Expresiones del Corazon Tequila Anejo aged in Van Winkle Barrels

Expresiones del Corazon Tequila Anejo Aged in Van Winkle Barrels is a limited-production 100% blue agave anejo tequila bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750ml bottle. With only 5,370 bottles produced in the first batch, this expression stands apart through its 23-month maturation in genuine Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon barrels sourced from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in 2010.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Highlands (Los Altos), Jalisco, Mexico  |  Aged 23 Months in Van Winkle Barrels  |  Distillery: Casa San Matías (NOM 1103)

Production & Heritage

Produced at Casa San Matías in Ojo de Agua, near Tepatitlán in the highlands of Jalisco, this anejo is the creation of master distiller Miguel Cedeño Cruz. The process begins with two distinct lots of 100% blue agave—one with lower sugar content and one with higher—slow cooked in traditional stone ovens, then distilled in stainless steel pot stills. After distillation, the liquid entered Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon barrels and rested for 23 months in the first row of the aging facility in Acatic, Los Altos, Jalisco, a position deliberately chosen to ensure ideal airflow around each barrel. The Expresiones del Corazón series is part of the Gemini Spirits & Wine Company, a subsidiary of Sazerac, and each expression in the range highlights how different American whiskey barrels shape the character of highland tequila.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a pleasant interplay of wood and caramel, followed by lemon tea, ginger, and subtle herbal tones. Underneath, a gentle cooked agave sweetness anchors the bouquet.

Taste: The entry is creamy and oak-forward, giving way to almond and vanilla at mid-palate. As it develops, bourbon barrel influence emerges clearly—caramel, oak spice, and pepper build alongside the distinctive flavor imprint of Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon, while cooked agave keeps the profile grounded in its highland tequila origins.

Finish: The finish is long and elegant, transitioning from that initial creaminess into intense notes of nut butter, black pepper, and light caramel. Oak lingers throughout, fading slowly with a dry, spiced warmth.

How to Drink the Van Winkle Anejo

Neat or with a single ice cube is the recommended approach—these barrels are rare, and the interplay between highland agave and Van Winkle bourbon character deserves full attention. A few drops of water can open up the almond and ginger nuances further. For cocktails, consider an Old Fashioned, where the bourbon-barrel influence makes it a natural stand-in for whiskey with added agave complexity; a Tequila Manhattan, letting the oak and caramel notes play against sweet vermouth; or a Boulevardier riff substituting this anejo for bourbon, where the pepper spice and nut butter richness complement Campari's bitterness.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast curious about the intersection of American whiskey and tequila
• Adding a rare, limited-production bottle to a serious agave spirits collection
• Hosting a side-by-side tasting comparing barrel-finished tequilas against their source whiskeys
• Celebrating a milestone occasion with something genuinely difficult to find

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Van Winkle Anejo taste like? It leads with creamy oak and vanilla, develops into caramel and almond at mid-palate, and finishes with nut butter, black pepper, and lingering bourbon barrel spice—all layered over a foundation of cooked highland agave.

How does the Van Winkle Anejo compare to the George T. Stagg Anejo in the same line? Both are 100% blue agave anejos from Casa San Matías, but the Stagg expression—aged in higher-proof George T. Stagg barrels—tends toward more intense char and spice, earning 90 points from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2019. The Van Winkle version leans creamier and more elegant, reflecting the softer profile of Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon barrels.

Is the Van Winkle Anejo good for sipping neat? Absolutely—its 40% ABV makes it highly approachable, and the complex barrel influence rewards slow, undiluted sipping where the bourbon-agave dialogue is most apparent.

Where is the Van Winkle Anejo made? It is produced at Casa San Matías (NOM 1103) in Ojo de Agua, near Tepatitlán, in the highland (Los Altos) region of Jalisco, Mexico, and aged at the distillery's facility in Acatic, Jalisco.

What foods pair well with the Van Winkle Anejo? Grilled pork chops with a brown sugar glaze complement the caramel and oak; aged Gouda or Manchego echo the nutty, creamy notes; pecan pie amplifies the nut butter and vanilla; mole negro mirrors its layered spice; and dark chocolate with sea salt highlights the pepper and caramel finish.

What sizes does the Van Winkle Anejo come in? It is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is the Van Winkle Anejo worth the price? This positions as an ultra-premium, limited-production expression—only 5,370 bottles were produced in the first batch using genuinely rare Van Winkle bourbon barrels. For collectors and enthusiasts who value barrel provenance and scarcity, it represents a distinctive bottle that straddles two highly sought-after spirits categories.

Why the Van Winkle Anejo?

What separates this expression from the broader barrel-aged tequila category is verifiable barrel provenance: these are authentic Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon barrels from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, not generic bourbon casks with a famous name attached. The 23-month aging period at highland altitude, with barrels placed in the first row for optimal airflow, shows a level of intentionality in maturation that goes beyond simply filling and waiting. With a first-batch production of just 5,370 bottles, availability is genuinely limited rather than artificially scarce. For anyone serious about understanding how specific barrel origins reshape agave spirits, this is one of the most transparent and traceable experiments on the market.