Aroma: This one is all about the agave. You like agave forward blancos, you will love the nose on this one. Calirosa Añejo: We found this tequila to be overly sweet with notes of chocolate and butterscotch that overwhelmed any agave flavor. This content is intended for readers 21+. Please drink responsibly. If you or anyone you know is dealing with alcohol abuse, get help.The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helplineat 1-800-662-HELP (4357)providesa free, confidential, 24/7, treatment referral, and information service.

Tequila Ocho comes to the Sip Tequila portfolio by way of Carlos Camarena, a third generation Tequilero, and Tomas Estes, tequila legend and global spirits ambassador. Some would say this is the most dynamic and intense partnership in the tequila world, bringing to life decades of experience and deep understanding and respect for the agave plant. With a truly artisanal approach, Tequila Ocho brings terroir in Tequila to life, celebrating single estate agave harvests and yearly vintages, making them rare and collectible. Not to mention, delicious.Stunning. Just without words stunning,” Bailon says. “Agave forward and oaked crème brulée is a unicorn to find—and when you do, it just dances up and down the palate. I also appreciate all the attention to detail with this bottle including a little rest in five-liter glass vessels before bottling. This is a precious gem to cherish.” To craft its vintages, Tequila Ocho annually harvests agave from three to four of its nearly 100 estates, each of which is located in a different part of Los Altos de Jalisco. It’s the distinctions between these estates that imbue each single-estate tequila with its unique character. It’s not just differences in elevation, soil content, or microclimate that shape terroir, though each plays a significant role. Finish: A very nice medium-long finish that still says AGAVE (with the capital letters). There's a hint of bitterness from the earth notes, but it rounds it out nicely. Tequila production begins with the agave plant, cultivated in Mexico’s desert regions. Early civilizations believed agave was a gift from the gods, which they used as a source for food, fibers and building materials. They would cut off the top of the plant, and the remaining stump filled with a liquid called aguamiel that would ferment into a cloudy, low-alcohol drink. Tomas has been advocating 100% agave sipping tequila throughout his bars since 1976. He has gained recognition as the Tequila ambassador and is often featured as a guest speaker across Australia, Europe and the Americas.

Tapatio Añejo: Tapatio and El Tesoro are made in the same distillery, so it's no surprise that these two añejos share some similarities. Both are agave-forward and delicious, but the El Tesoro añejo has a prominent vanilla note that we preferred. This beautiful, colour changing tequila from The Butterfly Cannon is an instant favourite. Whether you’re already a die-hard tequila fan or new to the spirit, this modern take on tequila is guaranteed to excite you. Out of the bottle it’s pale blue in colour and transforms into a light purple once your mixer is added. Despite this excellent showmanship, it’s not all style over substance. Founded in 2008 by Carlos Camarena and Tomas Estes, Tequila Ocho is widely regarded as one of the best tequilas in the world. Founded on the basis that terroir can — and does — exist in spirits, each bottle of Tequila Ocho produced is made to showcase the beauty of the agave plant and the lands from which it grows.

Cristalinos, Sustainability and Estate Agaves

When an estate is harvested, the agaves undergo a natural, open-vat fermentation allowing native yeasts and bacteria in the air to mix freely with the fermenting agave sugars, creating an additional opportunity for the natural environment to influence the development of flavors and aromas.

Cazcanes Still Strength: This is an excellent blanco tequila, but it's bottled at still proof, which means it's much stronger in flavor and alcohol content than other unaged tequilas. This Cazcanes expression is not for the faint of heart. Janice Bailon is the San Francisco-based founder of Fueled by Agave—in addition to being a tequila ... [+] educator and a bartender at San Francisco's Bourbon and Branch. Allison Webber Photography Like wine and other unique spirits, tequila is produced according to regulations that govern its appellation of origin. Tequila may only be made in the state of Jalisco, which includes the town of Tequila, and parts of the surrounding states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas. It must be made from blue agave and in accordance with additional rules for ingredients and aging. Spirits made using other agave species or elsewhere in Mexico are classified as mezcal. Almost a year ago I wrote a review about a tequila Ocho blanco (Loa Mangos) that wasn't necessarily my personal cup of tea, but it really accomplished what this brand is all about. This vintage and terroir driven brand creates a different tequila each year from a given ranch. Different altitudes and growing conditions can create very different flavors. So even though the brand is the same, the tequila might be significantly different. So let's dive right in. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface.

The Best Tequilas To Try Right Now

It requires small batches of agave grown together in the same place and thoughtful fermentation and distillation processes that preserve the natural agave essence of the spirit. The fact that the Camarena family works exclusively with agave from their own estates provides Tequila Ocho with an agave-to-glass control over the entire tequila-making process, which makes single-estate tequila not only possible but preferable. The Art of Vintage Tequila All tequila made by the Camarena family is produced exclusively from agave from their own fields, a fact that few other producers can claim. Because the production is small-batch and carefully done, the heart and passion of the Camarenas’ Mexican soul is in each drop of their tequila. The family have only ever made 100% agave tequila. Tequila can be a stiff drink, but it’s no stronger than any other spirit. When produced for consumption in Mexico it’s usually 38% ABV, but in the United States it must be at least 40% alcohol to count as the real deal. For consumption in the rest of the world, it can be anywhere between 31% and 55% ABV. How we test tequila Blanco Tequila: Blanco (or silver, white) tequila is a clear spirit. These tequilas are rested no more than 60 days in stainless steel or oak tanks if they are aged at all. In general, it's a quality, affordable, all-purpose tequila for mixed drinks and shots.