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Don’t you just love change? Let’s face it, most of us don’t, which is why it can be downright scary when theres a change to your favorite tequila. When the bottle changes you can’t help but worry if the tequila has changed as well. One such case is the mega-popular Don Julio 1942, which saw a change to its bottle AND recipe a few years ago.
I first tasted Don Julio 1942 back around 2006. It came in a cool wooden “coffin” box and the bottle was tall and slightly rounded with an agave leaf shape blown into the glass. It had a blue label and a screw top. I drank this like a mad man for several years.
When they changed the bottle to the taller, darker brown design of today, I smelled it and realized it was different! To be honest, I got angry, and I childishly refused to drink it ever again!
I thought to myself: “Why did they mess with such a good thing?!”
Years go by, and after we launched the Tequila Matchmaker, we saw Don Julio 1942 shoot right up the charts to become the most popular tequila according to our users. All these people can’t be wrong, so we decided to give it another try. We wanted it to be absolutely fair, so we used the “blind rating” tool within the Tequila Matchmaker. This is a cool feature built into the app that makes it possible to rate a tequila without any biases.
We were shocked to discover that Scarlet and I both liked the NEW version better!
This was totally unexpected. When a tequila brand changes a bottle or recipe, it’s usually because they are trying to save some money at the expense of quality. But this was clearly not the case here.
The new Don Julio 1942 has a little more vanilla, and slightly more caramelized baked agave to the aroma. The older formula smells great, but the new stuff smells even better. The flavor is deeper, richer, rounder, and has a slightly cleaner finish.
We were so surprised by this that we had to get other people involved. So over the course of several months, we invited 12 different tequila enthusiasts to our house and gave them 2 glasses marked “A”, and “B”. We didn’t tell them what it was, and asked them to tell us “which do you like better?”
Only 8% said they liked both equally, while 25% said they liked the old stuff, and 67% said the new Don Julio 1942 was better. Validation!
Afterward, we told them what they had just tasted, and almost everyone was surprised.
So, the next time your favorite tequila changes something, don’t panic! Just remain calm, do your own blind taste test, because you may be pleasantly surprised.
We’d love to know what you think, too. Log into the Tequila Matchmaker and share your ratings with us!
— Grover
Hi – wondering where I might find a bottle of the old 1942 – any websites for resellers or individuals I might watch?
That’s a really good question. I’ve only been able to find it in odd liquor stores off the beaten path. There’s still a few of them out there, you just need to look for them.
I’ve been drinking 1942 for 2 years and used to live it. Although due to the high volume production orders through big discount clubs like Costco, the tequila is definitely not the same. It’s not as smooth as it used to be and tastes more like a cheap Cuervo Gold. I won’t be purchasing it any more.
You are absolutely correct, The old version was much smoother. I just did a taste testing at a local restaurant. Spent weeks excited because they were going to offer the 42′. When they brought the bottle out it looked different from what I remembered, then I smelled it and just knew it was different. The old version did not have a pepper finish. Such a let down.
The old I swear tasted like water it was so smooth
Tengo algunos del año 2002 en shock @grover
I have a few in stock Bob. I might just let one go, send me a msg and we will talk. gael_garcia@hotmail.com
I live in Wilmington NC and all abc stores have it which sucks because I wanna try the new one
BUENAS TARDES YO TENGO LA EDICION VIEJITA CON HOLOGRAMA DE AQUI DE MEXICO DEL AÑO 2002 , ES LA VERCION QUE TRAE UNA CAJA VERDE DE MADERA COMO SI FUERA UN ATAUD DE ECHO LA COMPRE EN LA FABRICA DE DON JULIO DE ATOTONILCO JALISCO , A UNA PERSONA MUY ALLEGADA AL SEÑOR DON JULIO GALLARDO…
Muy buenas tardes tengo una botella edicion especial de don Julio Viejo si gusta
Todavia lo tienes disponible?
Cuanto estarías dispuesto a pagar? Tengo una botella de las antiguas en su caja original y el tapón aun con el precinto
Yo tengo una botella de 1942 de la azul, te interesa ?
This is what I know, when we go to Mexico with friends we always bring a bottle or two of 1942… Believe it or not I have persuaded one of my liquor store guys to sell it to me for $100 a bottle. Get it all the time cheaper then I can buy it in Mexico! Haven’t had the old stuff but don’t really need to taste it because this one is great. My favorite is one I can only get in Mexico. It’s showing up in San Diego but I don’t think it’s the same quality. Let me know if you have tasted it, Casa De Oro Extra Anejo….
Suggestion, stop buying from the tequila vendors when in mexico. No need to cart it down when you can buy it at the liquor store easily for under $100 USD. :)
Except, of course, when you’re talking about tequilas that aren’t sold in the USA! (And there are many!)
