Review: 1800 Reserva Anejo Tequila   86.5/100
a review by Chip Dykstra
Published June 20, 2022

The 1800 Tequila brand is owned by the Beckmann Family, who also own the Jose Cuervo brand. And indeed, according to the NOM identifier upon the bottle (Nom 1122 CRT) the brand is produced at the same facility, the Casa Cuervo, S.A. de C.V. (established in 1758) which is located in the central lowland tequila region of Jalisco Mexico.

According to the company website 1800 Anejo Tequila is:

Using 100% Weber blue agave, picked at their peak — anywhere from 8-12 years old — Añejo is aged in French Oak barrels for a minimum of 14 months. Its finish is described as spicy and well rounded with flavors of toasted oak, vanilla and butterscotch. This deep, luxurious tequila is ideal for sipping.

The name, 1800. is apparently an homage to the year that premium Tequila (tequila aged in oak) was first produced at Casa Cuervo.

In my locale, 1800 Reserva Anejo Tequila is bottled at 40 % abv.

In the Bottle 4.5/5

According to the 1800 Tequila website:

The packaging for 1800® Tequila is an iconic triangular shape, reminiscent of the centuries-old Mayan stone pyramids found throughout Mexico and dressed with a crest.

“Trabajo, Passion, Honestidad” (“Work,” “Passion,” “Honesty”) is displayed on the crest, signifying the honor and tradition that go into the process of crafting this historically rich tequila.

The bottle with its large stopper looks imposing on my tequila shelf.

In the Glass 8.5/10

Colour: Golden Straw (a touch darker than one would expect, perhaps the french oak represents a wine cask imparting its character to the matured spirit)

Nose: Fine oak spices combine with butterscotch and earthy agave fruit which reminds me of baked squash, grilled pineapple and over-ripe banana. There is also obvious notes of vanilla and some almond. As I gave the glass time to breathe some peppery notes began to break free from the fruity agave as well as hints of baking spices (cinnamon and ginger) as well as hints of allspice. herbal tobacco, and bittersweet chocolate.

In the Mouth 52/60

The initial taste brings a triumvirate of oak spice, vanilla and caramel forward which sort of covers up the punchy flavour of cooked agave. The agave builds as I sip as does the impression of peppery agave spice (which is almost certainly augmented by those fine oak spices). I also taste bits of of cinnamon and nutmeg as well perhaps an impression of bittersweet chocolate. Scattered tea leaves and impressions of raisin and tobacco complete the flavour profile which in my opinion is much better balanced than the Reposado version of 1800 tequila was.

I mixed a Tequila Old Fashioned and was quite happy with the result (see below).

In the Throat 13/15

The finish begins with a soft punchy agave flavour which gives way first to spicy pepper, and then to an impression of herbal tobacco sort of melded with chocolate.  The oak spice I think adds to that impression of spicy pepper.

The Afterburn 8.5/10

I have had an interesting journey through the 1800 Reserva Tequila main line-up. I liked the Blanco quite a bit, lost my enthusiasm for the Reposado, and then regained it for the Anejo. I think that extra time in the Oak (about ten months more for the Anejo) made a big difference. My favourite was the Blanco, but this 1800 Reserva Anejo Tequila was not far behind.

You may read some of my other Tequila Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.

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Suggested Recipe

Anejo Tequila Old Fashioned

Tequila Añejo Old Fashioned

1 1/2 oz 1800 Reserva Anejo Tequila
1/4 oz Orange Curacao
1/8 oz Agave Syrup
dash Barrel Aged Whiskey Bitters (Fees Brothers)
Ice
Orange Peel

Add a thin coil of Orange Peel to the bottom of a rocks glass
Add a few cubes of ice
Pour Añejo Tequila over the ice
Add the Bitters and the Agave Syrup
Stir
Enjoy Responsibly

Note: If  you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed

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You may (loosely) interpret the scores as follows.

0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing Tequila.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, (we are probably still cocktail in territory).
80-84    We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89    Excellent for sipping or for mixing delicious cocktails!
90-94    Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)