Can the best-selling spirit in a class actually be one thing tasty? Or is it simply swill wrapped up in an costly advertising and marketing bundle? It will depend on whether or not we’re speaking about an export market or the origination market. The most effective-selling tequila in Mexico in all probability deserves a B- on the grading scale: Tequila Centenario Reposado.
With tequila, the phrase “100% blue agave” issues greater than the model title on the bottle. Because of this the best-selling tequila within the USA is terrible, however the best-selling tequila in Mexico is greater than respectable. The humorous factor is, they’re each bottled by Jose Cuervo and offered by Proximo Spirits within the USA, with the identical homeowners which might be descendants of the unique Cuervo household. They are saying this model remains to be “family-owned,” but it surely’s a mighty huge household.
Within the terrible not 100% agave class is what most individuals worldwide affiliate with the world’s largest tequila producer and that will be Jose Cuervo Gold. This can be a prime instance, like Bacardi rum for example, the place gross sales haven’t any correlation to high quality. That’s a “mixto” tequila the place you don’t actually know what’s in it and when you drink it straight you could get a kind of notorious tequila hangovers many people bear in mind from faculty events.
Gran Centenario is a special story, nonetheless, one you possibly can drink neat with out making a face or leaving your glass half-full on the desk. You’ll in all probability really feel golden the subsequent day when you’re doing photographs or sipping.
The Finest-selling Tequila in Mexico…Perhaps
Since we began Luxurious Latin America again within the ’00s and began writing about spirits, we’ve seen three manufacturers touted because the best-selling one in Mexico. All are definitely believable based mostly on grocery store shelf area, what you see obtainable in Oxxo, and what bartenders appear to be pouring essentially the most in cantinas and eating places. It’s totally doable that Jimador, Cazadoras, and now Gran Centenario tequila have all worn the crown in numerous years. They’re all ubiquitous all through the nation, from Baja to Quintana Roo and locations in between.
I do discover it fascinating that two of the three aren’t made by Cuervo, the market chief total, however they’re all priced at a stage regular folks can afford, someplace between US$12 and $22 relying on the present trade fee. All are drinkable and also you gained’t be tossed out of a celebration for bringing any of the three.
Centenario Tequila is the costliest of the three although, within the fanciest bottle, so I used to be a bit shocked to see the press releases from their distributor saying this model is on prime now. Hey, possibly the entire nation is shifting a bit upscale, regardless of the excessive inflation that has hit seemingly each grocery product in every single place. I simply haven’t seen any unbiased verification from some type of establishment that will measure this type of factor.
A Lengthy Historical past for Centenario Reposado
In contrast to the handfuls of tequila manufacturers which have popped up lately, lots of them higher recognized for the movie star proprietor than what’s within the bottle, this model has an extended historical past to level to. This can be a model with heritage, not one thing cooked up by committee to fulfill a sure demographic goal. It’s been round because the late 1800s.
The founding date is listed as 1857, again in a time when a founder may name himself a “grasp distiller” and be the primary one with that grandiose title. Lázaro Gallardo pioneered the strategy of mixing totally different tequila barrels collectively to get the perfect combine, for the aim of constant high quality fairly than (as some do now) to reinforce the listed age of the entire batch.
Issues actually obtained rolling on the finish of the century, when in 1895 the model obtained the Gran Centenario title it has immediately and went on sale in bottles. The following huge step was the bottle itself. What number of manufacturers have the identical bottle design they’ve had for 100 years? Not many, but it surely’s as a result of this one was forward of its time. The founder’s son was impressed by the Artwork Deco motion they usually produced a bottle design that took these rules to coronary heart. It in all probability appeared extremely futuristic then and immediately it’s nonetheless a novel design, simply standing aside from the opposite manufacturers of tequila at this worth level on the shelf.
There’s one different key aspect: that angel on the label. Right here’s the story behind that, in keeping with the corporate:
The bottle is adorned with the “The Angel of Independence,” impressed by the Mexican Centenario gold bullion coin, minted to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Mexico’s independence in 1910.
Tequila Centenario Reposado Tasting Notes
I reported on my first significant encounters with the Centenario tequila model again in 2010 once I first moved to Mexico. After two weekends of someone going “I can’t consider we drank that entire bottle in a single night time,” I took it as an indication that I have to do a Gran Centenario tequila overview. Since then, I’ve had it neat a dozen occasions, made cocktails with it, and loved it at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico.
Though this reposado is bottled in Tequila city, it has its roots in Los Altos–the highlands–and is a sweeter, extra fruity tequila than most of what comes out of the home of Cuervo. Not all the best way although: that comes via extra within the nostril and the end than it does when the liquor hits your tongue and strikes throughout your style buds.
Though it’s type of laborious to elucidate, to me there’s a little bit of an industrial, middle-of-the-road overtone to it, like I’m tasting one thing clearly made in large portions in an enormous manufacturing facility that can enchantment to the plenty. Most tequila manufacturers you’ve heard of are made that manner, after all, however maybe on this case it’s the best way they roast the tequila in stainless-steel ovens and take just a few 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 not simply coasting on their repute.
It’s a minor criticism although as a result of this actually is a stable tequila that isn’t going to make you wince or allow you to down as a result of there are off flavors poking via to the entrance. It’s a well-rounded one. If somebody who had by no means had this spirit requested, “What does tequila style like?” you possibly can do far worse than sticking a glass of this one in entrance of them. It’s a superb illustration of the shape.
The place the tequila Centenario Reposado actually shines is in cocktails since these refined components fall by the wayside anyway and you actually simply need the agave to chop via the citrus, the salt, or no matter else is combined in. If you’re in Mexico and also you’re bellying as much as the bar at an all-inclusive resort or grabbing one thing from a comfort retailer to make margaritas in your rental condominium, this can be a alternative that’s going to make most individuals completely happy and it’s not at a worth level the place you’ll really feel responsible mixing it.
What’s the Value of Gran Centenario Tequila?
Should you purchase this model in Mexico, Gran Centenario tequila will usually price lower than 400 pesos for the reposado model, even much less for the unaged blanco model. When the trade fee is 20 to 1 that’s simple math, however on the time I’m penning this it comes out to a most of $22. You’ll often pay lower than 400 although.
Costs are extra variable within the USA, the place I’ve seen it as little as $26 (seize it!) to as excessive as $42 (move). I haven’t tried the añejo model in a very very long time so I’m not reviewing that right here, however once I appeared on-line proper now I noticed that for $35 at Bevmo, which is a terrific cut price. It ought to be a superb sipper and you’ll’t go unsuitable at that worth. The silver model isn’t a lot lower than the reposado often although, so until you’re keen on the unaged clear model, simply go along with the smoother one which has spent a while in oak barrels.
Should you’re prepared to splurge, there’s a premium model of this tequila that I’ve seen in duty-free shops and locked up behind glass in Mexican supermarkets, however I haven’t had an opportunity to pattern it but. That might be Gran Centenario Leyeda (legend), supposedly based mostly on the founder’s unique recipe for the particular aged model he shared with shut buddies. It’s a darker añejo than most and is available in a a lot heavier bottle with the identical Artwork Deco components.
One factor has improved enormously since I first began writing about this model: they now have a working web site and it’s in English even. See extra data right here.
