Duke Grand Cru Founders Reserve Reposado Tequila
Duke Grand Cru Founders Reserve Reposado Tequila is a reposado aged 3–6 months — 40% ABV (80 proof), 750mL — from Duke Spirits' Grand Cru tequila line. Like its extra añejo siblings, it's distilled from single-estate blue agave in the Los Altos highlands of Jalisco and finished in third-use French Grand Cru wine barrels, giving a young reposado surprising depth of oak and red cherry. Every bottle supports the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 3–6 months in oak (official Duke range)
- Agave: 100% single-estate blue agave; hand-distilled in small copper pot stills at a distillery founded 1885, Los Altos, Jalisco
- Barrels: Aged in 2nd-use American oak whiskey barrels; finished in 3rd-use French Grand Cru wine barrels (Taransaud, Demptos; Jupilles, Tronçais)
- Origin: Los Altos highlands, Jalisco, Mexico
A Reposado With an Extra Añejo's Ambition
Most reposados rest briefly in American oak and call it a day. Duke's goes further: after its 3–6 months in second-use whiskey barrels, it finishes in the same French Grand Cru wine barrels used for the line's extra añejos — oak from the Jupilles and Tronçais forests, shaped by Grand Cru cooperages and seasoned by Napa wines. The result is a reposado with a body that reflects true agave character while carrying deeper oak and red cherry flavors. It's the Duke Spirits house style — owned by John Wayne Enterprises, benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Foundation — at its most versatile. Browse more reposado tequila and the Duke range.
Tasting Notes
The nose is inviting and subtle. The palate is agave-forward and slightly sweet — fresh agave, oak, vanilla, and caramel mingling with the deeper red cherry the French oak finish brings. The finish is complex and slightly sweet, with lingering oak and cherry.
How to Enjoy
Neat to appreciate the wine-barrel depth, or as the upgrade your margarita deserves — the oak and cherry stand up beautifully to lime and agave syrup. It also makes a superb high-end Paloma.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Duke Grand Cru reposado aged?
Duke Spirits states 3–6 months in oak. Some retailers list 3 months, others 6 — the official range covers both, so expect a reposado on the more mature end of the category, deepened further by the French wine-barrel finish.
Is Duke Grand Cru reposado a good sipping tequila?
Yes — the French Grand Cru wine-barrel finish gives it a depth unusual for a reposado, with oak and red cherry complementing the agave. It also mixes beautifully in premium cocktails.
What is the difference between Duke's reposado and extra añejo?
Time in wood: the reposado rests 3–6 months while the Founder's Reserve Extra Añejo ages 3 years (and the Commemorative Limited Edition 6 years). All three share the same single-estate agave and French wine-barrel finishing protocol.
Pick up this wine-finished reposado online — Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA ships it straight to your door.