Maestro Dobel is produced at NOM 1122, Casa Cuervo, S.A. de C.V., the same distillery associated with José Cuervo and several other Cuervo-family brands.
It is also part of the same broader tequila family as 1800 Tequila, although 1800 is currently produced under NOM 1612, Casa 1800, S.A. de C.V., rather than NOM 1122.
Source: https://www.crt.org.mx/
The aroma improves with time in the glass. It starts with agave, oak, and a noticeable alcohol presence, but as it breathes, the alcohol settles down and more barrel character begins to emerge. Oak becomes the dominant note, joined by some general woodiness and a faint touch of vanilla.
Oak comes forward first, followed by a subtle sweet vanilla note. There is still a little alcohol present, but it is restrained rather than harsh. The flavor is smooth enough and clearly barrel-driven, but it never develops the richness or depth I keep hoping to find in it. It is pleasant, but not especially memorable.
Oak continues through the finish, joined by a faint hint of caramel. The most noticeable change comes at the very end, when spice appears and becomes the final lingering sensation. It gives the finish a little more character, though not enough to lift the overall experience significantly.
Maestro Dobel Añejo has a dark, rich color and a barrel-forward profile built around oak, vanilla, light caramel, and a touch of spice.
My bottle is marked May 2019 and bottle number 33608, which makes it a little easier to identify than some releases, though the markings do not necessarily indicate anything unusual about the tequila itself.
This is one I have bought more than once because I keep wanting it to be better than it is. There is nothing especially wrong with it. The oak is pleasant, the vanilla adds some sweetness, and the finish has a nice touch of spice.
But it always seems to stop just short of becoming something more interesting.
For me, that keeps it around 2.5 out of 4. I could see pushing it toward a 3 on a particularly good pour, but I would not rate it any higher. It is a decent añejo that feels like it should be better than it ultimately tastes.