Don Julio 1942 tequila: what it is and where to buy

Don Julio 1942 is an añejo tequila, made from 100% blue Weber agave and aged in oak barrels for at least two and a half years. It is a slow sipping tequila, and CBC Liquors in Westford carries it alongside the rest of the Don Julio range.

What is Don Julio 1942 tequila?

Don Julio 1942 is the premium añejo from the Don Julio house, named for the year Don Julio González began making tequila. It is made from blue Weber agave grown in the Jalisco highlands of Mexico, and the label says 100% agave, meaning no other sugars are used in the fermentation.

The word añejo is a legal aging category. To carry it, a tequila has to rest in oak for at least one year. Don Julio 1942 is aged for a minimum of two and a half years in American white oak barrels, well past that threshold, which is why it is darker and rounder than the blanco and reposado bottles on the same shelf.

You can see the bottle at CBC Liquors as DON JULIO 1942. It sits with the other bottles in our tequila section.

What does Don Julio 1942 taste like?

Time in the barrel does most of the work. Añejo tequila of this kind is usually described as smooth and warm, with notes of vanilla, caramel, toasted oak and a little dried fruit or baking spice, sitting over a softer agave character.

It is sweeter and gentler on the nose than a blanco, which tends to be peppery, citrusy and sharp. If you usually drink bourbon or an aged rum, the style of 1942 will feel familiar, because the barrel has shaped it in a similar way.

Taste is personal, so treat those notes as a map rather than a promise. Pour a small amount, let it sit for a minute, and see what you find.

How should you drink it?

Neat is the usual answer. Use a small tulip glass or a snifter if you have one, pour a modest measure, and give it a few minutes. A glass that narrows toward the top holds the aroma better than a shot glass does.

A single large ice cube is the other common choice. It cools the tequila slowly and opens it up a little as it dilutes, without turning it watery fast.

Most people do not mix a bottle like this. If you want a tequila cocktail for a party, a blanco or reposado is a better fit, and mixers are on the same shelf plan. Save the añejo for the glass.

How does 1942 compare with the other Don Julio bottles?

Don Julio makes several expressions, and the difference between them is mostly time in oak.

DON JULIO Blanco Tequila is unaged or rested only briefly. It is bright and clean, with the clearest agave flavor, and it suits margaritas and palomas as well as sipping.

DON JULIO Reposado Tequila has rested in oak for a few months, which adds a touch of color and softness while keeping the agave up front.

DON JULIO Anejo Tequila 80 Proof is the standard añejo: aged at least a year, with a lighter oak and vanilla profile.

DON JULIO 70 Anejo Claro is an añejo that has been filtered to remove the color, so you get the aged character in a clear tequila.

1942 sits at the top of the aging ladder in this group, with the longest time in barrel and the richest, most dessert-like profile.

What should you check on the label of an añejo tequila?

Start with the words 100% agave. Tequila that does not say it can legally be made with up to 49% other sugars. A bottle that carries the statement is made entirely from agave.

Next, look at the age statement or category. Blanco, reposado, añejo and extra añejo are defined by how long the tequila rests in oak, so the word on the front tells you roughly what to expect.

Finally, the proof. Most Don Julio bottles are 40% alcohol by volume, or 80 proof, which is standard for tequila. That is worth knowing when you plan how much to pour for yourself and for guests.

How do you store an open bottle?

Keep it upright, with the cork or cap tightly closed, away from sunlight and heat. Unlike wine, tequila does not keep changing in the bottle once it is open and does not need refrigeration.

If a bottle is going to be open for many months and is mostly empty, the extra air can slowly dull the aroma. Pouring what is left into a smaller clean bottle is a simple fix, though for most households a bottle is finished long before that matters.

Is Don Julio 1942 a good gift?

A boxed or presentation bottle is a common gift for a birthday, a promotion or a holiday, and the 1942 bottle is recognizable on sight. It suits someone who already enjoys sipping spirits such as bourbon, Scotch or aged rum.

If you are not sure what the person drinks, a gift card lets them pick their own bottle from the shop. If you are buying for an event, the party planner is the place to sort quantities and mixers before you come in.

Gift or not, please keep it among adults of legal drinking age.

Where can you buy Don Julio 1942 in Westford?

CBC Liquors is 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. Pickup runs on the same hours.

We also deliver, with delivery hours of 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. The delivery areas page shows where we go, including Chelmsford, Acton and Lowell. Shipping is available too.

For a wider choice of agave spirits, the Got Tequila? collection collects them in one place, and the full liquor section covers everything else on the shelf.