The aroma begins with sweet, subtle vanilla accompanied by a noticeable amount of alcohol. As the tequila breathes, the alcohol settles down considerably and the vanilla becomes much more prominent. The aroma is easily the strongest part of the experience: sweet, inviting, and more expressive after a few minutes in the glass.
The first sip delivers a pleasant burst of sweet vanilla. I rated the vanilla slightly above a 2 because it is clearly recognizable and initially enjoyable. The problem is that it passes quickly. Just as the sweetness begins to develop, the vanilla fades and the tequila starts transitioning toward pepper. It is smooth and approachable, but the flavor lacks the depth and staying power suggested by the aroma.
As the vanilla disappears, pepper takes over. The pepper itself is relatively mild at first, about a 1, but it lingers considerably longer than the sweeter flavors. That leaves the finish feeling more pepper-driven than the initial sip would suggest. It is not an aggressive or harsh finish, but it becomes fairly one-dimensional once the vanilla is gone.
Hussong’s Platinum Añejo offers an appealing vanilla aroma and a smooth, briefly sweet opening. Unfortunately, its best flavor disappears quickly, leaving behind a mild but persistent pepper finish. The aroma promises more complexity than the taste ultimately delivers. Still, it is an approachable tequila for someone who enjoys vanilla-forward cristalinos and prefers a lighter aged-tequila experience without strong oak flavors. A note on appearance. Despite being an añejo, Hussong’s Platinum is completely clear and could easily be mistaken for a blanco. It earns that appearance by spending 15 months in bourbon barrels before being filtered to remove the color. The result is a tequila that retains some aged vanilla and barrel character while looking crystal clear.