Don Julio Types Of Tequila

Which Is The Smoothest Don Julio

Ultima Reserva is the smoothest Don Julio but you have to be willing to pony up $500 USD to enjoy it. If you are not willing to go that high Don Julio 1942 is the second best and a better and more tasty tequila, in my opinion, although it has a bit of a bite at the end.

If you want to drink a smooth Don Julio on a budget then Reposado is the best choice. Its good, tasty, it does not burn and provides a rich vanilla and oaky note.

How To Drink It

You drink Don Julio in one way to make sure you taste its full flavors, and that is slowly. We are not talking about low-quality items but an Añejo tequila 750ml that comes from premium bottles. Pour it in your glass and smell the bursting aromas, some fruits and vanilla, and some oak, before you sip it slowly. What you want to do is to take it slow, for each swallow is a celebration.

Don Julio Blanco Vs The Competition

While considered as the base product in the Don Julio line, the Blanco is by no means a cheap tequila, both in terms of price and quality. Some of its competitors include the likes of Patron Silver, Jose Cuervo Especial Silver, and Legado Blanco.

The price of Don Julio Blanco is somewhere in the middle of this crowded market. The cheapest can be acquired for as low as $25 and the most expensive can be acquired for above $50. In terms of quality, Don Julio Blanco can still make the argument of being the best in class.

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Don Julio Reposado Claro

• Nose: Light aroma with vanilla and agave.
• Palate: Agave, vanilla and citrus.

Reposado Claro is the product of filtering through activated charcoal Don Julio Reposado. As a result the tequila lost the amber hue along some of its warmth becoming quite smooth, easier to sip although a bit less tastier.

Its Aejo Is More Tequila And Less Barrel And Thats Weird

Most reposado and añejo tequilas do their aging in repurposed barrels, absorbing a bit of added character from the wood. Don Julio follows suit: Its reposado spends eight months in old Kentucky bourbon barrels. But it goes a bit off-trend yet again with its añejo, which ages for 18 months in reposado barrels . The result is gentler impact from the wood itself, with more of the agave character left to shine through, making it an anomaly among aged tequilas.

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Don Julio Aejo Vs The Competition

• 1800 Añejo
• Tequila AviónAñejo
• Casamigos Añejo
• check Don Julio Añejo

Sweet and peppery characterize the initial palate of the 1800 and mid-palate transition. The 1800 Añejo shows traces of cinnamon, candied pears, butterscotch and toasted oak, plus a finish of cocoa and banana bread. On the other hand, wild honey and butterscotch are on display when the Don Julio/DJ Añejo enters your mouth.

However, what sinks 1800 is an observed strong presence of smokiness in the taste. For some, strong traces of the roasting process may have settled in the final product, likely an oversight due to 1800 being part of the mass market tequila assembly line of Jose Cuervo. In contrast, the DJ consistently keeps the smoky taste to a minimum, or even at zero presence.

Don Julios añejo may be more expensive than the Avión añejo.

However, the Don Julio/DJ presents a strong case of value-for-money tilting brains, lips, noses, tongues, throats and opinions towards its entry level aged tequila.

One, the DJ añejo consistently displays no alcohol burn, with a nip in the Avión. Everything is bright, lightly spiced, rich and smooth, and you dont forget the agave presence in the Don Julio.

Second, the DJ has a consistently minimal tinge of American oak residue when the añejo hits your mouth. On the other hand, the Avión has an up-down presence of oak in the taste, which was a turn-off for some.

Casamigos añejo is neck-and-neck against Don Julios añejo in terms of pricing.

It All Started With Don Julio Gonzalez

The life of Don Julio Gonzalez is filled with as many twists and turns as a night out while drinking tequila. Born in 1925, Gonzalez started in the tequila biz the year he entered double digits when he was hired to work at his uncle’s tequila distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, according to Thrillist. Ambitious to say the least, he grabbed hold of this opportunity and began soaking in all the knowledge about the production of tequila that he possibly could.

Tragedy struck when he was 15 and faced with the daunting challenge of becoming his family’s sole breadwinner when his father died. With a mother and seven siblings to look after, he struggled to make ends meet, earning a pittance of only 9 pesos a week as a farmhand. In order to up his earnings, the teenage Gonzalez then took a grueling job distributing tequila all across Mexico on horseback, according to the Master of Malt. Armed with two 25-liter barrels of the good stuff, he was then making nearly 10 pesos a day, far outstripping his previous earnings.

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A Short History Of The Don Julio Tequila Brand

In 1985, during Don Julios 60th birthday, the tequila carrying his name that he spent more than 4 decades perfecting, was officially released to the public. First released in Guadalajara and surrounding cities and towns, word of Don Julios tequila spread like wildfire.

With this move, Don Julio soon became a global competitor in the premium tequila market. His unique approach to creating tequila has made it a major commodity for those who want the finest liquor.

