Calle 23 Añjeo

Product of: Mexico

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This 100% agave añejo tequila is aged for minimum of sixteen months in 200 litre casks previously used to age whisky in Kentucky. Calle 23 Reposado is packaged in a bottle distinguished by screen printed gold agave leaves.

Calle 23 is a brand of 100% agave tequila created by the fabulous Sophie Decobecq, a French microbiologist who learnt her trade distilling agave spirit in South Africa before moving to Mexico. The idea for the brand name came to Sophie when she was out celebrating with her team after they had perfected fermentation and distillation processes and produced what was to become Calle 23. It was a special moment but they still lacked a name. Looking across the street Sophie saw the sign ‘CALLE 23’ and thought it an appropriate name for their tequila. (Pronounce ‘Kai-Yay’, Calle means street in Spanish).

The agave chosen for Calle 23 are sourced from the Highland region of Los Altos de Jalisco, between Tepatitlan y Arandas. The plants used have an average age of seven years and a weight of 40kg (maximum for Calle 23 production is 90kg). The agave are cooked at low pressure in stainless steel autoclaves for seven hours and then left to slowly cool in the ovens for three hours.

Fermentation takes place in 30,000 litre stainless steel tanks using a combination of cultivated yeasts naturally present and isolated from agave juice. The process takes 72 hours producing a mosto of 3.8 to 4.5% abv.

Double distillation is in stainless pot stills with copper streamers and a capacity of 5,000 and 6,000 litres. The first distillation lasts three hours and producers a distillate of 28 - 30% abv. The second distillation takes twelve hours producing a tequila at an average of 54% abv. The process water is drawn from the distillery well.

Review and Tasting

Sampled before 1st May 2011

Appearance:

Clear, golden amber.

Aroma:

Vanilla leads to a fruity nose with hints of antiseptic and cigar tobacco.

Taste:

Satisfying agave rich palate features salty buttery vanilla garnished with oaky smoke.

Aftertaste:

Agave rich finish with vanillins dried by oak and cigar tobacco.