Caballito Cerrero Reposado 46 Chato

This reposado from the Jimenez family at Caballito Cerrero in Amatitan, Jalisco, is made from Chato rather than the usual Blue Weber, here an Agave angustifolia of the espadin family. Because it is not the regulation tequila agave, the spirit is labelled an agave spirit rather than tequila 100% de agave, and it is built so the agave leads while the cask supports, bottled at 46%.

It is classically produced and double distilled, rested forty five to sixty days in stainless steel, then aged nine months in former bourbon barrels, some of them over fifty years old. The nose carries cooked agave, light caramel and butterscotch, minerals, wet stone, subtle oak, cinnamon and baking spice, while the creamy palate shows cooked agave, oak, underripe banana, cinnamon, black pepper and a faint peanut note across a pleasant medium finish.