ArteNOM Seleccion 1146 Anejo Tequila 750ml

ArteNOM Seleccion 1146 is produced at Tequileña in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, under master distiller Enrique Fonseca, a fifth-generation agave cultivator who holds some of the largest highland agave estates in the industry. The ArteNOM series showcases individual distilleries by their government registration number, and this expression represents Fonseca's own highly regarded style, drawn largely from his home region of Atotonilco el Alto.

This añejo is made from 100% Blue Weber agave grown at high elevation near Atotonilco el Alto, slow cooked in low-pressure autoclaves, crushed via screw and roller mills, and fermented in stainless steel with wine yeast strains before double distillation in copper alembic pot stills. It then undergoes a distinctive two-stage aging process, resting first for around 14 months in used Cabernet Franc barrels from France's Loire Valley, then transferring to toasted American white oak that previously held Canadian whisky or Tennessee rye, for at least 14 more months, bringing total aging to nearly three years. The finished spirit is additive free and bottled at 41.3% ABV.

The nose offers butterscotch, citrus, baking spices, and vanilla over a rich amber color. On the palate the tequila is complex and barrel driven, with toffee, walnut, custard, orange zest, and dark chocolate, while agave character still carries clearly through to a long, well-balanced finish.