We're calling attention to the tequila makers who use traditional methods, plus the new-school brands worth trying. This is a new luxury tequila brand that launched here in the U.S. this past winter with four Private Collection expressions ranging from blanco to extra anejo. Gran Centenario manages to find a balance between some of the brasher old-school tequilas and the modern soda pop styles. This is a brand with heritage, not something cooked up by committee to meet a certain demographic target. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently, no research in humans suggests drinking tequila carries any health benefits. This is another excellent tequila produced at the La Altea distillery by the Camarena family, where El Tesoro and other brands are also made. Currently, Tequila has the distinction of being both the fastest growing spirit by volume and the one having the biggest increase in available brands. I do find it interesting that two of the three are not made by Cuervo, the market leader overall, but they are all priced at a level normal people can afford, somewhere between US$12 and $22 depending on the current exchange rate. I'll echo Greg Bartollota's commeni, thus is the best of then Gran Centenario line up. The oak treatment helps this out a bit, tons of mint and bitterness from the barrel. #1 tequila . How To Open Centenario Tequila | Greengos Cantina FromLiquor.com'slatest list of best sipping tequilas (Don Julio Aejo) to Delish'srecent listing of best tequila brands (Don Julio 1942), 2021 seems to be no different. Named in 1895 to commemorate the turn of the new century, Gran Centenario has remained family owned and continues to be hand. sweet and smooth. Not all the way though: that comes through more in the nose and the finish than it does when the liquor hits your tongue and moves across your taste buds. Aroma of agave, oak and solvent. Taste the tradition in every bottle and experience why were Mexicos #1 tequila*. The tequila is made using a combination of traditional practices and the familys own methods, which involves slow cooking in an autoclave and double distillation in alembic stills. There are many outstanding new Tequilas on the market today. Gran Centenario ($22) Though Jose Cuervo is known mostly for its line of mixto tequilas, Gran Centenario is one of its 100%-agave brands. It's also a historic brand. 40% alc./vol. One of the biggest tricks to tasting like quality alcohol is to avoid tasting like industrial alcohol. 1942, of course, is a noted top shelf tequila on the restaurant circuit and if you want to go all in, there's the super-expensive Don Julio Real, which one TikTokuser called "the Bentley of all tequila.". Timothy Scott is the founder and editor of Luxury Latin America and has been covering the region as a travel journalist since the mid-2000s. Not many, but its because this one was ahead of its time. Year after year, the category continues to grow in the States, according to the Distilled Spirits Council. Moving backwards. According to Volcan, all of the tequila is additive free. Smooth finish almost no burn. Don Julio is probably best known for its 1942 expression, a high-priced anejo tequila that is a staple of bottle service at clubs around the world. Definitely can taste the White Oak barrel with a far hint of caramel. According to founder and master distiller Jose Pepe Hermosillo, this means the reposado and anejo expressions are created by selecting different barrels according to characteristics and integrating up to 14 lots to create complexity and balance. These aged expressions spend a longer amount of time maturing than some other brands, with the anejo aged for two years in French oak barrels and the reposado for 364 days. Forget about mixto, the subpar blend of agave and sugar juice that inevitably leaves you with a bad hangover. Robert Haynes-Peterson is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience focusing on wine, spirits, travel and lifestyle. Lazaro Gallardo, the founder of Gran Centenario, first created this blend as a special tequila for his most distinguished guests and closest family members. This brand, owned by the Stoli Group, launched a few years back in 2018. This tequila isgood enough to employ as a sipping tequila, cheap enough to use in cocktails without worry, and smooth enough to soothe the stricken palate of a wary tequila drinker whose opinion of the spirit has been scarred by too much Jose Cuervo. Not bottom shelf. So here are some of the best tequila brands available right now, followed by some newer entries into the tequila world that are