Arette Gran Clase Extra Añejo Tequila 700ml

Gran Clase is a genuine rarity by design — Arette produces only twenty barrels of this Extra Añejo each year, and rather than blending them together for consistency, every single barrel is bottled entirely separately. That means each release carries its own individual character, shaped entirely by its own specific cask, in a category where true single-barrel bottling remains genuinely uncommon. The tequila is made by brothers Eduardo and Jaime Orendain, descendants of one of the most recognized families in the entire tequila industry, at El Llano distillery (NOM 1109) — one of the oldest working tequila facilities in the region, tucked into the hills of the town of Tequila itself, directly below the Tequila volcano. The agave for Gran Clase isn't simply sourced — it's hand-selected in the field by the Orendain brothers themselves, chosen specifically for this expression alone. The mosto ferments naturally in stone tanks, and the near over-ripeness of the hand-selected agave develops a genuine deep sweetness during that natural fermentation, with cultivated yeast joined by wild strains drawn in through the open-air tanks. Following double distillation in small batches, the tequila rests a full 48 months — four years — in first-fill ex-bourbon American oak barrels, a genuinely extended aging period that pushes this well past most Extra Añejo tequilas on the market. The tasting notes converge on a genuinely rich, whiskey-adjacent profile. Bitters & Bottles describes the nose as "very agave-centric, with vegetal bell pepper and jalapeño balanced by sweet tropical fruits and a lovely, subtle wood spice," developing on the palate into "a wonderful viscosity carrying malty sweetness with salted caramel, cedar wood, bright citrus, and a spicy pepper finish" — "easy to sip and indulge in the natural sweetness, but the balance and complexity that the woody spice brings keeps it from ever becoming cloying or one-note." Remedy Liquor's tasting found "indulgent notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and dried fruits," followed by "a subtle interplay of vanilla and toasted oak," with "hints of spice, leather, and a slight nuttiness," closing "exceptionally long and smooth, with warm, velvety notes of oak and vanilla." Sip Tequila's official notes describe fresh-cut wood and dark caramel sweetness with traces of malt and vanilla, closing "slightly thick, with a bright and spicy finish" and "balanced complexity without over-powering oak." Each bottle is finished with intricate handcrafted decorations, marking Gran Clase as a genuine, limited artisan release from one of tequila's most storied families. Origins & Craftsmanship Arette Gran Clase Extra Añejo Tequila is made by brothers Eduardo and Jaime Orendain, descendants of one of the most historically significant families in the tequila industry, at El Llano distillery (NOM 1109) — one of the oldest facilities in the region still actively producing tequila, located in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, in the hills below the Tequila volcano, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site region. The tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave, sourced from the Tequila Valley and hand-selected in the field specifically for this expression by the Orendain brothers themselves. The agave is cooked in an autoclave, then crushed via roller mill, with the mosto naturally fermented in stone tanks — allowing a genuine deep sweetness to develop from the near over-ripe agave. A cultivated yeast strain is used, though the open-air fermentation tanks allow wild yeast strains to join the process as well. The tequila is double distilled in small batches, using stainless pot stills with copper coils, and finished with deep well water. Only twenty barrels of Gran Clase are produced each year, aged 48 months in first-fill ex-bourbon American oak barrels, with each barrel bottled entirely separately rather than blended together. Bottled at 40% ABV / 80 proof, in a 700ml format. Tasting Profile Nose Dark amber with copper hints. Agave-forward, with mild wood notes and vegetal bell pepper and jalapeño, balanced by sweet tropical fruit and subtle wood spice. Palate Fresh-cut wood and dark caramel sweetness carry the entry, with traces of malt and vanilla. A wonderful viscosity delivers malty sweetness, salted caramel, cedar wood, and bright citrus, alongside dark chocolate, dried fruit, leather, and a slight nuttiness. Finish Slightly thick, bright, and spicy, with balanced complexity that never becomes cloying. Exceptionally long and smooth, closing with warm, velvety oak and vanilla, and a gentle, lingering spice. Quick Overview Category Details Style Extra Añejo Tequila — Single Barrel, 100% Blue Weber Agave ABV / Proof 40% ABV / 80 Proof Agave 100% Blue Weber, hand-selected in the field by the Orendain brothers Cooking Autoclave Crushing Roller mill Fermentation Natural, stone tanks — cultivated + wild yeast Distillation Double distilled, small batch, stainless pot with copper coil Water Deep well Aging 48 months, first-fill ex-bourbon American oak Production Only 20 barrels crafted per year, each bottled separately Producer Arette — Eduardo & Jaime Orendain Distillery El Llano (NOM 1109) — Tequila, Jalisco Additives None Style / Identity A genuine single-barrel Extra Añejo — rich, whiskey-adjacent, with real barrel-to-barrel individuality Aromas & Flavors Agave, jalapeño, bell pepper, tropical fruit, dark caramel, malt, vanilla, cedar Bottle Size 700ml Food Pairings Dark chocolate desserts Grilled meats Aged cheeses Roasted nuts Serving Note Best enjoyed neat, in a snifter or tequila copita, to fully appreciate the complexity built by four years in ex-bourbon oak.