Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Shortcuts/Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
4:30 – Mi Casa Nosing
6:00 –Mi Casa Tasting
9:22 – TC Craft Nosing
11:08 – TC Craft Tasting
15:02 – ArteNOM Nosing
15:47 – ArteNOM Tasting
Today we’ll be comparing two extremely mature tequilas to an “Old Faithful” añejo that’s readily available. The 2-year-old añejo that we’ll be comparing the much older extra añejos is the ArteNOM 1146. Priced around $70-$90, it’s 80 proof and created by Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca at Tequileña in the town of Tequila, it is produced using agaves grown in the highlands near Atotonilco el Alto. It’s 100% additive free, with a total maturation of almost 3 years. It’s first aged in used Cabernet Franc wine barrels from the Loire Valley of France for a minimum of 14 months then into toasted American white oak previously used to age either Canadian whiskey or Tennessee rye whiskey, for a minimum of 14 more months.
The TC Craft Extra Añejo is newer ultra-premium craft tequila brand produced in Jalisco, Mexico and founded by Todd and Chad Bottorff in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Specializing in the highest quality craft tequila, it is made using 100% 8-year blue Weber Agave with no herbicides or pesticides, slowly roasted in clay ovens and aged 8 years in white oak barrels. It is produced and distilled by master distiller Melly Barajas Cardeñas of Vinos y Licores Azteca, a female-owned and staffed distillery. TC CRAFT Tequila has won fourteen medals and “Distiller of the year” in taste competitions, including the SIP Awards, Tequila Aficionado and the Bartender Spirits Awards and has several varieties: Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo distributed in the U.S. While they don’t have full distribution across the US, they do ship to a lot of states (and offer free shipping and a 10% off code if you sign up for their emails).
The Mi Casa 9-Year-Old Tequila Extra Añejo Small Batch is a bit harder to find and varies in pricing from $240-$300. Mine is from Batch 2 (LOTE NO US B2/XA) that was bottled at 44% abv. While these were aged up for 9 full years, they were sitting in Jack Daniels and Evan Williams barrels that were used 4 to 5 times (so not a ton of oak tannin exposure). Mi Casa partner Eli Rodriguez took on the task of blending barrels for the Small Batch series. The goal was to find balance and harmony. Each batch is between 6 and 12 barrels, and Lot001 Brands will be releasing one Small Batch at a time, nationwide. When Ezequiel Rodriguez took over the family estate in Michoacán his dream was to grow agave and make tequila. With his wife, Carmen, and their children, Cristina and Eli, and with help from good friends they began to plant agave in the early 2000’s. Made with 100% estate grown agave from Michoacán and distilled to the family’s high standards in Arandas, this was the first Tequila of its kind. The Rodriguez family began importing Mi Casa to the U.S. but after a time the project went dormant. All the while a production run sat patiently, getting ready for the right moment. With a unicorn inventory and a beautifully updated identity, Mi Casa is relaunching with that last batch made over a decade ago. It was distilled to 54.5% abv, filling 118 well-used Tennessee whiskey barrels. What wasn’t barreled was left to condition in stainless steel. Lot001 Brands also offers: Mi Casa Single Barrel 9yr Extra Añejo & Mi Casa Blanco, rested for over 10 years!
Mi Casa 9 Year Small Batch Releases:
Batch 1 Released October 2023
❖ 8 barrel blend of 9yr XA
❖ 661 bottles
❖ 43% ABV
Batch 2 Released February 2024
❖ 8 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 683 bottles
❖ 44% ABV
Batch 3 Released July 2024
❖ 8 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 958 bottles
❖ 43% ABV
Batch 4 Unreleased
❖ 9 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 843 bottles
❖ 45% ABV
Batch 5 Unreleased
❖ 7 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 993 bottles
❖ 46% ABV
Batch 6 Unreleased
❖ 12 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 1776 bottles
❖ 45% ABV
As of December 2024, my current bottle count is over 3,000. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for three decades and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, I’m super proud to announce that my “Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye Whiskey was named “Best American Rye” at the 2024 World Whisky Awards (Batch 4 arrived in Total Wines the 1st week of November)! But don’t forget that our other Bourbons have also won multiple big awards and are on Total Wine shelves now! Our Flagship Port & Cognac just got a Double Platinum at Fred Minnick's 2024 Ascot Awards, and "The Herald” our Armagnac finished Bourbon took a Double Gold at the Whiskies of the World competition! Given my decades of consumer/reviewer experience, you know I’m working hard to continue bringing you great whiskeys! Thanks for watching & please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
Shortcuts/Timecodes:
0:00 – Intro
4:30 – Mi Casa Nosing
6:00 –Mi Casa Tasting
9:22 – TC Craft Nosing
11:08 – TC Craft Tasting
15:02 – ArteNOM Nosing
15:47 – ArteNOM Tasting
Today we’ll be comparing two extremely mature tequilas to an “Old Faithful” añejo that’s readily available. The 2-year-old añejo that we’ll be comparing the much older extra añejos is the ArteNOM 1146. Priced around $70-$90, it’s 80 proof and created by Master Distiller Enrique Fonseca at Tequileña in the town of Tequila, it is produced using agaves grown in the highlands near Atotonilco el Alto. It’s 100% additive free, with a total maturation of almost 3 years. It’s first aged in used Cabernet Franc wine barrels from the Loire Valley of France for a minimum of 14 months then into toasted American white oak previously used to age either Canadian whiskey or Tennessee rye whiskey, for a minimum of 14 more months.