worth knowing about. Our 100% agave tequilas still undergo the proprietary Seleccin Suave process established by our founder, which adds older tequila reserves to the blend to achieve extraordinary smoothness and complexity. In order to determine what the true delicacies of the tequila world are, and to ensure maximum access to them, we've taken a look at some of the most popular tequila brands out there and ranked them from worst to best. So, what does this super-famous brand do so low on this list? Gold Tequila is a hideous type of Tequila that mixes agave with diverse sugar sources and is something you should never drink; your future self will thank you. Today, Jose Cuervo owns both the brand and the historic distillery. Thats the only tequila released by Mayenda so far, but there could be more expressions to come in the future. Gran Centenario Anejo Tequila | Total Wine & More With tequila, the phrase 100% blue agave matters more than the brand name on the bottle. El Tesoro claims to be the first tequila brand to use cognac casks for maturation, as well as creating the first extra aejo in the '80s, which it called "muy aejo" at the time. Espoln, part of the Campari America family, is an inexpensive tequila option that sips far beyond its price point with prominent notes of agave and spice. The Gran Centenario Aejo is aged in new, charred, barrels of American oak for up to 16 months. Cheap, bulk party drinks. Gran Centenario says it's Mexico's number one. Tequilero Carlos Camarena (also responsible for El Tesoro and Tapatio) created this brand along with the late Tomas Estes, two people who have been involved in the tequila business for quite some time. Its also a historic brand. Yes, the cheap, seemingly unassuming Espoln makes it to the Top Three but then again, if you've tasted it, that should come as no surprise. For this list, we tried to focus on brands that use traditional methods, with some exceptions. It should be a good sipper and you cant go wrong at that price. This gives the tequila a whiff of smoke on the palate, far from the assertive nature of many mezcals but noticeable nonetheless. Click to reveal Its a good representation of the form. Gran Centenario Reposado Type: Tequila Brand : Gran Centenario Nom 1122 440 Ratings See All 73 Panel 77 Community + My Rating $41.99 USD Retail Partner LiquorVerse Buy Online $32.99 USD Retail Partner Old Town Tequila Buy Online Available in the App Find Nearby Add to Wishlist Profile Aromas & Flavors Detected By Our Community Aromas Detected 16 However, a merest sip of Montezuma tequila gives the drinker a pretty good approximation of what that must be like. Flavor: Hot and bitter entry. Reposado. The tequila is versatile, tasty as a sipper and a bit-more-complex component in traditional tequila cocktails. Lalo was founded by the grandson of Don Julio Gonzalez, and is named after him (Eduardo Lalo Gonzalez). Spain lifted the ban for good in 1792, and in 1795 gave a license for the production of tequila to Jose Mara Guadalupe de Cuervo, maker of what is now the world's best-selling . Excellent. Our Review of Michael Jordan's Cincoro Tequila - Men's Journal A true premium tequila brand, the makers of Don Julio openly call it the world's first luxury tequila, and it has the reviews to match. We cant always have additive free or complex tequilas. NIELSEN/ISCAM, TOTAL MEXICO TEQUILA, 12 MONTHS ENDED 5/31/22. Want Gran Centenario delivered? .css-18is0o5{background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);background-color:#FF3A30;-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;border:thin solid #FF3A30;border-radius:2rem;color:#000;display:inline-block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.875rem;letter-spacing:0.04rem;line-height:1.3;padding:0.625rem 1.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;white-space:pre-line;width:auto;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-18is0o5{padding:0.5rem 0.7rem 0.3125rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-18is0o5{padding:0.6rem 1.125rem 0.3125rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-18is0o5{padding:0.6rem 1.125rem 0.3125rem;}}.css-18is0o5:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-18is0o5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;background-color:#ffffff;border:thin solid #FF3A30;}Shop ReserveBar Shop Drizly. Named after a process in which agaves are roasted in small ovens called "hornitos," the brand includes many of the usual suspects:the unaged"silver" of Hornitos Plata, the two-months-plus oak aged Reposado, the Aejo that has at least a year of aging