Tinta Negra Imperial Tequila
Tinta Negra Imperial Tequila is the house's extra anejo statement — 40% ABV (80 proof), 750mL, 100% Blue Weber agave aged more than five years in French oak barrels that previously held California red wines, from a small family-owned boutique distillery (NOM 1477) in Jalisco. Deep golden scarlet in the glass, honeyed and spice-laden — this is Tinta Negra with the volume turned up. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Agave: 100% Blue Weber agave
- Ageing: Extra Anejo — 5+ years in French oak barrels previously used for California red wines
- Origin: Jalisco, Mexico — NOM 1477 (Tequilera Puerta de Hierro, El Arenal)
- Producer: Tinta Negra — small-batch, family-owned boutique distillery
Five Years in French Oak and Red Wine
Extra anejo only demands three years; Imperial takes more than five, and spends them in French oak that previously aged California red wines — so the barrel gives vanilla, brown spice and a wine-dark fruit depth on top of the cooked agave core. Tinta Negra keeps the operation deliberately small: a family-owned boutique distillery working 100% Blue Weber agave under NOM 1477. The result is the richest seat in the house range. Find it in our tequila collection and the anejo and extra anejo shelves, or see the brand on the Tinta Negra vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep golden scarlet. Nose: Cooked agave and vanilla, sweet and inviting. Palate: Clean and balanced — layers of vanilla, warm brown spice, cooked agave, creme brulee, oak and maple. Finish: Smooth and honeyed with a lingering agave aftertaste.
How to Enjoy
Neat, at room temperature, in a wide-bowled glass — five years of French oak deserve an unhurried pour. A single large cube at most; this is a sipping tequila, not a mixer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Tinta Negra Imperial aged? More than five years in French oak barrels that previously aged California red wines — comfortably beyond the three-year minimum for extra anejo, per the producer.
Where is Tinta Negra made? In Jalisco, Mexico, at a small family-owned boutique distillery registered as NOM 1477 (Tequilera Puerta de Hierro, in El Arenal), from 100% Blue Weber agave.
What is an extra anejo tequila? The oldest official tequila class: 100% agave tequila aged at least three years in oak. Imperial's five-plus years in ex-red-wine French oak puts it well past the threshold.
Small-batch, wine-barrel-aged and honeyed — buy Tinta Negra Imperial Tequila online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.