El Mayor Extra Anejo Sherry Cask Finish Tequila
El Mayor Extra Anejo Sherry Cask Finish Tequila is a limited-edition extra añejo, 80 proof (40% ABV) in 750mL, matured for a full 38 months entirely in sherry casks — not merely finished in them. Made at Destiladora González Lux (NOM 1603) outside Arandas in the Jalisco Highlands from 100% estate-grown blue Weber agave, it is released in runs of roughly 5,000 bottles. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: 38 months — full maturation in sherry casks (not a finish)
- Distillery: Destiladora González Lux, Arandas, Jalisco Highlands — NOM 1603
- Agave: 100% estate-grown blue Weber agave; hand-selected, Jicama Jima trim; double-distilled in stainless pot stills with copper coils, proprietary family yeast
- Release: limited production, ~5,000 bottles per release
Three Years in Sherry Wood, Start to Finish
Most sherry-influenced tequilas spend a few months finishing in sherry barrels after American oak; the El Mayor Sherry Cask spends its entire 38-month life in sherry wood, which puts it in genuinely rare company. Fourth-generation distiller Graciela González describes "dried-fruit-and-spice" character with a smooth vanilla-and-cooked-agave finish, and Drinkhacker gave it an A−, calling it a powerhouse that melds two worlds. The distillery double-distills in stainless pot stills with copper coils and repurposes its production traditions from the González family's 150-plus years in tequila.
Tasting Notes
Retailer and press notes converge: dried fruit, apricot preserves, chai spice, hazelnut, nutmeg, and baking spices on the nose; a full-bodied palate balancing oak with vanilla and caramel sweetness; a long, elegant, peppery-agave finish. Drinkhacker's read is that the sherry influence is clearest mid-palate — oxidized-wine citrus, cream, vanilla, chai — while the peppery agave reasserts itself on the finish.
How to Enjoy
Sip it neat or over a single cube to catch the sherry-cask arc — this is a contemplative pour, not a mixer. Compare it against other extra añejos on the tequila shelf, or explore the full El Mayor line.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is it aged? 38 months — fully matured in sherry casks, which is unusual; most sherry-cask tequilas are only finished in them.
Is it a limited edition? Yes — roughly 5,000 bottles per release.
What NOM is El Mayor? NOM 1603, Destiladora González Lux in Arandas, Jalisco.
A sherry-cask extra añejo this fully committed is a collector's pour — order the El Mayor Sherry Cask from Del Mesa Liquor while bottles last.