under its belt, and a handful of specialties and pre-mixed drinks. It's a good idea to make sure your hand is around the bottle's neck. And Volcan X.A is now available nationwide, a high-end blend of different aged tequilas that is meant to compete with other ultra premium bottles. A quality tequila can be just as fine a sipping alcohol as any Scotch or bourbonout there. The plata Tequila is unaged, but is married in barrels of American oak for 49days to give it a very subtle wood note. In reality, though, the brand has a history of conflicting reviews. I think it goes really great with squirt ! The most prefered by mixologists. The tequila is additive free, its made using both rainwater and well water for distillation, and a converted steamroller is employed to crush the agave pinas. Every bottle of our 100% agave tequila is finely crafted using the same methods established by our founder. Gran Centenario is a decent mid to low shelf brand This is a prime example, like Bacardi rum for instance, where sales have no correlation to quality. Smooth nice finish, reasonably priced. the finish is highly bold and sharp with overwelming sweetness. Centenario Tequila Cap is made from 100% blue agave and is aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels. The nose is a flood of pepper and fresh agave, green and herbal and full of rustic spice. Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. There are baked agave notes, along with caramel, spice notes of cinnamon and clove, seasoned oak, some smoke and earthy white pepper notes. It has a strong, bold flavor that some people love, while other people prefer a smoother, lighter tequila. At an average retail price of $169, this is a bold, flavorful, spicy, extra aejo Tequila that compares very favorably in both price and quality with other premium priced extra aejos. its good for price and if not sipping maybe good for price at quick shots party. According to the brand, each brings different unique flavors to the palate - fruitier, sweeter notes from the Highlands, pepper and spice from the Lowlands. Puntas means distillers cut, referring to the spirits taken from a particular point in the distillation process. Its also a historic brand. Garnish with Tajn rim, Lime, Orange, and Grapefruit, A rare and special Extra Aejo tequila of unparalleled flavor and character. 10 Tequila Brands to Try This Cinco de Mayo - The Manual All of this prestige and nuanced taste is enough to make Don Julio a great best-selling tequila. So, how on earth is it not topping the list? Heres the story behind that, according to the company: The bottle is adorned with the The Angel of Independence, inspired by the Mexican Centenario gold bullion coin, minted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mexicos independence in 1910. Instead, let's focus on the margarita aspect. You'll notice that the entry-level versions ofSauza Tequilaalsodistinctly avoid the words "100% agave." 18 well-known bartenders were gracious enough to give us their picks from blancos (also called silver or. did a tasting of nosotros reposado right before this which is very good so this seems really bad at the moment. This joins the core family of blanco, reposado, and anejo tequilas, which are double distilled in alembic pot stills. He has visited each country we cover multiple times and is based in a UNESCO World Heritage city in central Mexico, where he owns a home. Youll probably feel golden the next day if youre doing shots or sipping. And. The all-agave Hornitos is, in many ways, the quintessential mid-list tequila. There are several people behind this new brand, including entrepreneur McCauley Williams who was inspired by his wildlife photographer uncle to donate some of the profits to jaguar conservation efforts in Mexico. Jarring , chemical, medicinal ,throughout complete swill , not even as a mixer , stay away!! In fact, new data suggests it's overtaken whiskey, and will overtake vodka at some point this year. Is Centenario A good tequila? - newzealandrabbitclub.net Dont forget that some of the older expressions are pretty good too certainly, worth a taste and worth revisiting when you have the chance. If youre interested in the concept of terroir and vintage in tequila, Ocho is a good brand to explore. There are herbal notes of eucalyptus, dried herbs and a hint of dried mesquite, along with chocolate, caramel, walnut, some sweet almond marzipan, a bit of molasses and new saddle leather. Gran Centenario Tequila - Tequila for all tastes and occasions But I'd definitely buy this again. to as high as $42 (pass). When it comes to big name tequilas, it simply has no equal. This is why the best-selling tequila in the USA is awful, but the best-selling tequila in Mexico is more than decent. 