Casa Dragones Joven

Master blend of silver and extra-aged tequila, kissed by new American oak — Casa Dragones Joven is tequila that refuses to be categorised. Hand-signed, hand-numbered, it arrives as a numbered edition, each bottle a work of art before the first pour ever occurs.

The concept alone is compelling: take the purity of unaged agave and marry it with the depth of barrel-aged spirit, allowing new oak to introduce a layer of sophisticated complexity. The result? A spirit that tastes somehow both youthful and ancient, bright and deep, approachable yet contemplative.

On the nose: poached pear, toasted almond, a touch of vanilla cream and subtle oak spice. The palate is silky, balanced between the vibrant agave character of silver tequila and the warming spice of aged expression. Notes of caramel, vanilla, and that distinctive almond quality linger through a finish that's both immediate and lengthy — a trick few spirits achieve.

Forbes crowned it "Tastemakers' Top Tequila", and the hand-numbering is not theatre — production genuinely is small. What you are paying for is the blending, which is where this house has always been strongest.

How to Serve

Neat in a proper spirit glass, room temperature. Over a single large ice cube on warm evenings. Treat it as you would a cognac when you want something with Mexican accent instead — and don't bury it in a cocktail.

Where to Drink It

The Connaught Bar, which keeps one of the more serious agave lists in London. Artesian at The Langham for the room as much as the pour. Bar Lotus if you want somewhere quieter to actually taste it.

Food Pairings

The toasted almond note wants salt against it, so a plate of aged Manchego with quince is the one I would order. Jamón works just as well.