Not many XAs carry the burden of being the standard by which all XAs should be measured by. If such a thing exists, this is the one. Complexities filled the air as soon as I popped this 1 liter bad mofo open. Agaves harvested in the 90s, distilled in 2000, aged 5-6 years in whiskey barrels, then rested another 10+ years in 5 liter glass jugs! The result is one of the finest, most delicious XA ever to tough my lips! Agave driven with dark chocolate, plantains, figs, cherries, yams, cinnamon apple pie, caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, mocha, clove, citrus... oh man! I'll stop right there!

I originally rated this a few points lower but after a second tasting, I think it’s opened up a bit. Lots more flavor and a much bigger burst of cooked agave on the second go around. Carlos Camarena tequila always have agave at the fore front and this is no different. Amazing agave flavor from start to finish. Nice mellowing from the barrel. Butterscotch, vanilla are present. Some bright citrus on the back end. This is an outstanding tequila. Not overpowered by the barrel and absolutely true to the agave. I don’t usually go for anejo’s and extra anejo’s but this has become one of my favorite tequila.

Very expensive, but one of the best XAs out there. Awesome nose. Flavor of stewed fruits, chocolate and agave. Huge finish with just the right balance of oak.

Sweet agave, whiskey, honey, caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, smoke, leather, citrus and fruit. This is the extra anejo others are judged against, and for a price range of $140 to 160, this is well worth it.

A full bodied XA, dried candied fruit, with nutty characteristics, the undertones are sweet yet subtle. Complex flavors of caramel, vanilla and wood. Liter bottle makes it a good value.

This doesn’t require a lot of words, it’s on point and should be respected as an elite product. Still some agave left in there unbelievably.

Gorgeous color. Wood/oak, pine needles, agave, friut and forest floor (in that order) on the nose. The palate has dark chocolate, cherries, plums and peaches, dried fruits and nuts. There is a nice, long finish that gives off some heat in the way back of the throat. Carlos made an outstanding XA with this one. It will set you back some pesos, but the quality is commensurate with the price.

Dark rich color. Ripe fruit, dried fruit, peach notes, dark spices and oak. A lot of aromas going on. A definite olive note mingling with the butterscotch undercurrent. Taste: Buttery, pitted fruit, pepper with some bite. Finish lasts for ages. It is an assertive tequila.

Probably my favorite XA and I would rate it higher if it wasn’t so expensive.

Still my favorite XA. At $140 a liter it's a bargain. The aroma of layer after layer of dried fruit and oak make it delicious in the aroma and during the taste. The finish lasts and lasts with a soft bite to remind you that it's still tequila.

Simply one of the best tequilas ever produced.

This Tapatio came to the US by special order from England, after a small group of us had found out that this was basically Excelencia, although it came in an añejo bottle. This tequila has a great nose, with notes of citrus and cooked brown sugar. Sweet and peppery, the taste is big and complex! My favorite part is the finish as it goes on for days and ends with a really nice earth tone that only an agave spirit can produce!

this tequila is amazing! we compared the lote 1 to lote 2 side-by-side last night at John Welch's. they were both excellent. had we not had this lote 1, we would say lote 2 was great, and it is. it's just that the lote 1 is something very special, and for what we originally paid (120 a liter) it's a bargain

root beer, caramel, licorice, smooth, not as viscous as expected

Lot: TEGR-001, bottled on 18/05/11. Color: medium-dark brown. Nose: sweet burnt sugar, camphor wood, lively wood spices, pepper spiciness, menthol, slight vanilla, herbal, barely noticeable cooked agave, maybe it is sweet too, but it is covered by the other sweet notes. Palate: pepper spiciness, sweet caramel, wood spiciness, old wood, menthol, camphor wood aroma, the agave is hidden under the wooden spices & other sweet aromas. Finish is medium to long, menthol, pepper & wood spiciness dominates.

Very oaky, some pine, smells kind of sweet but not

A little bland for my untrained palate. Not sweet at all, if that’s your thing look elsewhere. I put this well behind Don Fulano Imperial or El Tesoro Paradiso, two EA’s I really enjoy.

Smooth! With a vanilla finish!!!

Swet ln the nose, honey and wood Flavor is also sweet and woody, easy to drink and softer than expected. Aftertaste of wood and agave. A really easy to sip XA

Sweet agave, caramel, vanilla, oak, light whiskey taste and orange rind citrus taste. Hint of coffee, cinnamon, dark chocolate. An amazing Extra Anejo.

Nose: vanilla, butterscotch, cooked agave, marmalade Palate: nice cooked agave, hint of oak and smoke, vanilla, honey, white pepper, herbal medicinal note. Finish: very nice medium finish

Beautiful clear caramel color. Long legs that hesitantly make their way back down the glass, leaving minimal tears behind. Nose: The alcohol hit me first, but after letting it breathe all the aromas came through. Caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, honey, dark chocolate, leather, toffee dominates, some pineapple, orange peel and chamomile tea round it out. Loved the nose. Taste: Nice oily mouthfeel. Cooked agave, caramel, cinnamon, apple, cacao (instead of the chocolate that I originally smelled), some coffee, honey and toffee. Finish: nice long finish of dark chocolate, and the taste of toasted bread stays with you for a while. Really liked this XA. Hope I can afford to keep it around.

Stunning well balanced master piece from Carlos Camarena. Surely this will become the" Pappy VW of Tequila.

This has been my unicorn since I started tasting tequila. I saved it for my 100th rating so I had a more experienced pallet. Aroma - barrel spices, tobacco, oak, pepper Flavor - roasted and sweet agave, pepper, Finish - complex, smooth, lingering warmth with vanilla and barrel scent

Nothing stood out to me in this tequila...weak caramel on the nose, strong alcohol finish...