2 char, although the aejo is rested for an additional two months in heavily charred barrels that once held Wild Turkey (also owned by Campari). #1 TEQUILA BASED ON VOLUME. At BevMo, bottles of 750 ml are $23.99, which is 50% less than the regular . Hey, maybe the whole country is moving a bit upscale, despite the high inflation that has hit seemingly every grocery product everywhere. Flavor: Very woody. The traditional method of making tequila involves harvesting agave, cooking the pias (the heart of the plant) in an oven, shredding and crushing them with the tahona (a large stone wheel), and then fermenting and distilling the juice (or mosto). 40% ALC./VOL. According to the company he was the very first Tequila Master Distiller in Mexico. If youre having trouble finding those, give the more readily available lineup a try instead. (80 PROOF). Food & Drink Drinks The 28 Best Tequila Brands to Drink In 2023 We're calling attention to the tequila makers who use traditional methods, plus the new-school brands worth trying. The companys core Tequila line consists of a plata, reposado, aejo and extra aejo expression. There are lots of new, outstanding Tequilas on the market today. Its a darker aejo than most and comes in a much heavier bottle with the same Art Deco elements. Nowadays the premium tequila category is thriving, and Patrn (now owned by Bacardi) remains one of the best, with the Roca range at the forefront. Patrn Silver alone is a reliably enjoyable, smooth spirit that works extremely well as a mixer and if you want to wean yourself off those chemical-tasting cheap brands, it's hard to find a better starter premium tequila to blow your mind. Anejo. Salas says Gran Centenario still harvests its highland agave at 10 to 12 years (many lower-end brands will harvest younger plants to save money in production). Taste is pretty solid, but not fantastic. mostly caramel in the nose, notes primarily oak and smoke. Primavera is a reposado that was aged for eight months and then finished in European oak barrels that previously held orange wine. Gran Centenario Aejo is distilled from carefully selected blue agave and aged in new American oak barrels, then blended using the proprietary Seleccin Suave process, which blends the richest and smoothest tequilas to yield a smooth, complex taste profile. Still, much as serious tequila aficionados may scoff at mixtos, the cheap brands will always be around wherever unwise drink order decisions are made at 2 a.m. Should you find yourself in that situation, you could do a whole lot worse than Sauza. Known by most and beloved by many, this tequila is perfect for pleasing the masses. You know how the saying goes: If life gives you a bottle of Jurez, grab some quality ingredients and use it to make reasonably tasty margaritas. It doesn't smell "mellowed" at all, but rather comes across a lot like a standard blanco and a huge one at that. If you havent tried Hiatus before, give this bottle a taste to see what you think. The blanco is filtered and oxygenated for 24 hours before bottling, which the brand says smooths and balances the flavor out a bit. El Jimador Silver Tequila has been dubbed a fairly underwhelming two-star spirit by31 Whiskey, while well over half of itsInfluensterraters give it a solid five stars out of five. The blanco is a classic, known for being the choice of Don Javier of the La Capilla Cantina to use in his La Batanga cocktail (tequila, lime, Mexican cola). Gran Centenario reposado has won some blind-tasting awards here and there though, so theyre not just coasting on their reputation. Get the latest intel on which bottles of booze are worth your hard-earned cash. Youll usually pay less than 400 though. Patrn Aejo is oak aged for over 12 months, allowing the sweet woody flavors to integrate over time. