WHAT DOES AGING DO TO TEQUILA?

Our mission in aging tequila is simple: highlight the notes of the agave without covering them up.

Casa Dragones tequilas are naturally complex, expressing aromas of sweet roasted agave, floral notes, citrus, black pepper, green herbs, and minerality. These characteristics begin with the agave itself and define the identity of the spirit.

When tequila rests or ages in barrels, additional notes gradually appear, such as wood spice, butterscotch, and cacao. At Casa Dragones, aging is not meant to transform or overpower the tequila. Instead, it is used to complement the agave notes and create greater depth and complexity.

As Casa Dragones Co-Founder and CEO Bertha González Nieves explains:

“Rather than the oak overpowering the agave, we always want our agave to push through, using the oak as more of a condiment vs a main player.”

Many tequila producers age their spirits in previously used barrels, often from other spirits such as American whiskey or bourbon. These barrels already carry the flavor influence of the spirit that was previously aged in them.

Casa Dragones takes a different approach. Our tequilas are aged in brand new, custom-made oak casks. This allows us to design a precise flavor profile for each of our aged expressions rather than inheriting flavors from another spirit.

By starting with new casks, Casa Dragones can highlight the purity of our agave, subtle wood notes, and a cleaner, more refined flavor profile.

Charring is one of the most important steps in the barrel-making process.

It involves briefly burning the inside surface of the barrel with a flame, creating a layer of charred wood and a “red layer” beneath it where the wood is heavily toasted. These layers change how the barrel interacts with the tequila.

Charring also opens the structure of the wood, allowing the tequila to penetrate the barrel more deeply while increasing oxygen interaction. At Casa Dragones, we work with cooperages to create custom barrels with proprietary char levels designed specifically for our aged expressions.

The type of oak used for a barrel plays an important role in shaping the character of the tequila.

For Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend, tequila is aged separately in new French oak and new American oak barrels before being blended. The French oak used (Quercus sessile / Quercus petraea), selected from forests in central France, contributes light spice, dried fruit notes, subtle tannins, elegance, and structure.

American oak (Quercus alba) tends to be richer and sweeter, delivering notes such as macadamia, cacao, sweet oak, and a round, creamy texture.

Casa Dragones Reposado Mizunara explores another rare wood: Mizunara oak (Quercus crispula) from Japan. Traditionally used for high-end Japanese whiskies, Mizunara barrels can deliver notes of sandalwood, plum, coffee bean, and subtle sweetness. These barrels are extremely difficult to craft due to the porous nature of the wood and are considered among the rarest in the world of spirits.

Blending is a technique widely used in spirits such as Scotch, Cognac, and Champagne, though traditionally tequila producers age tequila in a single barrel type.

At Casa Dragones, blending tequila aged in different types of barrels allows us to create a more layered flavor profile. This technique is used in Casa Dragones Añejo Barrel Blend, where tequila aged separately in new French oak and new American oak is blended before bottling.

Casa Dragones Joven also uses blending as a precise technique, combining unaged Blanco tequila with extra-aged tequila rested in new American oak to achieve its distinctive, smooth sipping profile.

During the aging process, a small portion of the spirit naturally evaporates from the barrel through the porous wood. Distillers refer to this as the Angel’s Share.

Although this reduces the volume of the spirit over time, it plays an important role in maturation. As evaporation occurs, the tequila softens and its aromas become more concentrated.

Managed with careful attention, this natural process allows Casa Dragones tequilas to develop greater complexity and balance as they mature.