Corazon de Agave Expresiones Elmer T. Lee Barrels Reposado Tequila 750ml

Corazon Expresiones Elmer T. Lee Reposado is a milestone release in the Buffalo Trace barrel-aged tequila series from Corazon de Agave - the first Reposado ever released in the Expresiones lineup, which had previously been exclusively Anejo. The 2021 release rests Casa San Matias' Highland reposado tequila for 12 months in barrels that previously held Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon, bottled at 80 proof / 40% ABV with a 100% Blue Weber agave mash.

Expresiones del Corazon is a collaboration between Corazon Tequila and Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Buffalo Trace empties barrels from its most allocated American whiskey programs - including the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection - and ships the freshly emptied casks to Casa San Matias in Acatic, Los Altos de Jalisco. Corazon fills each barrel with its Highland Jalisco anejo or reposado tequila and rests the spirit in the residual whiskey compounds that have soaked into the wood through years of prior maturation. The filled barrels are stored in the first row of the aging facility - the level with the most controlled airflow - and tasted every two months until the desired character is reached.

Corazon Tequila is distilled at Casa San Matias, Mexico's fourth-oldest tequila distillery (NOM 1103), with more than 130 years of continuous production. The base tequila is 100% Highland Blue Weber agave, slow-cooked in traditional stone ovens, then pressed, fermented, and copper-pot-still distilled.

The Elmer T. Lee donor barrels are named after Buffalo Trace's late master distiller emeritus - the man who created the single-barrel bourbon category and helped preserve the Sazerac-owned distillery through its lean years. The Reposado window of 12 months is shorter than the Anejos in the lineup, which keeps the agave character brighter and the bourbon influence more restrained.

On the nose, it shows lightly sweet cooked agave layered with toasted almond, soft cinnamon, and chocolate. The palate brings smooth, lightly sweet agave with almond and cinnamon weaving through, and the finish carries a clean, balanced close with gentle bourbon spice.

• Size: 750ml
• Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
• Age: 12 Months in Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel bourbon casks
• Category: Reposado
• Release: 2021 - first Reposado in the Expresiones del Corazon series
• Origin: Acatic, Los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico
• Distillery: Casa San Matias (NOM 1103)
• Donor Barrels: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel (Buffalo Trace)