Believe it or not, Don Julio is actually a man. A man who is still alive, living in Mexico and making Tequila! While Don Julio has passed on the reins of the distillery to the next generation, he is still an active participant in the business. I think that is pretty cool. I am always impressed when a distiller or a winemaker is actively involved in it’s operations, especially, the person who started them. No matter what, an inventor’s imprint is forever on his or her product. While others may change it, improve upon or even destroy it, the inventor is still there. What would Ford Motors be without Henry Ford or Apple without Steve Jobs or Mondavi without Robert Mondavi? Incomprehensible. Well, that is what Don Julio would be without Don Julio.
Tequila Don Julio 1942 was Don Julio’s swan song – his final act of love to his devoted fans. Don Julio developed the 1942 as an homage to his 60th year as a distiller (he started at the tender age of 17). In our humble opinion, it is his finest creation – an almost perfect tequila with ethereal qualities that soar to the pinnacle of distillation.
Visually, the Tequila Don Julio 1942 is clear with a pale, straw yellow color. On the nose, it has a beautiful, moderate intensity of milk chocolate, butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, dried fig, raisin and a hint of citrus. It is certainly redolent of the Bourbon barrels where it aged for two and half years while maintaining an essence of agave. On the mouth, the 1942 has a lush, viscous mouth feel, bright acidity and pronounced intensity of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper with accents of citrus and milk chocolate and a slight grassiness or vegetal note. Long finish with lingering flavor. Outstanding to exceptional spirit.
The 1942 is pure and straight a sipping Tequila that rivals the finest Whisky. However, if you have the bucks to spare, it would make some mighty fine cocktails!
