Exploring Herradura Reposado’s Rich Legacy and Versatility: How Top Bartenders Embrace This Cool-Weather Favorite
Blanco tequila may dominate summer, but as the weather cools and the holiday season approaches, tequila fans opt for reposado. Rested for several months in oak barrels, this style brings a cozy sipping experience with notes of vanilla, caramel, and spices, while still holding on to that bright, lively agave kick. It’s the best of both worlds — rounded, warming, and perfect for sipping neat or mixing into festive cocktails that add a special touch to holiday gatherings, keeping the good tequila vibes going all year long.
It may feel like aged tequila has been around forever (our bar carts wouldn’t be the same without it), but that’s actually not the case. Reposado, meaning “rested” in Spanish, only began to emerge in the late 1960s as a way to create a rounded, more complex expression of tequila by light aging it in oak barrels. The idea behind reposado was to offer a more refined option that balanced the vibrant, peppery notes of young agave with the mellow, rich flavors imparted by the wood during the short aging process.
It was around that time that Casa Herradura introduced the world’d first reposado to the market, setting the industry standard by aging their tequila for a shorter period of time, which is still well beyond what later became the minimum of two months required by law — creating a rich, complex spirit with a gorgeous amber hue.
By the time Herradura introduced reposado, it was already a legacy brand with the best base product to work from. Founded in 1870 in Amatitán, Jalisco, Casa Herradura has been crafting some of the world’s most revered tequilas for over 150 years. Their story began with a stroke of luck: One of the founders, Aurelio López, discovered a horseshoe in the agave fields, a symbol that now adorns every bottle, representing good fortune for all who enjoy it.
Today, it’s become a favorite for cold-weather sipping, offering just the right amount of warmth for chilly nights and seasonal celebrations, so it’s our good luck that we were able to speak with three of the top bartenders across the country to learn why they love Herradura Reposado, and how they showcase the exceptional tequila both at their bars and at home.
Jacob Morris, Bar Manager at an Agave-Forward Craft Cocktail Bar in San Francisco
“Herradura’s a true original,” says Jacob Morris, bar manager at a craft cocktail bar in San Francisco. “Being the first reposado to market, it’s hard to say where the agave industry would be without it.” For Morris, Herradura represents a delicate balance between tradition and innovation — a brand that embraces both the heritage of tequila-making and modern techniques. At Morris’s establishment, which is known for its extensive agave selection, Herradura Reposado holds a special place.
Morris appreciates reposado for its “fusion quality.” He explains, “You have an agave, grown, fermented, and distilled in Mexico, that’s then aged in barrels formerly used for bourbon in the United States. It bridges the gap between cultures.” For whiskey lovers who are new to tequila, Morris finds Herradura Reposado to be the perfect introduction to the category. “It has an almost buttery quality that’s unique, with notes of oak, caramel, toffee, and still the bright vegetal notes of agave — citrus, pepper, and mint,” he says.
One of Morris’s favorite pairings is simple yet unexpected: a grilled ribeye with chimichurri and a glass of Herradura Reposado neat. “The charred oak barrel flavors in the tequila complement the grilled meat, and the acidity from the chimichurri ties it all together,” he says. For those looking for something even simpler, he suggests pairing the reposado with aged cheese, salted nuts, and chocolate for a casual, yet sophisticated, experience.
Krissy Harris, Cocktail Bar Owner in New York City
Krissy Harris has been working with Herradura for over 25 years, making it her go-to tequila for both neat pours and cocktails. “It’s real tequila with no junk added, and you can taste all the goodness,” she says. For Harris, the appeal of Herradura Reposado lies in its flavor profile, which she describes as “warming, with notes of vanilla and baking spices, and clean and crisp with the agave still very present.”
Recently, Harris was inspired to create a fresh take on the popular Porn Star Martini with Herradura Reposado. “Folks have been asking for the classic Porn Star Martini, which is fine, but I thought using Herradura Reposado would make it far more interesting as well as introduce some fall flavors,” she explains. “The vanilla notes already present in the reposado pair nicely with [a Spanish citrus-vanilla liqueur] and are a great foil to the tartness of the passion fruit purée and sparkling wine. It’s been selling incredibly well!”
Her creation, called La Bailadora, is inspired by a song by Joss Favela. This autumn-inspired cocktail features Herradura Reposado Tequila, passion fruit liqueur, Spanish citrus-vanilla liqueur, sparkling wine, calamansi honey, passion fruit purée, and lime, all elegantly served in a coupe glass. Harris sees it as the perfect drink to transition from late summer to fall, with its rich, layered flavors and refreshing-tasting finish.
On her own time, one of her favorite ways to enjoy Herradura Reposado is neat, accompanied by a sidecar of sangrita and fried crickets — a combination that’s both bold and traditional (the crickets, chapulines, are a classic snack in Mexico). “But I can also crush it in an Espresso Martini,” she says.
Alejandro Arriaga, Bartender at a Dominican Bar Lounge in Oakland, Calif.
Growing up in a Mexican household, Herradura Reposado has always been a part of Alejandro Arriaga’s life. “Whether it was for celebrations like quinceañeras or a casual Sunday carne asada, it wasn’t just a bottle on the shelf; it was part of the rhythm of life,” he recalls. Now, as a bartender at a Dominican bar lounge “where the energy is as vibrant as the cocktails,” Arriaga channels that deep cultural connection into his craft. “The earthy agave and soft oak undertones of Herradura Reposado are like a canvas. I can experiment with everything from classic Margaritas to modern twists like Tequila Old Fashioneds,” he says.
Arriaga is drawn to the balance in Herradura Reposado. “Aged for 11 months, it strikes a sweet spot between the smooth, vanilla-caramel notes of oak and the vibrant, peppery punch of agave,” he says. This versatility allows him to showcase the tequila in a variety of ways, from sipping neat to creating inventive cocktails like the Paloma Verde, a refreshing mix of Herradura Reposado, muddled cucumber, lime, orange juice, honey-agave syrup, and soda.
One of Arriaga’s favorite — and in his eyes potentially unconventional — ways to enjoy Herradura Reposado is in a Pajarete. “It’s a traditional ranch drink we’d make on Sundays, mixing Herradura Reposado with chocolate, instant coffee, and fresh milk, straight from the cow,” he explains. “It’s warm, comforting, and full of rich flavors. It’s not just a drink; it’s a true taste of home.”
This article is sponsored by Tequila Herradura.
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