When the question is “Is this bottle worth it?” The best answer is almost always: if you are simply looking to blow your mind with great tasting, additive-free tequila, you can do for a much lower cost. Folks on the tequila boards and in the additive-free communities will most frequently cite Tapatio, Arette, G4 (maybe not anymore), Terralta, El Tesoro, Primo, ArteNom, Organic 1-2-3, etc. And I agree.

But sometimes the questioner is adding subtext, or second question, like “What about this opportunity to own, gift, perhaps resell, and even enjoy this rare bottle.” That’s more complicated because if the asker doesn’t know what they like, then knowing whether the extra $$ over MSRP is worth it is not truly knowable. I am a fan of Don Fulano, and so paying MSRP for the 20th Anniversary was a no brainer, because I knew I would like it and I did! (And perhaps my favorite bottle right now). Same with the Siembra Valles and Siembra Azul limited editions. I have loved nearly everything they made, so I was not afraid to pay some (again, MSRP) to get it.

Cascahuin’s limited expressions, especially the 11 Brix , are always hard to come by. I did score a bottle and I tried it with David, my Tequila-in-Arms-Brother and we decided that it was so outrageously good that we should each get a bottle if we could. This turned out to be harder than we thought, even at outrageous leaps over MSRP and even with trusted folks in the business. A pint of blood each later, we each secured one, but then we knew it would be quite a while before we could spend again and that we had better enjoy this bottle with all of our ability.

Again, 300 smackers is a lot. Magnificent in nearly every way- aroma, taste, mouth feel. But 11Brix is a lot. It prompts the question “If you could go back in time to 2021 and see a shelf lined with Tequila Ochos Puntas and F.t.l.z.a. WB 21, would you have loaded up your cart?” My answer is likely “Yes,” but not just because of their possible future value but because they represent a high-water mark in tequila production that may not be equalled. Some think the same for expressions that have stopped being made, like Pasoste at NOM 1579 or the Cabeza Tequila line. Generally but not always, these sought-after bottles are very, very good.

If you know about Cascahuin, 1123, and know your tequila taste, and you can afford it, I say you get it, because it is unlikely you will find it cheaper in a year, at which time in your tequila journey its value may have increased.