Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links. We do receive a small commission when you click on our links and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). We always give our honest opinions, and these opinions are fully our own. See our Disclaimers →
3 Amigos Tequila Añejo
About 3 Amigos Tequila Añejo
3 Amigos Tequila Añejo is produced by 3 Amigos Tequila, a family-run company based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Though the company itself was founded in 2007, the current owners are the legacy of a Mexican family with over four generations of agave farming experience. Their tequila is still produced on the family farm located in the Los Altos (highlands) region of Jalisco, Mexico. As a company, 3 Amigos describes their products as “farm to glass”, highlighting the fact that they grow and harvest their own agave with no outside ingredients. Their chemical-free farming methods have earned them several organic certifications including those from the USDA and EU.
All of the 3 Amigos tequilas begin with the same Blanco, but are aged differently to produce the different results. The tequilas are produced using handcrafted techniques, and distilled twice. This particular añejo tequila is aged for 2 years in White American Charred Oak barrels.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 40%
❖ Distillery: Casa Tequilera de Arandas
❖ Aging: 2 years
❖ Price Point: lower mid price range
Tasting Notes
Nose:
❖ cooked agave
❖ hint of spice
❖ vanilla
Palate:
❖ sweet agave
❖ caramel
My Tasting notes
As I began to smell this tequila, I found that it had a very sweet and fresh aroma. The nose notes got sweeter with each sniff – reminding me of taffy or a similar candy.
My first sip started out sweet, but the finish was quite strong and bitter. My second sip was a bit more mellow, and the flavors arrived slowly on my taste buds. Once again it started out sweet, with the agave notes following shortly afterwards. By my fourth taste, the general sweetness started to become identifiable as caramel. Throughout my tasting, the finish of this tequila continued to be strong and a little bit bitter.
By the time I was done with my shot-size tasting, I could tell this tequila would be stronger than average. I could really feel the alcohol right away. Normally, I don’t start to feel tipsy during tastings until I’ve moved on to my cocktail.
Cocktail
For my cocktail, I was feeling creative and decided to opt for an original recipe. This drink is a twist on the classic Paloma, but designed to be a little bit sweeter and creamier. I call it the Palomita Blanca. Hope you enjoy!
Palomita Blanca
recipe by Emmeline Gonzalez-Beban
Ingredients
- 2 oz Tequila
- 2 oz grapefruit juice
- 1/2 oz Coco Reàl (cream of coconut)
- garnish: ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled
- Strain the mixture into a cocktail glass
- Garnish with a small amount of ground cinnamon
Inside of a cocktail, this tequila was disappointing. As I took my first sip, I detected an aftertaste similar to what I experienced while drinking the tequila straight. Although my next few sips weren’t quite as bitter, it overall wasn’t as smooth as I had hoped.
One thing I did appreciate was the caramel notes which nicely complemented the flavors of the mixers. Though I was happy with my recipe, this tequila just did not cut it.
Bottom Line
RATING: 2/5
Overall, I was disappointed in this tequila. I had high hopes after researching the company, but it was not as smooth as one would expect for an añejo. In fact – when I did a test run of my original cocktail a few days before my tasting, I used a silver tequila. By comparison, that silver tequila was much smoother than the 3 Amigos Añejo. That is really not a good sign!
That said, 3 Amigos will get you drunk fast – which to some folks is a selling point. Personally, I prefer to prioritize taste. This tequila did not taste horrible, but it certainly did not meet my expectations based on aging time, production techniques, and the advertised level of authenticity. I would not recommend this bottle, expect in situations where your options are very limited.
As always, drink responsibly.
Not Quite what you're looking for?
SEE OUR OTHER TEQUILA REVIEWS:
JOIN THE NEWSLETTER!
Get more from Let’s Drink It! by subscribing to our monthly email newsletter
Not a big tequila fan, but good to know that this isn’t a good one!
Thanks for sharing! The taste of it is definitely something to consider.
Thanks so much for sharing your tasting on this! I enjoy tequilas and am always looking for different brands to try. I don’t like bitter tequilas so I am glad that I read your review!