Don Julio Alma Meil (750Ml)

Description

Don Julio Alma Miel is a fresh idea from the Don Julio family. It launched in January 2024 as the brand's first joven tequila. A joven is a blend of unaged and aged tequila. Here, the two parts are made in very different ways, then brought together. The result is a smooth, slightly sweet pour with plenty of roasted agave. Don Julio González founded the brand in the Jalisco highlands in 1942, and Diageo owns it today. It ranks among the top five tequila brands in the United States. Mexican singer-songwriter Christian Nodal helped launch Alma Miel. He also helped curate a dinner series that paired it with Mexican food and music.

It all starts with 100% Blue Weber agave from the Los Altos region of Jalisco. The plants grow for five to seven years before jimador families harvest them by hand. The piñas then roast slowly in stone ovens. That heat turns their carbohydrates into natural sugars. Don Julio calls the result agave honey, and it is the soul of this bottle. After roasting, the hearts are crushed and the juice ferments with the brand's own yeast.

The first half of the blend is a blanco distilled with that oven-roasted agave honey. Don Julio calls this step its enmelado process. It deepens the cooked agave flavor the brand is known for. The second half is an añejo aged for at least 14 months. That añejo is then finished in barrels from the Limoux region of France. Those casks once held Crémant du Limoux wine. The two tequilas are blended and bottled at 40% ABV, or 80 proof. The tall bottle takes its colors from the blue agave plant, and its shape nods to Don Julio 1942.

On the nose you get oven-roasted agave, wildflower honey and dried fruit. Some tasters also find a little citrus and a few soft floral notes. The palate brings spiced orchard fruit, caramel and rich roasted agave honey. VinePair also notes stone fruit and an ultra-smooth feel in the mouth. In the glass it looks pale straw and almost clear. The finish stays smooth and slightly sweet. The honey sticks around for a while, so take your time between sips.

Don Julio says it is best in its purest form, neat or on the rocks. Add an orange rind to the glass for a bright finishing touch. The brand also mixes it into an Old Fashioned. A Negroni twist or an espresso martini are fun options as well. One reviewer liked it best on the rocks or in that Negroni twist. The brand's own drinks include Alma Miel on the Rocks and a cocktail called Round of Applause. For an easy version at home, pour it over a big cube and squeeze a little orange peel over the top. Looking for more ideas? Browse our cocktail picks for easy pairings.

The gentle sweetness makes it easy to match with food. Try it with roasted pork, grilled shrimp or a board of aged cheese and cured meats. It is lovely after dinner with flan, dark chocolate or a caramel dessert. Pick up a bottle if you like sipping tequila with a softer, rounder side. It also makes a thoughtful gift for fans of premium spirits who want something new from Don Julio.

Product Details

• SKU: 8269708
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• ABV: 40%
• Origin / Country: Los Altos, Jalisco, Mexico
• Type: Joven Tequila
• Brand: Don Julio
• Age Statement: Blend of blanco and an añejo aged at least 14 months
• Agave: 100% Blue Weber agave
• Cask Type: Añejo finished in Crémant du Limoux wine casks
• Recommended Pairing: Roasted pork, grilled shrimp, aged cheese, flan, dark chocolate, caramel desserts
• Mixing Suggestion: Neat or on the rocks with an orange rind; Old Fashioned, Negroni twist, espresso martini
• Taste Profile: Spiced orchard fruit, caramel, rich roasted agave honey
• Aroma & Bouquet: Oven-roasted agave, wildflower honey, dried fruit, hints of citrus and florals
• Smooth & Finish: Silky, smooth and slightly sweet