Don Julio 1942: what it is and where to buy in Westford

Don Julio 1942 is an añejo tequila from Don Julio, aged in oak and made to be sipped slowly rather than mixed. CBC Liquors carries DON JULIO 1942 at 142 Littleton Rd in Westford, and you can pick it up in store, ask about delivery, or ask about shipping.

What is Don Julio 1942?

Don Julio 1942 is an añejo tequila, which means it has spent time resting in oak barrels after distilling. Don Julio ages this one for at least two years in American white oak barrels, which is longer than the minimum the añejo category requires. The tequila is made from blue Weber agave grown in Jalisco, Mexico, and it is bottled at 40 percent alcohol, or 80 proof.

The name comes from the year Don Julio González began making tequila. The brand uses it as a label for its longest-aged everyday-range expression, and the heavy, short-necked bottle makes it easy to spot on a shelf.

If you are searching for it by name, the exact product at our shop is DON JULIO 1942. You can see what else we carry from the maker on the Don Julio brand page.

How is it different from the other Don Julio tequilas?

Don Julio is one brand with several expressions, and the main difference between them is how long the tequila rests in wood. DON JULIO Blanco Tequila is unaged or barely rested, so it tastes of cooked agave, citrus and pepper. It is the one most people reach for in a margarita or a paloma.

DON JULIO Reposado Tequila spends a few months in oak. Reposado means rested, and that time softens the edges and adds a little vanilla and spice while the agave still leads.

DON JULIO Anejo Tequila 80 Proof is aged for a year or more, and 1942 sits above it with its longer rest. There is also DON JULIO 70 Anejo Claro, an añejo that is filtered after aging to remove most of its colour, so it keeps the oak influence with a lighter look in the glass.

What does Don Julio 1942 taste like?

Long barrel aging pulls flavours out of the wood, and añejo tequilas in this style generally lean toward caramel, vanilla, toasted oak and a touch of baking spice, with cooked agave underneath. Don Julio 1942 is usually described the same way: smooth, a little sweet, and warm rather than sharp.

That profile is closer to a sipping whiskey than to a bar tequila, which is why people who usually drink bourbon sometimes start with an añejo when they want to try tequila. If that sounds like you, our bourbon section is a useful comparison point.

Taste is personal, so treat this as a general guide to the style rather than a promise about every pour.

How do you drink Don Julio 1942?

Neat is the usual answer. Pour a small measure into a snifter, a tulip glass or a short tumbler, and let it sit for a minute so the aroma opens up. A few drops of water or a single large ice cube will soften it if you want it gentler, though many people prefer it with nothing added.

Sip it slowly, and take your time with it. A tequila aged this long is meant for savouring, and a small pour goes a long way.

It can go into a cocktail, such as an old fashioned made with añejo in place of whiskey, but because of the aging it is a different job from a blanco. If your plan is margaritas for a crowd, a blanco or reposado will serve you better, and our mixers shelf covers the rest of the drink.

Is Don Julio 1942 a good bottle to give?

It is a common choice for a gift, a celebration or a milestone because the bottle looks the part and the tequila is made for sipping. If you are buying for someone who already likes tequila, 1942 is a straightforward pick. If they prefer lighter spirits, a reposado may suit them better.

If you are not sure what they drink, a gift card lets them choose for themselves. Gifts of alcohol are for adults 21 and over only.

If you are planning a larger get-together, the party planner page is the place to start, and you can talk through the rest with the team in store.

How should you store Don Julio 1942 once it is open?

Keep the bottle upright, with the cap tightly closed, somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. Unlike wine, tequila does not need to lie on its side, and a cork that stays wet with spirit can break down over time.

An opened bottle of spirits changes slowly. As the bottle empties, more air sits above the liquid, and over many months that can dull the aroma. If you like to keep a bottle for a long time, finishing it within a reasonable period gives you the best of it.

A closed, unopened bottle stays stable for years when stored the same way.

How do you get Don Julio 1942 from CBC Liquors in Westford?

The simplest way is to visit us at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Besides walking in, we offer pickup, delivery and shipping. Pickup hours match our store hours. Delivery runs Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM.

We also serve Chelmsford, Carlisle, Littleton, Acton, Tyngsborough, Lowell, Billerica, Boxborough and Dunstable. You can check your own town on the delivery areas page, or go straight to the page for Chelmsford, Acton or Lowell.

Customers rate us 4.7 out of 5 from 339 Google reviews, and our shelves hold 4,624 products from 1,893 brands, so if 1942 is not quite what you want, there is plenty nearby to compare.

What else should you look at if you are choosing a tequila?

Start with the style. Our full tequila section sorts bottles into blanco, reposado and añejo, and the blanco and reposado pages are a good place to compare what a shorter rest tastes like.

If you want to taste the difference inside one brand, buying a blanco and a 1942 side by side is an easy way to learn what oak does to agave. Pour each neat, a little at a time, and notice how the blanco is bright and peppery while the añejo is rounder and warmer.

If you would rather have a recommendation than scroll, ask us in store. Tell us how you plan to drink it, and we will point you to the right expression.