See How Don Julio Ranks In Our Community

I picked up a half size on sale for $19, and I regret it. On the nose, agave is there, some citrus and a bit of maybe pepper, but theres ethanol and an astringent note that Im not fond of. A little pepper. It opens up after a while and is more or less fine on the nose. On the palate, cooked agave is there, the citrus is there, not much else going on. A little ethanol. Slightly bitter finish.Overall this isfine. Its clean, its okay. Trying after Don Nacho which was quite good and half the price, this is a huge letdown, but nothing a few limes and agave nectar cant fix. Im only going to say Yes on recommend because it is a clean and inoffensive, and widely available. Patron is better imo but this is fine.

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Don Julio Tequila Price List

There are lots of facets to the success of Don Julio, and to list all of them would make this price guide tedious and boring. But one cannot exclude the companys añejo and reposado aging processes when listing what makes Don Julio great. For example, the reposados spend eight months in old American oak barrels primarily used for Kentucky bourbon aging. Select reposado sare aged for one more month in old Scotch whisky casks for the Don Julio Reposado Double Cask variant.

As for the añejos, their aging goes for a full 18 months in the companys own reposado barrels. The result is more agave and less oak in the flavor, which is great for the tequila purist.

Don Julio Blanco Tequila

• Alternate Money Check $79.99-$89.99, 1,500 ml, 40%

Light and crisp is the consistent description of this blancos taste, with a citrus hint greeting you at tongues tip. Then the sweet agave takes over, getting creamy as the liquid goes down the gullet. Theres a tiny burn at the end, but its more respectable than rude and you dont forget the entire run of the drink through your mouth. Its best served as a foundation for a mixed drink, such as a margarita or a 21st Century.

Don Julio Reposado Tequila

• $45.99-$46.99, 750 ml, 38%

Agave and vanilla are very much present at the start of the taste, followed by dints of wood, smoke and cinnamon. Everything goes smooth and silky in the lips-to-mouth-to-throat transition, with a very gentle agave/peppery reminder at the end.

Don Julio Special Editions

As if the impressive roster of tequilas isnt deep enough and with enough primo tequilas, Don Julio went out and made some very limited edition versions of their reposado tequila that I havent been able to sample. I will be covering them when I am able to add some to my collection, but for now, Ill just leave you with the names:

• Reposado Double Cask Tequila Lagavulin Aged Edition
• Reposado Private Cask Tequila

Ill be back soon covering more about these limited edition tequilas and always keeping a pulse on the Don Julio tequila brands.

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Don Julio 1942 Tequila’s Release Celebrates The Brand’s Origins

Don Julio 1942 Tequila was released in 2002 to celebrate 60 years of the brand . It honors the year that founder Don Julio González began a lifelong journey toward producing exceptional, high-end tequilas . The bottle for Don Julio 1942 is the embodiment of this mission: The tall, slender, tapered design makes it look incredibly elegant. The bottle is based on the shape of an agave leaf and was originally released in a light shade of green.

The beauty of the bottle, paired with its quality and the fact that it’s an anniversary release makes this tequila an excellent gift for special occasions. The Don Julio company even offers a custom engraving and gift boxing service specifically for its 1942 bottle. Those in search of an impressive birthday, holiday, or anniversary gift can get a short, personalized message as well as the recipient’s name etched into the bottle.

Don Julio Tequila Prices List 2022

Quick Summary:

• Since being inaugurated in 1942, Don Julio Tequila has captured the spirit of authentic Mexican tequila, establishing itself as a global best-seller.
• There are multiple variants of Don Julio, from the base Blanco to the ultra-premium Real.
• You can drink Don Julio on its own or use it to prepare mixes, including classics such as margarita and tequila sunrise.

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The History Of Don Julio Tequila During The Next 40 Years

During the course of the following 40 years, the tequila industry was revolutionized by Don Julio Gonzalez. His choice of quality over quantity became a standard of the industry. The result was the first real luxury tequila. What he produced was smoother and richer than any tequila anyone else has ever produced in the past. Soon, he became extremely successful and his tequila was discussed far and wide. Despite this, his loyalty remained with his community.

His love of tequila and high standards transformed Don Julio into a phenomenon. He remained in Jalisco since this is where he was born. The distillery he established led generations to follow his extraordinary example of both craftsmanship and passion. The result was a revolutionization of the tequila industry still alive today. The agricultural techniques he developed set his brand apart from all of the others. He used Los Altos soil from the highlands of Jalisco.

This red clay soil was rich in minerals and perfect for growing healthy and vibrant agave plants. The area Don Jose chose to grow his plants was a microclimate. During the evening, the temperatures dropped. This slowed down the process of maturation. He studied all of the ancient methods he could find for the region. He became extremely knowledgeable regarding the condition of the area and the effect it would have on his agave.

Wework Founder Adam Neumann Stocked His Plane With Don Julio 1942

WeWork founder Adam Neumann has attracted criticism for dubious work practices: According to Esquire, it was Neumann’s M.O. to constantly drink alcohol and also encourage his employees to drink beers and tequila at work. Don Julio 1942 was ordered for WeWork events . Neumann also kept his private jet fully stocked with Don Julio 1942 at all times.

