In a First, Cuervo Finished This Tequila in Mole Casks

Jose Cuervo is one of tequila’s oldest and most famous names, and its Especial mixto has long been a staple on back bars and home bars. But while its workhorse tequila certainly garners the most attention, Cuervo is also a force in high-end tequilas through its Reserva de la Familia line.

Cuervo introduced the Reserva de la Familia brand in 1995 to celebrate its 200^th anniversary. Unlike Cuervo’s core expression, Reserva de la Familia is limited. The brand launched with an extra añejo, aged for a minimum of 3 years, and while it continues to play an important role in the lineup, there are now platino (its version of blanco), cristalino, reposado, and añejo Reserva tequilas as well. Occasionally, more limited edition offerings crop up, too. Such is the case with the Private Cask collection, which launched in 2023 with a blend of añejos finished in Colombian oak. Three years later, the second Private Cask is here.

A Chile-Forward Cuervo

Reserva de la Familia Private Cask Collection Edition No. 2: Mole Cask features what Cuervo is calling “the world’s first tequila finished in mole-seasoned barrels.” For the uninitiated: Mole is a traditional Mexican sauce that comes in a wide variety of flavors and makeups, though most contain some combination of chiles, spices, seeds, fruits, and nuts. In Cuervo’s case, after aging its 80-proof añejo (double-distilled at La Rojeña distillery) in a combination of French and new American oak, Private Cask Edition No. 2 was finished for 3 to 4 months in medium-toast new American oak that was lined with chile-heavy red Oaxaca mole, imbuing it with notes of dry peppery heat, cocoa, dried fruit, and black pepper.

While brands love claiming to be the first to use a particular production technique or barrel finish, it seems that Cuervo truly is the first to use mole-seasoned casks. Mole is not entirely new to the spirits world; there are mole bitters and mole-infused cocktails, and pechuga—mezcal distilled with chicken or turkey breast—often incorporates mole as well. But in tequila, mole had yet to make an entrance.

The new Reserva de la Familia Private Cask Collection Edition No. 2: Mole Cask will be available on shelves starting September, priced at $120. Until then, and if you’d like to secure a bottle ahead of the release date, it’s available for pre-order on the brand’s website.