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Espoln's surprisingly complexBlanco and fuller Reposado are both 100% agave, and though somewhat spicier and rougher around the edges than some high-end fare, they carry a signature punch that works very well in mixed drinks something the brand's Facebook page takes full advantage of, as it bombards you with inventive and nigh-invariably deliciousEspoln-themed mixology,Paste Magazinereports. Patrn Aejo. I reported on my first meaningful encounters with the Centenario tequila brand back in 2010 when I first moved to Mexico. To find the bottles you should start your journey with, we turned to the professionals. This is one thats common at parties and gatherings and it gets the Job done. Not until after many sips, placing two ice cubes that the tastes became apparent. This is brand-new tequila entering the scene here in the U.S., an additive-free release that is launching with blanco and reposado expressions, with an anejo to come in the future. We know we have the most passionate fans and we look forward to toasting with you at an upcoming match! Keep an eye on our website and social media channels for exciting news, including sweepstakes and exclusive videos with ftbol stars and legends. Its smooth and creamy, and offers up a complex, nuanced layering of fruits, both fresh and dried, ranging from apples and pears to quince, peaches, orange zest, dried cherry, prune and golden raisins. The next big step was the bottle itself. All of the tequila is triple distilled, and the distillery implements many sustainable practices. Palate: Opens round and rich (some might say smooth), with a hint of spice. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. There is some sweetness that has an aftertaste that is not pleasant. I like this offering best of the four tequilas Gran Centenario produces. trademarks owned by becle, s.a.b. Sure, youshouldideally also use a great tequila, but sometimes things just don't roll that way. An old-school reposado tequila with a heritage, Works both as a sipper and to elevate classic tequila cocktails. Also be on the lookout for Santo's excellent Blanco and Reposado tequilas. However, the classic late-night-at-club unwise decision of the salt-rimmed variety is far from the only face of this agave spirit. . The community reviewers at Tequila Matchmakerare, if possible, even more unkind to the see-through stuff. Most brands that do this are not open about it, even though it is legally allowed, but there are some that proudly proclaim themselves as being additive-freeyou can find a decent list of these here. See more information here. Not so withEspoln, which Liquor.com recently called the absolute best sipping tequila of the under-$30 price group out there. The brand now has its own distillery, which seems to be an offshoot of an already existing location that is dedicated to the production of Teremana. de c.v. 2023 proximo, jersey city, nj. Though the brand is famous and thus can be somewhat overpriced, it's also delicious through and through. The reposado has a bit of anejo in the blend to add some more complexity. Ultra-premium Tequila. This new brand comes from Campari, the company that owns the eponymous bright red amaro as well as Wild Turkey and Espolon. Some praise the virtues of the complex Roca Patrn product line, and the brand has an ultra-special Gran Patrn line as well, but even if you don't want to break the bank, the baseline Silver, Reposado and Aejo variations all hold their own. Tequila is the great equalizer of a night out, in that everyone's going to equally regret those four rapid rounds of shots they decided to do after midnight. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Gran Centenario was created in 1895. 31 reviews Gran Centenario is Mexico's most award-winning ultra-premium tequilas. This brand was founded by sommelier Richard Betts in 2006fun fact, originally Jonathan Goldsmith (aka the guy from those Dos Equis most interesting man in the world commercials) appeared in the ad campaign for the brand. An uninspired choice? Every bottle of our 100% agave tequila is finely crafted using the same methods established by our founder, Lzaro Gallardo, over 150 years ago. Gran Centenario, Mexico's #1 tequila*, was established in 1857 by a tavern owner and tequila producer named Lzaro Gallardo. the people, places, and moments that bring us together. Gran Centenario surprised me with an apple flavor that's joined by the whiskey barrel/woody taste. It represents an outstanding value. There are additional notes of caramel and vanilla, along with spice flavors of clove, cinnamon, a bit of nutmeg and white pepper. How Much Is Centenario Tequila - LiquorTalkClub.com Patrn helped define the premium tequila category when it launched over a quarter century ago. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Drinkers praise the baseline Blanco for its fresh, restrained, distinctive taste (per The Whiskey Exchange), and the Reposado adds a little smooth sweetness in the mix (via Drinkhacker). In fact, they've reported aromas ranging from chlorine to varnish and flavors from acetone to soap. We shouldnt forget, however, that there are also some historic brands of Tequila that are equally good!