The aroma is fairly restrained. Agave, alcohol, and spice are all present, but only mildly. Nothing really pushes forward, and the nose never develops much depth or richness. For something labeled as a single-barrel Master’s Collection, I expected a little more personality here.
The taste brings a little more character, with agave, fruit, and oak all showing up. Again, though, none of them is especially strong. There is also a faint touch of vanilla in the background, but not enough that I would score it as a major flavor note. The overall profile is easy enough to drink, but it stays muted.
The finish is where the tequila becomes more assertive. Pepper and spice come through most strongly, with some oak underneath. The finish has more definition than either the aroma or the initial taste, but it leans more toward heat than complexity.
This bottle comes from El Mayor’s Single Barrel Estate Grown Master’s Collection and was selected for Cedar Mill Liquor. My bottle is marked Barrel N19, Bottle 063.
The presentation sounds special, but the tequila itself is fairly ordinary. The aroma is subdued, the flavor is mild, and the finish is mostly pepper and oak.
This is actually the third bottle of this expression I have had, so the rating is not based on a one-off first impression. I originally bought it at Cedar Mill Liquor and later found two more bottles at another store after Cedar Mill had closed.
The single-barrel designation adds some interest, but I would think of this more as a retailer-selected barrel than a truly custom-produced tequila. At its approachable price, that is not necessarily a problem, it just does not deliver the depth or uniqueness the name might suggest.
Ultimately, it is drinkable and affordable, but unimpressive.