Published:
Readtime: 4 min
Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here.
We talk about whisky a lot here at Man of Many. It’s a category renowned for its depth, breadth, and versatility, which lends itself to ongoing analysis and exploration. However, while our passion for the water of life will never ebb, only fools limit themselves to what they already know. Comfort zones are for the cowardly, after all, and (if we’re being less dramatic) sometimes the urge to try something new just becomes too hard to resist.
This is how 1800 Añejo muscled its way onto our bar cart, marking out an invaluable patch of that limited real estate all its own. A beguiling tequila that has more in common with your go-to dram than you might expect, it has well and truly earned its place alongside our extensive assortment of Scotch, American, and Irish whiskeys. And as a dark sipping spirit with a deep and complex flavour that lends itself to a wide range of uses, how could it not feel right at home?
Honouring the Past
Using a 225-year-old recipe first established by one of the original agave-farming families, 1800 Tequila strives to craft the finest tequila money can buy, which is how its range of expressions has collectively become the world’s most-awarded tequila family. Through the distillery’s unending commitment to “trabajo, pasión, and honestidad,” or work, passion, and honesty, it has forged a reputation unmatched in tequila circles.
This is largely due to 1800 Tequila’s unwavering sense of pride and tradition. The approach consists of using 100 per cent Weber blue agave that’s harvested by hand at its peak—a tradition passed down from one generation to the next—before being double-distilled and aged to perfection under carefully managed conditions.
When it comes to 1800 Añejo specifically, this process is then built upon in a way that echoes how many of your favourite whiskies are created. Taking the distilled liquid, the 1800 Tequila team places it in new American and French oak barrels for a minimum of 14 months. The result is a deep, luxurious, and well-rounded flavour profile, boasting notes of oak and toffee vanilla, which crescendos to a spicy finish.
Ideal for sipping, either neat or on the rocks, it also makes an outstanding foundation for a wide range of cocktails. Speaking of which….
The Old Fashioned, Reimagined
While you almost certainly associate the Old Fashioned cocktail with bourbon or rye whiskey, this classic beverage provides a perfect demonstration of why 1800 Añejo is a spirit not to be underestimated. Just follow the steps below to try it for yourself, and don’t be surprised if you find you’ve opened the door to a whole new tequila-tinged world in the process.
What you’ll need:
- 50 mL of 1800 Añejo
- A dash of Angostura Aromatic Bitters
- 7.5 mL of Agave Syrup
- Garnish: Orange Peel
Step-by-Step Prep:
- Stir the ingredients over ice
- Double strain into a rocks glass over block ice
- Garnish with the orange peel
- Enjoy!
Crafted Without Compromise
Much like the world’s most prestigious whiskies, 1800 Tequila’s entire spirit-making process, from field to bottle, is managed in-house. With the patience required to allow each plant to age 8-12 years, the dedication of the 3,000 expert field workers who harvest each agave piña plant by hand, and the expertise needed to artfully manage the intricacies of the distilling and ageing process, the whole operation has been refined to the point of perfection.
So, the next time you’re left feeling uninspired by the contents of your bar cart, can’t decide what whisky you’re in the mood for, or simply feel the urge to try something a little different, remember that 1800 Añejo emodies so much of what we all love about those spirits, while simultaneously delivering an exhilarating new twist.
Comments
We love hearing from you. or to leave a comment.