Can the best-selling spirit in a class in point of fact be one thing tasty? Or is it simply swill wrapped up in a dear advertising package deal? It will depend on whether or not we’re speaking about an export marketplace or the origination marketplace. The most productive-selling tequila in Mexico most probably merits a B- at the grading scale: Tequila Centenario Reposado.
With tequila, the word “100% blue agave” issues greater than the logo title at the bottle. That is why the best-selling tequila in america is terrible, however the best-selling tequila in Mexico is greater than first rate. The humorous factor is, they’re each bottled via Jose Cuervo and bought via Proximo Spirits in america, with the similar house owners which might be descendants of the unique Cuervo kinfolk. They are saying this logo remains to be “family-owned,” but it surely’s a mighty large kinfolk.
Within the terrible now not 100% agave class is what most of the people international go together with the sector’s biggest tequila manufacturer and that will be Jose Cuervo Gold. It is a high instance, like Bacardi rum as an example, the place gross sales don’t have any correlation to high quality. That’s a “mixto” tequila the place you don’t in point of fact know what’s in it and in the event you drink it immediately you can get a kind of notorious tequila hangovers many people keep in mind from faculty events.
Gran Centenario is a special tale, alternatively, one you’ll drink neat with out creating a face or leaving your glass half-full at the desk. You’ll most probably really feel golden the following day in the event you’re doing pictures or sipping.
The Perfect-selling Tequila in Mexico…Possibly
Since we began Luxurious Latin The us again within the ’00s and began writing about spirits, we’ve observed 3 manufacturers touted because the best-selling one in Mexico. All are no doubt believable in response to grocery store shelf house, what you spot to be had in Oxxo, and what bartenders appear to be pouring probably the most in cantinas and eating places. It’s completely conceivable that Jimador, Cazadoras, and now Gran Centenario tequila have all worn the crown in numerous years. They’re all ubiquitous all over the rustic, from Baja to Quintana Roo and puts in between.
I do to find it fascinating that two of the 3 aren’t made via Cuervo, the marketplace chief general, however they’re all priced at a degree standard other folks can have the funds for, someplace between US$12 and $22 relying at the present alternate price. All are drinkable and also you gained’t be tossed out of a celebration for bringing any of the 3.
Centenario Tequila is the most costly of the 3 although, within the fanciest bottle, so I used to be slightly stunned to look the click releases from their distributor pronouncing this logo is on most sensible now. Whats up, possibly the entire nation is shifting slightly upscale, regardless of the prime inflation that has hit reputedly each grocery product far and wide. I simply haven’t observed any impartial verification from some roughly establishment that will measure this type of factor.
A Lengthy Historical past for Centenario Reposado
Not like the handfuls of tequila manufacturers that experience popped up in recent times, lots of them higher identified for the fame proprietor than what’s within the bottle, this logo has a protracted historical past to indicate to. It is a logo with heritage, now not one thing cooked up via committee to fulfill a definite demographic goal. It’s been round for the reason that overdue 1800s.
The founding date is indexed as 1857, again in a time when a founder may name himself a “grasp distiller” and be the primary one with that grandiose name. Lázaro Gallardo pioneered the methodology of mixing other tequila barrels in combination to get the best combine, for the aim of constant high quality slightly than (as some do now) to support the indexed age of the entire batch.
Issues in point of fact were given rolling on the finish of the century, when in 1895 the logo were given the Gran Centenario title it has these days and went on sale in bottles. The following large step used to be the bottle itself. What number of manufacturers have the similar bottle design they’ve had for 100 years? Now not many, but it surely’s as a result of this one used to be forward of its time. The founder’s son used to be impressed via the Artwork Deco motion and so they produced a bottle design that took the ones rules to center. It most probably seemed extremely futuristic then and these days it’s nonetheless a novel design, simply status with the exception of the opposite manufacturers of tequila at this worth level at the shelf.
There’s one different key component: that angel at the label. Right here’s the tale in the back of that, in line with the corporate:
The bottle is embellished with the “The Angel of Independence,” impressed via the Mexican Centenario gold bullion coin, minted to commemorate the a centesimal anniversary of Mexico’s independence in 1910.
Tequila Centenario Reposado Tasting Notes
I reported on my first significant encounters with the Centenario tequila logo again in 2010 after I first moved to Mexico. After two weekends of any person going “I will’t consider we drank that entire bottle in a single night time,” I took it as an indication that I want to do a Gran Centenario tequila evaluate. Since then, I’ve had it neat a dozen instances, made cocktails with it, and loved it at all-inclusive lodges in Mexico.
Even if this reposado is bottled in Tequila the city, it has its roots in Los Altos–the highlands–and is a sweeter, extra fruity tequila than maximum of what comes out of the home of Cuervo. Now not the entire manner although: that comes thru extra within the nostril and the end than it does when the liquor hits your tongue and strikes throughout your style buds.
Even if it’s roughly laborious to provide an explanation for, to me there’s slightly of an business, middle-of-the-road overtone to it, like I’m tasting one thing obviously made in large amounts in a large manufacturing facility that can attraction to the loads. Maximum tequila manufacturers you’ve heard of include made that manner, after all, however most likely on this case it’s the way in which they roast the tequila in chrome steel ovens and take a couple of trendy shortcuts to bump up the manufacturing.
Gran Centenario reposado has gained some blind-tasting awards right here and there although, so that they’re now not simply coasting on their popularity.
It’s a minor grievance although as a result of this in point of fact is a cast tequila that’s not going to make you wince or permit you to down as a result of there are off flavors poking thru to the entrance. It’s a well-rounded one. If any individual who had by no means had this spirit requested, “What does tequila style like?” it’s good to do a ways worse than sticking a tumbler of this one in entrance of them. It’s a excellent illustration of the shape.
The place the tequila Centenario Reposado in point of fact shines is in cocktails since the ones refined components fall via the wayside anyway and also you in point of fact simply need the agave to chop in the course of the citrus, the salt, or no matter else is jumbled in. In case you are in Mexico and also you’re bellying as much as the bar at an all-inclusive lodge or grabbing one thing from a comfort retailer to make margaritas for your apartment apartment, this can be a selection that’s going to make most of the people satisfied and it’s now not at a worth level the place you’ll really feel responsible blending it.
What’s the Value of Gran Centenario Tequila?
If you purchase this logo in Mexico, Gran Centenario tequila will most often value not up to 400 pesos for the reposado model, even much less for the unaged blanco model. When the alternate price is 20 to one that’s simple math, however on the time I’m scripting this it comes out to a most of $22. You’ll most often pay not up to 400 although.
Costs are extra variable in america, the place I’ve observed it as little as $26 (snatch it!) to as prime as $42 (cross). I haven’t attempted the añejo model in a in point of fact very long time so I’m now not reviewing that right here, but if I seemed on-line at this time I noticed that for $35 at Bevmo, which is an ideal discount. It must be a excellent sipper and you’ll’t pass incorrect at that worth. The silver model isn’t a lot not up to the reposado most often although, so until you’re keen on the unaged transparent model, simply pass with the smoother person who has spent a while in oak barrels.
When you’re prepared to splurge, there’s a top class model of this tequila that I’ve observed in duty-free shops and locked up in the back of glass in Mexican supermarkets, however I haven’t had a possibility to pattern it but. That will be Gran Centenario Leyeda (legend), supposedly in response to the founder’s authentic recipe for the particular elderly model he shared with shut buddies. It’s a darker añejo than maximum and is available in a miles heavier bottle with the similar Artwork Deco components.
Something has advanced a great deal since I first began writing about this logo: they now have a running site and it’s in English even. See additional information right here.
