The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Chinaco Añejo
TequilaIssue 21

Chinaco Añejo

Chinaco (González family) · Tequilera La Gonzaleña (NOM 1127), González, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Subtle pear, wildflowers, vanilla, light smoke, dried herbs, and a distinctive softness that sets it apart from Jalisco tequilas80 (40% ABV) proofTwo and a half years in ex-Glenlivet (90%) and ex-bourbon (10%) barrelsGonzález, Tamaulipas — far from the heartland of Jalisco, in the only tequila distillery in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas, where Guillermo González revived a family tradition and became the first to bring a premium tequila to the United States market in 1983.
Tasting Notes

Nose

Baked apple, papaya, mango, sweet cinnamon, cardamom, mocha, caramel, toasted oak, with an indescribable softness and elegance on the mid-palate

Palate

Long and warm with dark chocolate, dried herbs, vanishing oak spice, and a clean agave sweetness that lingers

Finish

Vanilla, Cinnamon, Caramel, Oak, Fruit (Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Mango), Chocolate (Dark Chocolate, Cocoa)

Specifications
Agave
100% Blue Weber Agave
Production
Rich golden amber
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

The Tamaulipas Sour: 2 oz Chinaco Añejo · 3/4 oz fresh lime juice · 1/2 oz agave nectar · 1/2 oz Grand Marnier · Shake with ice, strain into a rocks glass over a single large cube, garnish with an orange wheel.

Food Pairing

Mole negro with roasted chicken — the chocolate, spice, and fruit complexity in both the mole and the tequila create one of the great pairings.

The Story

Chinaco Añejo is the tequila that should not exist — not because it is not excellent, but because it comes from a place nobody associates with tequila.

Comments

Be the first to comment.

Leave a comment

0 / 4,000

First-time comments are reviewed before appearing. Be kind, be specific, no spam.

More from Tequilera La Gonzaleña (NOM 1127), González, Tamaulipas, Mexico
Ron Zacapa Edición Negra
Rum

Ron Zacapa Edición Negra

Ron Zacapa

Edición Negra takes Zacapa's high-altitude solera system and pushes it toward heavier charred casks, producing a darker, more brooding rum than its siblings. The result is a spirit that trades some of the Centenario 23's honeyed charm for genuine complexity and a savory edge. Whether you sip it neat or pair it with a robust dessert, this is rum built for contemplation.

86 proof
Michter's 10 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon

Michter's 10 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Michter's

Michter's 10 Year exemplifies the discipline of selecting barrels that can handle a full decade without tipping into over-oaked bitterness. This is bourbon that rewards slow sipping — each minute in the glass unlocks new layers. A benchmark for what extended aging should accomplish in Kentucky whiskey.

94.4 proof
Don Pilar Añejo Tequila
Tequila

Don Pilar Añejo Tequila

Don Pilar

Don Pilar's Añejo delivers genuine agave character that has been shaped, not masked, by eighteen months in oak. This is añejo the way it should be done — the wood serves the spirit, not the other way around. At its price point, it competes well above its weight class, offering depth and balance that many pricier añejos struggle to achieve.

80 proof
Jensen's Old Tom London Gin
Gin

Jensen's Old Tom London Gin

Jensen's

Christian Jensen spent years researching nineteenth-century recipes to reconstruct an authentic Old Tom profile. The result is not a novelty — it is a genuine revival, offering a window into what gin tasted like before London Dry became the dominant style. Essential for anyone building a historically informed Martinez or Tom Collins.

86 proof
More Tequila Reviews