Storywood Anejo and Reposado Tequila Reviews

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Produced by Storywood and distilled at NOM 1137 La Cofradia
• MASH BILL: 100% Blue Webber Agave
• AGE: Reposado, 7 Months in ex-Scotch casks, Anejo, 14 Months in ex-Scotch casks
• YEAR: 2023
• PROOF: 80 (40% ABV)
• MSRP: Reposado, $50.77, Anejo, $85
• BUY ONLINE: Out of Stock Online

STEVE’S NOTES

SHARE WITH: People who like soft, aged tequilas.

WORTH THE PRICE: No. There’s better out there for less.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar.

OVERALL: Here’s why I chose to review two tequilas from Storywood in one review: The differences between them is just 7 months in a used Scotch cask from Speyside. The reposado aged 7 months; the anejo 14 months. Hard but paying work kept me from the volunteer duty of reviewing, so I’ve had these bottles for several months. The benefit of that is I got to taste them both many times before sitting down to the actual reviewing. What intrigued me all along was their similarities in the glass.

The reposado leads with some rawer, greener, vegetal aromas that more intriguing than unpleasant. The older anjeo is much sweeter, bearing a cotton candy note that’s a signature aroma on Casa Noble tequilas, the distillery’s flagship brand. None offers any aromas of a Scotch-cask rest, but who knows how many times that Scotch cask was used and reused, or whether its charred innards were chipped out, a common practice in tequila.

These less-pronounced notes carry over to the liquid. Both present a super soft mouthfeel, which is pleasant, but the flavors of cooked agave are faint, which is interesting given the press-release’s claim 10-year-old agaves were used and, as I assume, slow roasted in La Cofradia’s brick ovens for depth and complexity. But there’s just not much going on in either expression. There’s some positive black pepper and cinnamon influence in the finish, but I was hoping for more depth and complexity.

Doubtless, some will like these gentle sippers, but they’re too gentle for my preference. They lack the backbone a barrel can provide and the magical flavors great oxidization deliver to dazzle.

BRAND NOTES

Both Storywood Reposado and Añejo tequilas begin with 10-year-old mature 100% blue Weber agave, harvested from the lowland region of Jalisco then married with the natural spring water from Volcan de Tequila that flows down from the mountains. The tequila is produced by master distiller Carlos Hernandez Ramos from La Cofradia then aged in the finest of oak casks from Speyside, Scotland.

“We’re excited to bring the Storywood Tequila cultural partnership between Mexico and Scotland to people in the U.S.,” says Storywood Tequila Founder, Michael Ballantyne, a native of Scotland. “We’ve already seen tremendous excitement for this innovative tequila from both whiskey and tequila aficionados.”

The Añejo Speyside 14 is aged for 14 months in medium char single malt Scotch whisky barrels from Dufftown, Scotland. The oak aging enhances the earthy, herbal notes and layers in toasted oak, roasted nuts, and treacle toffee flavors. Reposado Speyside 7 has notes of caramel, subtly oaky with hints of vanilla and honey on an earthly, lowland agave base, and is aged over 7 months in Scotch Speyside whisky barrels.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.