Age Before Beauty: Creating Patrón Extra Añejo

Explore the process from field to barrel that makes Extra Añejo come to life in your glass.

Aug. 18, 2017

From the Aged Tequila Series

Good things come to those who wait… and wait… and wait. Extra Añejo, Patrón’s newest tequila, is aged at least 3 years in small oak barrels to make your new favorite bar addition that is meant to be enjoyed very slowly.

Like every Patrón variation, Extra Añejo starts with only the finest Weber Blue Agave.

Patrón Extra Añejo starts like every other tequila in the family: in the Jalisco fields with the finest Weber Blue Agave. Picking the perfectly ripe plants, carefully removing the leaves to reveal the piña, and then roasting and pressing the agave to release the juices start the process that creates all of Patrón’s iconic tequila variations. Silver, Reposado, Añejo, and, now, Extra Añejo use a blend of agaves crushed by the traditional two-ton Tahona wheel and the more modern roller-mill method. This process extracts the perfect flavor from the plant so that when it is distilled and barrel-aged, the notes of sweet agave and bright fruit can become heightened and perfectly sippable.

The agave is cooked to release the perfect level of flavor and sweetness for tequila.

In aged oak barrels, Extra Añejo comes to life. Although it starts as Silver, Reposado, and Añejo would, Extra Añejo is set apart within the French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels that age the tequila for at least 3 years, imparting deep flavors and aromas of oak and fruit while giving it it’s signature deep amber color. The time spent in these barrels is almost 3 times as long as Patrón Añejo, giving it 3 times as long to become even more perfect. Stacked in a majestic tower and with the signature Tequila Patrón heat stamped onto the end, the small barrels have sat in Hacienda Patrón for years waiting to be bottled and sent out to replace your usual aged spirit, like whiskey.

The liquid that becomes Extra Añejo is extracted from the piñas by a two-ton Tahona stone and a modern roller-mill.

The aging story continues out of the barrel and into your glass as you mix it into your favorite classic cocktails, like our take on the Old Fashioned, the Oldest Fashioned. Enjoy Extra Añejo in more modern mixes like the La Casona, Dapper Dan or Midnight in Manhattan to experience the bigger flavors that this darker tequila brings. Take your time as you sip it and embrace the spirit of aging.