For whisky enthusiasts, much of the pleasure lies in exploring the relationship between spirit and wood. Vanilla, warming spice and the gradual development of aroma in the glass make each tasting worth paying attention to.
Tapatío Excelencia Gran Reserva Extra Añejo brings that same opportunity for exploration to tequila. Its appeal lies in the meeting of oak influence and the distinctive character of agave.
Bottle of Japan’s offering is the 750ml, 40% ABV expression, made from 100% agave and listed under distillery number NOM 1139. View the product
A story rooted in La Alteña
Excelencia comes from La Alteña, the Jalisco distillery founded by Don Felipe Camarena Hernández in 1937. U.S. importer Charbay identifies highland blue Weber agave as its raw material and describes a release shaped by extended time in wood and subsequent storage in glass. Charbay’s Excelencia profile
Its introduction to the United States offers a glimpse of its early availability. A December 2013 announcement reported an initial allocation of 100 cases, describing a tequila previously associated with the distillery’s friends and family. That announcement concerned a 1-litre release and should be read as part of Excelencia’s history, rather than as a specification for every bottle sold today. 2013 release announcement, published by BevNET
Why release details matter
Anyone familiar with whisky collecting will recognise the importance of checking the precise bottling.
Excelencia’s published history includes different maturation descriptions. The original U.S. announcement describes four years in new American oak. Charbay’s current product page describes five years in used barrels followed by ten years in glass containers.
These are distinct histories. Time spent in glass should not be presented as additional oak maturation, and an individual bottle should not be assigned a historic release date or batch story without supporting identification. For Bottle of Japan’s current stock, the exact batch remains unconfirmed.
What to look for in the glass
Bottle of Japan’s tasting notes describe vanilla, caramel and cinnamon on the nose, with baking spice and dark chocolate on the palate. Oak and gentle sweetness carry through the finish.
For a whisky drinker, those familiar flavours provide a starting point. The interesting part is following the agave character underneath: how it interacts with the wood, where the spice appears and how the balance develops after a few minutes in the glass.
These are tasting references rather than a guarantee of an identical experience in every pour.
Professional recognition—with the date attached
Excelencia also has a documented review history. Tastings awarded a reviewed expression 98 points in April 2018.
That distinction belongs to the sample reviewed at the time. The site now marks the review as archived and explicitly states that it cannot certify the current product’s quality without reviewing a new market sample. It is useful historical context, rather than a score to attach automatically to today’s 750ml stock. Tastings’ archived 2018 review
What auction records actually show
A search of publicly accessible Unicorn Auctions material did not produce a verifiable sale for this exact expression. No Unicorn hammer price is therefore quoted here.
A separate, identifiable result is available from Whisky.Auction: Lot 154422, a 1-litre bottle at 40% ABV, sold for £140 in an auction ending 11 April 2023. The listing records an upper-shoulder fill level and general wear. View the original auction record
This confirms a historical auction appearance, but it does not establish a current market price for Bottle of Japan’s 750ml offering. Capacity, release, condition, sale date and additional buyer costs all affect a meaningful comparison. One result also cannot demonstrate a rising price trend.
Make it your next tasting discovery
Start with a small neat pour in a tulip-shaped glass and allow it a few minutes to open. Follow the aroma before tasting, then revisit the glass to see how the balance changes. A few drops of water are an optional way to explore further.
For a home bar built around Scotch, bourbon or Japanese whisky, Tapatío Excelencia offers a different expression of oak-aged spirit—and a reason to give agave a place in your next tasting.
Tapatío Excelencia Gran Reserva Extra Añejo
750ml · 40% ABV · 100% Agave · Jalisco, Mexico
Explore Tapatío Excelencia at Bottle of Japan
Please enjoy responsibly. See product and shipping information for destination availability and applicable charges.