Casa De Oro Extra Anejo, put it like this, my closet and dearest friends all agree, The Heavyweight Champ!
I too was not happy with the change. I did not realize the formula had changed thought only the packaging had changed. I loved the old label and bottle, it had class and to me felt old school.The coffin case is neat and helps finish the presentation. (Love Don Julio ‘Real’packaging)I too didn’t continue on my 1942 addiction but will rethink that now. Thanks for the clarification.
You can buy Don Julio 1942 at Costco for $100. BevMo also carries it for $120. It’s the best Tequila I’ve ever had, and well worth the $100 for special occasions.
You can also find it on the internet for $93/bottle
Since Don Julio’s family no longer owns the distillery, it’s not surprising that recipes will change. Don Julio Gonzalez now sells his family’s tequila under the Gonzalez label. I haven’t seen it yet in OR stores but have had it in Mexico. I would call it more “distinctive” than the current batch of Don Julio recipes that seem to have raised smoothness a bit but lost flavor in the process. Our favorite bartenders in Cabo & PV all turn up their noses at Don Julio now, as no longer “authentic”.
I absolutely love the brown bottle. So far it is the best tequila i have tasted
Absolutely the best tequila I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. Very rich and smooth- like a fine scotch!
I’ve got an unopened bottle of 60th anniversary Don Julio 1942 blue label. Picked it up in the motherland Mexico years ago it has a Mexico national stamp of authenticity. can anybody tell me what this might be worth?
You can get it at costco in tijuana mexico for 70$ just bought one haven’t even opened it yet!
I am trying to find the old Classic Don Julio 1942 Bottle that fits into the green wood box. I would like to purchase from anyone who has that bottle. Ours was accidently thrown away and we like to keep it on our bar for conversation piece.
Thank you. J
I have a extra bottle (empty of course ) if you are still looking?
I had the old 1942 when in Mexico and loved it. When I got back to NY I ran around like crazy until I found it across the river in New Jersey at a decent price. While I still loved it, it clearly was not as smooth. I wondered why.
Luckily, I still had the original bottle from Mexico and was surprised to see that, while the US 1942 was the usual 40% alcohol, the Mexican 1942 was only 38% alcohol.
I much prefer the Mexican version. Much much smoother. I wish that there was somewhere in the US where I could buy it.
I have recently came up on a 1942 old bottle full unopened!!! Willing to sell!!!!
I have unopened bottle
Hi there do you still have the 1942 old one available to sell?
I’m not a traditional tequila, I’m more of a cognac drinker but my friend after much persuasion convince me to try the Don Julio in the brown bottle which I now understand is the newer version and I much admit it’s a tequila that I would drink. I absolutely loved it so if the original was better I would like to try it. Oh hail 1942!
I just brought an old bottle back from California. . I purchased this for my father in law about 12yrs ago… he never opened it… gave it back to me.. think it’s worth opening?
Hi yesse, can you tell me where in California you found it. I would love to buy one.
I have at home a bottle of Don Julio 1942 Blue Label with seal packing in 2006. I am a teetotaler and I would like to sell the bottle on Ebay or a similar site, but I do not know what price might have. Could you help me? Thank you very much.
If you still have it, I would be interested
In search of the blue label bottle. Any one see it in the market? Please let me know
DJ, I’ve got an older blue label 1942 in the box.
ih8cornnuts@hotmail.com
Hey John,
Let me know if you still have it and willing to sell. Thanks
Have an original I got as a gift in Mexico around 2002…still unopened and in the green coffin box.
Looking for a blue label 1942 bottle. Completely sealed. Please let me know if anyone is selling one or knows where i could buy it thank you!
Stacy, I have a bottle, sealed. I’m willing to sell it. Depends how much you’re willing to pay for it.
Hi. Do you have the old 1942 for sale? I’m wiling to it?
Hola amigos. Mi padre falleció y dejó varias botellas de buenos tequilas entre ellas una de don julio 1942 750 mililitros de la versión antigua. Caja verde. Saben cual podría ser su valor? Gracias de antemano.
si quieres venderlo? mal pagado con $ 200
Email me johnny91942@gmail.com
im intersted if anyone has the old bottle with coffin email is krzyballer08@yahoo.com
Tengo 2 últimas botellas en estuche
1 original Don Julio 1942 Añejo caja verde con etiqueta verde y 2copas !!!
Riedel 12 Stars.!!!
2 Original Don Julio 1942 caja café
Botella ámbar!!!
Si tengas todavía la botella de caja verde con las 2 copas, mándame un mensaje…
leond1976cali@gmail.com
I would like to purchase an old blue 1942 sealed bottle. Coffin or no coffin. Please Email me Reagan8750@comcast.net
En cuanto??