Insólito Añejo Tequila 750ml

Premium de Jalisco sits 7,200 feet above sea level in the Sierra del Tigre mountains near Mazamitla — the highest distillery in Mexico, and a location that changes everything about how tequila is made there. At that altitude, the cool mountain air keeps fermentation and distillation running at meaningfully lower temperatures than virtually any other tequila producer in Jalisco, and brothers Octavio and Alberto Herrera have built their entire craft around adjusting every stage of production to fit that specific environment. Mazamitla itself is nicknamed "the Mexican Switzerland" — pine-covered hills, cobblestone streets, and cool, forested mountain air that feels genuinely out of place in the popular imagination of tequila country.

Insólito — Spanish for "uncommon" or "unusual" — arrived at Sip Tequila's broader portfolio through an unlikely partnership: the Double Grammy-nominated country band Midland teamed up with the Herrera brothers to bring their high-altitude, small-batch production to a wider audience. Every bottle is 100% Weber Azul blue agave, sourced 80% from Highland and 20% from Lowland Jalisco terroir, distilled entirely at the Mazamitla facility. The Añejo is where the house's genuinely unusual barrel program shows its full range: 18 to 24 months in virgin American oak barrels, toasted to a specific 2.5 char that primes the wood to release exceptional flavors typically reserved for bourbon production — a distinctly uncommon choice within the tequila category, where reused ex-bourbon barrels are far more standard than new virgin oak. The seasonal swings at 7,200 feet drive a more active flow of spirit in and out of the barrel's wood than lower-altitude aging environments allow, deepening the extraction and building genuine complexity over what is, for the category, a comparatively extended maturation window.

The result earned Gold Medals at both the 2021 SIP Awards and the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and has built a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5 star rating from Total Wine customers. The distillery's own tasting notes promise a silky, well-structured tequila, highly aromatic with notes of chocolate, nuts, and dried fruits — a tequila meant to be sipped and savored rather than mixed. Retailers describe the highland/lowland blend and the dynamic high-altitude aging process transforming the spirit into something rich with chocolate, prunes, and toasted nuts, while independent tasters have found bright agave layered with charred oak, vanilla, black pepper, and hints of stone fruit — cherry, plum, lychee — closing on a slightly sweet, tart finish. Best enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as the base for an extraordinary Old Fashioned — a genuinely uncommon Añejo from a genuinely uncommon place.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Insólito is produced at Premium de Jalisco, owned and operated by brothers Octavio and Alberto Herrera, in Mazamitla, Jalisco — a distillery sitting at 7,200 feet above sea level in the Sierra del Tigre mountains, making it the highest-altitude tequila distillery in Mexico (NOM 1558). The elevation fundamentally shapes production: the cooler ambient temperature changes fermentation and distillation dynamics, and the Herrera brothers' full-time staff of a dozen trained distillation experts adjust every stage of the process specifically to account for it, blending traditional tequila-making methods with proprietary steam ovens, juice lines, and stills of their own design. The brand came to market through a partnership between the Herrera brothers and the Double Grammy-nominated country band Midland, bringing the Sierra del Tigre's uncommon production environment to a broader audience under the Sip Tequila portfolio.

Every Insólito expression is made from 100% Weber Azul (blue agave), sourced 80% from Highland Jalisco terroir and 20% from Lowland terroir. The Añejo ages between 18 and 24 months (with the distillery's own site specifying 20 to 24 months) in new, virgin American oak barrels toasted to a specific 2.5 char level — a choice the distillery credits with unlocking flavor complexity usually associated with bourbon production rather than typical añejo tequila, most of which ages in previously used barrels. The high-altitude seasonal temperature swings drive a more active exchange of spirit through the barrel wood than lower-elevation aging environments typically produce, contributing to the Añejo's layered flavor development. Bottled at 40% ABV / 80 proof.

Critics Reviews

Gold Medal — 2021 SIP Awards

Gold Medal — 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Total Wine customer rating — 4.9 out of 5 stars (9 reviews)

Insólito official tasting notes:
"Aged between 18 and 24 months in new American Oak Barrels, INSÓLITO Añejo is a silky, well-structured tequila. Highly aromatic with notes of chocolate, nuts and dried fruits, this is a tequila meant to be sipped and savored."

Total Wine (extended retailer tasting note):
"Aged for 18-24 months in a new American oak barrels at the highest altitude distillery in Mexico. The highland/lowland agave blend and the dynamic aging process transforms this tequila into a silky complex spirit with rich flavor notes of Chocolate, Prunes and Toasted Nuts."

Distiller.com community (ItsSteve, extended tasting note):
"Neat. Straw colored, oddly lighter than the Reposado. Aroma is light with citrus, fruity agave, hints of charred oak. Taste is clean and fruity. Bright agave dominates, a little bit of charred oak, slight vanilla, black pepper, hints of stone fruits — cherry, plum, lychee — and floral notes. Finish is nice, slightly sweet and tart with some fruit notes. Overall a very delicious drink."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Straw to golden amber in color. Chocolate, nuts, and dried fruits lead the nose with warm, aromatic richness — the signature virgin oak character most directly apparent here. Light citrus and fruity agave add freshness, joined by hints of charred oak and floral notes.

Palate
Silky and well-structured, with bright agave carrying the entry alongside a touch of charred oak. Chocolate, prunes, and toasted nuts build warm, dessert-adjacent richness through the mid-palate, joined by slight vanilla, black pepper, and hints of stone fruit — cherry, plum, and lychee — that add unexpected brightness against the deeper oak character.

Finish
Nice, slightly sweet and tart, with lingering fruit notes and dried fruit and wood carrying the close. A silky, well-rounded finish built for slow sipping.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Any dessert — the distillery's own specific recommendation
• Dark chocolate
• Roasted nuts and dried fruit boards
• Aged cheeses

Cocktail Suggestions

Neat — the distillery's own preferred serve, allowing the full chocolate, nut, and dried fruit complexity to unfold undiluted.

Insólito Old Fashioned
2 oz Insólito Añejo · Demerara syrup · Angostura bitters · orange twist. The distillery's own specifically recommended cocktail application — the virgin oak character carries the format beautifully.

Tequila Manhattan
2 oz Insólito Añejo · sweet vermouth · Angostura bitters · Luxardo cherry. A refined, spirit-forward showcase for the Añejo's chocolate and dried fruit depth.