Expresiones del Corazon Tequila Anejo aged in Weller 12 Barrels 750ML

Expresiones del Corazón Tequila Añejo Aged in Weller 12 Barrels 750ML is a 100% blue Weber agave añejo tequila aged 26 months in ex-Weller 12 Year bourbon barrels, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). Born from a collaboration between Casa San Matías in Jalisco and Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, this expression merges bright highland agave character with the rich, wheated sweetness of one of bourbon's most sought-after cask profiles.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico  |  Aged 26 Months  |  Distillery: Casa San Matías

Production & Heritage

Casa San Matías, one of the oldest distilling operations in Jalisco, produces the tequila using estate-grown highland blue Weber agave from the red clay soils of Los Altos. The agave is slow-roasted, roller-milled to extract juice, then twice-distilled before entering the barrels. What makes this expression singular is the cask selection: each barrel previously held Weller 12 Year bourbon — a wheated mashbill whiskey — for over a decade, saturating the oak with deep vanilla and caramel compounds that transfer into the tequila over its 26-month maturation. The partnership with Buffalo Trace gives this project access to barrels that most producers simply cannot source.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe pineapple and baked agave lead, followed by toasted vanilla, almond nougat, and dried fruit. Deeper inhalation reveals oak, caramel, maple, and a subtle thread of eucalyptus that adds unexpected lift.

Taste: The entry is silky with cooked agave sweetness and caramel, shifting at the mid-palate into dark chocolate, hazelnut, and orange peel. Toasted vanilla and seasoned oak provide structure, while the wheated bourbon influence keeps the sweetness rounded rather than sharp. The overall balance leans toward dessert-like richness without losing the vegetal agave backbone.

Finish: Long and warming, tapering gently with vanilla-spice, walnut, and a soft bourbon-inflected sweetness. The agave reasserts itself at the very end, leaving a clean, slightly herbal close.

How to Drink Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo

This expression is best appreciated neat or with a single ice cube to let the barrel-influenced complexity unfold slowly. Its layered profile also brings dimension to cocktails that benefit from aged tequila richness. In an Old Fashioned, the chocolate and vanilla notes mirror classic bourbon characteristics while adding agave intrigue. A Tequila Manhattan benefits from the wheated barrel sweetness playing against sweet vermouth and bitters. In a Carajillo, the dark chocolate and almond tones amplify espresso liqueur beautifully.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring aged tequila through a familiar barrel lens
• Gifting a collector who appreciates limited-collaboration spirits
• Side-by-side tastings comparing barrel influence across the Expresiones lineup
• After-dinner sipping alongside chocolate or coffee-based desserts

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo taste like? It delivers a rich, dessert-like profile of dark chocolate, caramel, hazelnut, and orange peel layered over cooked agave sweetness. The wheated bourbon barrel influence gives it a notably smooth, vanilla-forward character with a long, warming finish.

How does Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo compare to the William Larue Weller expression? Both use wheated bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, but the William Larue Weller expression draws from a higher-proof, barrel-strength bourbon cask, which tends to impart more intense oak and spice. The Weller 12 barrel version is generally rounder and sweeter, reflecting the more restrained, 12-year-aged source bourbon.

Is Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo good for sipping neat? Absolutely — at 40% ABV it is smooth and approachable enough to sip without water, and the 26-month barrel aging provides ample complexity to reward slow, contemplative drinking.

Where is Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo made? It is produced at the Casa San Matías distillery in the Los Altos (highlands) region of Jalisco, Mexico, using estate-grown highland blue Weber agave. The empty barrels are sourced from Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky.

What foods pair well with Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo? Dark chocolate truffles complement its cocoa and hazelnut tones. Mole negro mirrors the tequila's layered spice and chocolate. Crème brûlée echoes the caramelized vanilla character. Aged Manchego cheese provides a savory counterpoint to the barrel sweetness. Pecan pie aligns with the nutty, maple-touched finish.

What sizes does Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo worth the price? It positions as a premium, limited-collaboration añejo that appeals to both tequila and bourbon collectors. The use of genuine Weller 12 barrels — a bourbon that itself commands secondary-market premiums — and 26 months of aging justify its placement above standard añejos in value and complexity.

Why Expresiones Weller 12 Añejo?

The defining strength of this release is barrel provenance. Weller 12 Year is one of the most coveted wheated bourbons in the American whiskey world, and its barrels carry over a decade of flavor development into the tequila. Very few tequila producers have the relationship with Buffalo Trace necessary to secure these specific casks, making each release genuinely limited rather than artificially scarce. The 26-month aging period strikes a deliberate balance — long enough to extract deep vanilla, chocolate, and caramel from the seasoned oak, but short enough to preserve the bright, cooked-agave identity that highland Los Altos tequila is known for. For drinkers who want to understand how barrel selection transforms a spirit, this añejo is one of the most instructive and rewarding examples on the market.