Neumann reportedly served shots of tequila at the office following a mass layoff of his employees. He pressured a woman interviewing for a position at the company to take shots with him during her interview. She later sued the company over allegations of sexual harassment.

The Apple TV+ series “WeCrashed” starring Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway delves into the chaotic inner workings of the shared space startup. While tequila most certainly should be accompanied by fun, it probably shouldn’t take place in a work environment that many considered toxic .

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Don Julio Now Produces Six Core Varieties

All tequila stems from 100% blue agave plant, but there are five main types that end up in the final bottle: Blanco, Joven, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo. Blanco is tequila in its freshest, least-touched form, which leaves little to hide for a poorly produced spirit. Joven is a form of blended Blanco that’s been mixed with another tequila or even sometimes just coloring. Reposado is aged a bit longer in oak casks, from only a couple of months to a year. Añejo packs the biggest flavor punch, with notes of vanilla gained as it’s aged in oak for anywhere from one to three years. Extra Añejo has been sitting around for even longer than three years.

According to Tequila Reviews, Don Julio tequila now produces 6 core varieties: Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Don Julio Reposado Tequila, Don Julio Añejo Tequila, Don Julio 70 Añejo Claro Tequila, and Don Julio 1942 Tequila, a tribute to its founder. While these remain as the core in production, they also have Don Julio Real Tequila, one of the few Extra Añejo spirits available on the market today that’s aged for up to 5 years in American white-oaks barrels. Other varieties include a Reposado Double Cask Tequila, Reposado Private Cask Tequila , and a Reposado Double Cask Tequila Lagavulin aged edition.

It Goes Down Easy And Has A Complex Flavor Profile

Since Don Julio 1942 is an aged tequila, it has had plenty of time to develop a complex flavor profile. Like most spirits that have been aged in wooden barrels, barrel-aged tequila has an oaky flavor . The sweetness of the agave matures into notes of caramelized sugar, as per Liquor.com, along with warm spice and vanilla tones. Difford’s Guide offers a similar description, likening the tequila’s sweetness to crème brûlée and burnt toffee.

Don Julio 1942 also possesses notes of citrus and other fruit. All of this culminates into what both reviews describe as a long, lingering finish. Customer reviews on Flaviar are all remarkably consistent in their praise for the añejo’s remarkable smoothness. For those who may be new to the world of aged tequilas, the easy-to-drink Don Julio 1942 may be a good place to start experimenting.

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Who Is Don Julio Gonzalez

Don Julio Gonzalez was a master distiller and an unforgettable pioneer for the tequila industry. He established the tequila standard for many decades and revolutionized production. His story was remarkable and remains well-known throughout the industry. To this day, the premier luxury tequila across the globe is Don Julio. He believed quality was always more important than quality and only selected the best. Each agave was carefully planted farther apart to allow room for growth.

Prior to harvesting, he made certain every agave was mature. He only used the most succulent areas of the pina, then steamed them for cycles of 72 hours. He turned his back on the tradition of bottling tequila in tall bottles usually hidden under tables. Don Julio did not believe his tequila should be hidden. Instead, he created a shorter bottle. His guests would then pass the bottle to everyone seated at the table and be able to see one another.

Don Julio Debuts As A Brand

After several decades of running the Tres Magueyes label, the Don Julio brand was born in 1987. This label began selling González’s family reserve bottles, which quickly became some of the very best offered on the market. The brand was acquired by Diageo in 2015, three years after Don Julio González’s death, but everything from the traditional production techniques to the new limited-edition offerings all pay homage to this revolutionary man.

Don Julio 1942 is one of several bottles that commemorates his incredible legacy that still impacts the industry greatly today through production methods, richness of flavor, and the gorgeous shape that makes it a bar cart must-have. As Christina Choi, senior vice president of Tequila, Diageo North America, said, “Don Julio didn’t set out on his tequila making journey for fame or money, but rather he was devoted to crafting the highest quality tequila to enjoy with friends and family.”

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The Pioneering Ideas Of Don Julio

What made Don Julio González’s tequila such an icon was that González was dedicated to pursuing quality over quantity even though it required more time, effort, and money. Don Julio began planting agave farther apart to give the plants more room to flourish, and he didn’t harvest the plants until they were fully mature. These methods of growing and harvesting have become key standards for tequila producers since.

Don Julio also only selected the ripest, juiciest parts of the piñas, or agave hearts, and slow-roasted them for three days to achieve perfect caramelization and to bring out a depth and complexity of flavor that his competitors didn’t have. This production process set a new benchmark for tequila and established the first-ever “luxury” tequila option: one that was ultra-smooth, full of flavor, and incredibly nuanced.

González also pioneered today’s tequila bottles, as they were traditionally tall enough to store on the floor underneath a table. He aspired to create a vessel that enhanced the dining experience and could be a part of daily life, so his tequila bottles were small enough to rest on a table with other food and drink without obscuring the view of loved ones that were sitting on the other side.