Goza Anejo Tequila
Goza Anejo Tequila is an 80 proof (40% ABV), 750mL añejo — "goza" means joy in Spanish — aged 18 months in white-oak whiskey barrels. Made from 100% Weber blue agave grown in the Jalisco Highlands, it is small-batch distilled and double distilled at NOM 1618, triple filtered, and bottled additive-free. The añejo took Best in Category at the Spirits of Mexico Competition, and it drinks like the flagship of a seriously underrated small brand. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: 18 months in white-oak whiskey (re-purposed bourbon) barrels
- Distillery: NOM 1618, Jalisco
- Agave: 100% Weber blue agave, Highlands of Jalisco
- Production: small-batch, double distilled, triple filtered, additive-free
- Award: Best in Category (Añejo), Spirits of Mexico Competition
Joy, Aged 18 Months
GOZA styles itself as a small, fully integrated brand — estate-grown agave harvested at full maturity (Atlanta Magazine reported nine-year-old agave in the brand's early years), a Highlands distillery, and a process that oxygenates the spirit pre-bottling to coax out sweetness. The Añejo is the top of the Goza range above the Blanco and Reposado: 18 months in white oak, which current brand copy places on every bottle. One older interview (Atlanta Magazine, 2015) described a one-year añejo — likely an earlier lot — so the bottle in hand is the 18-month expression. GOZA's cited brand site (gozatequila.com) could not be reached live during research, but the 18-month aging and 40% ABV are consistent across all current retailers.
Tasting Notes
Brand copy via Keg N Bottle leads with warm, deep cinnamon on the nose and a palate of rich complexity, spice, and honey. The Liquor Barn goes deeper: golden cinnamon, warm vanilla, toasted oak, caramel, and dried fruit; a honeyed entry with pear and custard; allspice and nutmeg through the middle; and a medium-long peppery finish that stays velvety with vanilla sweetness. Atlanta Magazine simply found brown spice, honey, and "more depth" than the reposado — fair for an añejo that keeps its agave identity under the oak.
How to Enjoy
Drink it neat or over one large cube — an 18-month añejo this decorated deserves no disguise. It also makes a luxury tequila old fashioned with a touch of agave syrup and orange bitters. To taste the brand's full arc, line it up against the Blanco and Reposado from the GOZA range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Goza Anejo aged? 18 months in white-oak whiskey barrels, per current brand and retailer copy.
Is Goza Anejo additive-free? Yes — the brand's expressions are additive-free, made from 100% Weber blue agave.
What does "Goza" mean? "Goza" means joy or enjoy in Spanish.
If an 18-month, award-winning añejo sounds like your pour, grab Goza Anejo from Del Mesa Liquor's online shelf today.