surprising, earthy, but still a little sweet addition to your Tequila line up.
The Story: I first found Casa Noble when I was in the Cancun Mexico Duty Free about 8 years ago. I always want to bring home an excellent Tequila that I can’t normally find here in the states. On this occasion I wasn’t familiar with Casa Noble and hadn’t noticed it on the shelf before. I digress, when I was in the Duty free they were providing samples of different tequilas. I told the expert what I was looking for and they came back with a tray of samples (Score!). I was about 5 samples deep until I tasted Case Noble – Reposado. It was great and that was the bottle that I ended up purchasing. I had no idea what the sample person was handing me as it was truly a blind taste test. The Casa Noble was hands down better than the other 4 mystery tequilas I tried prior.
I’m happy I can find many different variations of Casa Noble in the states. Maybe I could before, but I certainly look for it now when my bottle is low and I know now what it delivers. Luckily this brand hasn’t made it into any rap songs or to my knowledge endorsed by a celebrity so it’s always in ample supply.
The Distillery’s Story: Hailing from Jalisco MX, no surprise there. Casa Noble is 100% Weber Blue Agave grown in rich volcanic soil at high altitudes. Many other tequilas are not 100% agave. Expect fillers. Not Casa Noble. They seem to take great pride and care in their tequila. Their Anejo is aged for 2 years in French Oak Barrels. They could still get the Anejo designation with 1 year (Anejo is 1-3 years aged). The distillery is certified 100% organic which not many are. Certified Organic is 100% agave with NO additives. I have a surprise review coming in a few weeks of a very sought after tequila with a very high price tag that does not meet this criteria. The distillery also practices active composting. Not mandatory for me or even something that I knew existed, but I think it’s pretty cool that they do that. Per the tequila’s webpage their tequila tradition has been passed down 7 generations.
In Summary: I like the earthy natural taste of this tequila. It is certainly different from others. The nose and flavor profile sometimes pull you in different directions. It starts sweet, but transitions. There’s quite a bit going on with this tequila. It’s a very fair price and having tried the entire standard line up Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo you won’t be disappointed by a single one. In fact The Blanco and Reposado hold their own against the Anejo, so maybe save yourself some money… or buy all three. As a side note: There was a special bottle sitting on the shelf that I passed that was $150. Casa Noble – Single Barrel – 5 Year Extra Anejo. Next time special bottle… Next time!
(I will use the same rating methodologies for non-whiskey spirits however I rank tequilas vs other tequilas and bourbons vs bourbons. A highly scored tequila vs a average scored bourbon doesn’t mean I prefer one over the other. They are in different categories. This is to be fair, because I’m not a fan of gin. But, using this system gin will be ranked independently to how I feel about how much better bourbon is). I have yet to review a gin so for that reason alone I have removed it from my categories…
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Nose, Palate, and Finish I rank regardless of cost. Value (recent addition) is ranked based on taste vs price.
Reviewer: David S
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