Añejo recommendations, please

I have just discovered the pleasures of añejo. Surprisingly enough, it was at That Little Mexican Cafe in Evanston. We stopped in unexpectedly for dinner a while back and I saw, to my amazement, that they offer flights of different kinds of tequila. There was a large number of selections, so I thought, "Why not?" I think it was something remarkably inexpensive for three glasses, $9.25 or so. (Other, non-añejo, flights were less.)

The problem was choosing among makers and bottlings about which I knew nothing whatsoever. You have to understand: my last encounter with tequila came in 1982 or so. At a grad school party. The end was in sight and I, um, decided that the time had come to...relax. So, having never had tequila in my life to that point, I decided what better way to introduce myself than to accept someone's bet. Ten shots in one hour.

Skip ahead to 2009. I think--I think--I'm ready to drink this stuff again. My little flight of three was most informative and illuminating. (No, I don't recall the three with any degree of certainty, although I think they were Don Eduardo, Herradura, and El Milagro.... To the extent I recall, I found the Herradura harsh. IIRC, I found the Milagro "flowery," for lack of a more appropriate descriptor, and liked the Don Eduardo as the best tasting and most balanced.)

I am seeking recommendations. I have spent a bit of time doing my research and this is the list I gathered. While I am willing to spend some money here, I also fear that at this stage of my learning process, spending a big chunk might not be the wisest investment. But I'm open. Anyway, the list (in no order at all):

Pueblo Viejo Orgullo Añejo
4 Copas Añejo
Tequila 7 Leguas Añejo
Tequila Comisario Añejo
Corzo Añejo

Thoughts, recommendations, suggestions, modifications, deletions, and so forth are invited and most welcome.

I like anejos, but don't have any specific ones to recommend. I've always found the servers/bartenders at Salpicon and Frontera Grill to be really knowledgeable about tequilas. They have really extensive selections. As part of your research, you may want to pop in for drinks to one of those places and chat them up. I'd probably start with Salpicon (I'm not sure if Salpicon actually has seats at their bar.)

A fairly knowledgeable friend of mine who lives in Mexico said that you don't want to spend over $50 a bottle on Anejo because there are so many great brands at and under that level, and there isn't a clear quality gradient above that (unlike Scotch, for example). The exact dollar amount ($50) may be off (she did tell me this some years ago), and I don't have much personal experience with bottles over $50 to know how valid this assessment is. But if you look at tequila menus at those restaurants, you don't side a wide variation in price. This makes me think that you really don't have to break the bank to get great Anejos.

Have fun.

I have no exp with those brands. There are a bunch of rating sites. You might have already seen some. If not, I've been casually looking here:
http://www.tequila.net/
Use the exact phrase adv search. The coding of their regular search seems to be amateur at best.

I stumbled upon this old thread and thought I'd share my experiences.

The smoothest most flavorful tequila I've tried would have to be the Riazul Añejo. There were many subtle flavors, vanila, spices, and fruits, but the most pronounced to me was caramel. It was not sweet yet it still felt tasted like a fine candy. there was NO harshness to it at all, you could sip it all night. It was shockingly smooth. I have had it at Salpicon. For around $60 you can get a 750ml bottle at places like binny's.

Costco has a "Kirkland Signature" branded Añejo. For the price, $24 for a 1 liter, it's the best inexpensive Añejo you'll likely find. It is a nice Añejo, not too harsh. It certainly falls short in it's complexity of flavor compared to expensive tequilas, but at this price you don't have to feel bad using it in mixed drinks. It's worth keeping a bottle around since it's a LOT better than anything else in the price range.