Review: Corzo Anejo Tequila  90.5/100
a review by Chip Dykstra
Published April 02, 2018

Corzo is a 100% Blue Weber Agave Tequila produced in Los Altos (the Highlands) of Jalisco, Mexico. Although the Corzo website does not explicitly state the distillery which produces their tequila,The NOM identifyer on the the bottle is 1487 CRT. This NOM identifier is required by the Mexican Government to be placed on the label of each bottle of tequila to verify that it is produced legally from agave sourced in the Tequila region of Mexico. Each distillery has its own NOM, and by researching the NOM we can discover exactly which distillery produces each brand of tequila. The Corzo Brand is produced at the Tequila Cazadores De Arandas, S. De R.I. De C.V. (also known as Bacardi y Compania, S.A. de C.V.). Indeed the Corzo Brand is owned by Bacardi and is their premium tequila brand.

Most tequila is double distilled however, Corzo Tequila is triple distilled with only a small center cut taken from each distillation. In fact this fine center cut requires the company to use twice as much agave to produce the tequila as would normally be used. After the second distillation, Corzo tequila is rested for 2 to 4 months in American white oak barrels. After the tequila has matured for this first amount of time the tequila is then distilled a third time. After the third distillation the tequila is then matured for a second period of time in French oak until it has reached the right properties to be bottled as Corzo Anejo Tequila.

In the Bottle  5/5

The Corzo bottle was apparently designed by renowned art director Fabien Baron who is the creative director of Baron & Baron, an art direction and marketing company whose portfolio of clients includes Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani. The rectangular bottle is stunning and oozing masculinity and sex appeal. At first I thought I might have trouble pouring the spirit into my glass because of the extremely short neck. However, if you look closely at the bottle shot to the left you can see a small channel on the lip of the spout. This channel serves to bridge the gap from my glass to the pouring spout. I also looks really cool when you pour a shot for your friends.

In the Glass 9/10

The Anejo spirit is an amber spirit with a light oily texture which clings to the side of my glass when I swirl it. Small legs form and slide to the bottom. I have to admit I am surprised by the colour which is a few shades darker than I would expect from an Anejo spirit which would be aged about two years.

The initial breezes above the glass brought me a nice mixture of light caramel, soft fruity agave, and spicy black pepper. Some herbal tones peaked through with a sense of mint and alfalfa hay. Some hints of chocolate and vanilla were apparent and a little oak spice and scattered tea leaves seem to swirl in the merry little breezes as well.

The sense I receive from nosing the glass is that this tequila is a little different from the norm. The Agave is not the only focal point of the spirit. The oak barrels that matured the spirit have been placed on an equal footing to the agave.

In the Mouth 54/60

Although the agave seemed to be held back on the nose, it now sits at the forefront as I begin to taste the anejo spirit. Their is a firm fruity agave which carries its peppery spice alongside. A light caramel sweetness as well as flavours of canned apricots and vanillans follow along for the ride behind. Baking spices, bittersweet chocolate, hints of coffee and even a little cola all seem to be joining in as well. The overall flavour is very nice.

When a dollop of ice is added to the glass,, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon seem ooze out with even more bittersweet chocolate apparent. I might be tempted to make a Tequila Old Fashioned at some point as the flavours I am encountering seem suited an accent of bitters and a touch of sweetness.

In the Throat 13.5/15

The Anejo Tequila is smooth (at least as far as highland tequila goes). I taste bits of chocolate and scattered tea leaves during the swallow. Peppery agave spice heats the back of the throat and lingering flavours of peppery oak and baking spices settle upon the palate after the swallow.

The Afterburn 9/10

Corzo Anejo is a fine tequila. It has a wonderful nuanced flavour with fruity agave accented by oak and oak spice. It is tempting to score the spirit higher, especially as it is so easy to sip and enjoy. However, as I sipped I was thinking to myself, that I wished the agave was just a little more upfront. It’s a small thing, and perhaps more of a peculiarity of my personal preference than any real flaw within the spirit. However my reviews should reflect my preferences to a point, and so I will leave the score as it is, a solid 90.5/100.

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 Cocktail:

Tequila Añejo Old Fashioned

2 oz Corzo 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 2 oz Añejo Tequila over the ice
Add the Bitters and the Agave Syrup
Stir Gently
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)