The TC Craft Extra Añejo is newer ultra-premium craft tequila brand produced in Jalisco, Mexico and founded by Todd and Chad Bottorff in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. Specializing in the highest quality craft tequila, it is made using 100% 8-year blue Weber Agave with no herbicides or pesticides, slowly roasted in clay ovens and aged 8 years in white oak barrels. It is produced and distilled by master distiller Melly Barajas Cardeñas of Vinos y Licores Azteca, a female-owned and staffed distillery. TC CRAFT Tequila has won fourteen medals and “Distiller of the year” in taste competitions, including the SIP Awards, Tequila Aficionado and the Bartender Spirits Awards and has several varieties: Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo distributed in the U.S. While they don’t have full distribution across the US, they do ship to a lot of states (and offer free shipping and a 10% off code if you sign up for their emails).
The Mi Casa 9-Year-Old Tequila Extra Añejo Small Batch is a bit harder to find and varies in pricing from $240-$300. Mine is from Batch 2 (LOTE NO US B2/XA) that was bottled at 44% abv. While these were aged up for 9 full years, they were sitting in Jack Daniels and Evan Williams barrels that were used 4 to 5 times (so not a ton of oak tannin exposure). Mi Casa partner Eli Rodriguez took on the task of blending barrels for the Small Batch series. The goal was to find balance and harmony. Each batch is between 6 and 12 barrels, and Lot001 Brands will be releasing one Small Batch at a time, nationwide. When Ezequiel Rodriguez took over the family estate in Michoacán his dream was to grow agave and make tequila. With his wife, Carmen, and their children, Cristina and Eli, and with help from good friends they began to plant agave in the early 2000’s. Made with 100% estate grown agave from Michoacán and distilled to the family’s high standards in Arandas, this was the first Tequila of its kind. The Rodriguez family began importing Mi Casa to the U.S. but after a time the project went dormant. All the while a production run sat patiently, getting ready for the right moment. With a unicorn inventory and a beautifully updated identity, Mi Casa is relaunching with that last batch made over a decade ago. It was distilled to 54.5% abv, filling 118 well-used Tennessee whiskey barrels. What wasn’t barreled was left to condition in stainless steel. Lot001 Brands also offers: Mi Casa Single Barrel 9yr Extra Añejo & Mi Casa Blanco, rested for over 10 years!
Mi Casa 9 Year Small Batch Releases:
Batch 1 Released October 2023
❖ 8 barrel blend of 9yr XA
❖ 661 bottles
❖ 43% ABV
Batch 2 Released February 2024
❖ 8 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 683 bottles
❖ 44% ABV
Batch 3 Released July 2024
❖ 8 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 958 bottles
❖ 43% ABV
Batch 4 Unreleased
❖ 9 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 843 bottles
❖ 45% ABV
Batch 5 Unreleased
❖ 7 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 993 bottles
❖ 46% ABV
Batch 6 Unreleased
❖ 12 barrel blend of 9 yr XA
❖ 1776 bottles
❖ 45% ABV
As of December 2024, my current bottle count is over 3,000. I am a Certified Specialist of Spirits and have also been accredited by the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). I've been actively collecting for three decades and what started as a small basic home bar has transformed (with the help and understanding of my wonderful wife) into this collection and career. Speaking of my career, I’m super proud to announce that my “Saints Alley “Nobleman” Rye Whiskey was named “Best American Rye” at the 2024 World Whisky Awards (Batch 4 arrived in Total Wines the 1st week of November)! But don’t forget that our other Bourbons have also won multiple big awards and are on Total Wine shelves now! Our Flagship Port & Cognac just got a Double Platinum at Fred Minnick's 2024 Ascot Awards, and "The Herald” our Armagnac finished Bourbon took a Double Gold at the Whiskies of the World competition! Given my decades of consumer/reviewer experience, you know I’m working hard to continue bringing you great whiskeys! Thanks for watching & please remember to drink responsibly. Cheers!
