What Happened To Jose Cuervo Tequila
Jose Cuervo sells over three million bottles a year as of 2012. Tequila makes up a third of the US market, amounting to 5 million cases in the country each year. As descendants of Don José Antonio de Cuervo, the Beckmann family of Mexico owns and runs Jose ervo is family-owned and is run today by the Beckmann family of Mexico, descendants of Don José Antonio de Cuervo.
Mixto Tequila Verses 100% Agave Tequila
A tequila can be organized into two categories, mixto tequilas and 100% agave tequilas.
Mixto tequilas are made with no less than 51% agave, with the other 49% usually being fermented sugar cane juice. The result is a tequila thats very sweet in both smell and taste. However, the flavor usually stops there.
These mixto tequilas are often harsh in flavor, burn on the way down, and thus are inferior to other tequilas. Golden-colored mixtos are called joven or oro tequilas and have oak flavoring and coloring added. The reason these are made in the first place is because theyre affordable to make for producers and, frankly, they sell well in stores due to their low price point.
Mixtos arent ideal and I generally dont recommend buying them. But if youre planning a big party with a tequila-based punch that has a lot of juices and flavors to help mask the mixto, then a mixto is a practical option.
If a tequila is labeled as 100% agave, this means that the tequila in question was made with only blue agave. Generally, its recommended by most bartenders and tequila enthusiasts that you only buy tequilas which clearly state this on the label, as it will guarantee you a much better product that has a more complex flavor and significantly less burn.
Leela Cyd Ross
Is Jose Cuervo Real Tequila
Many people wonder about the authenticity of foreign spirits. In the case of tequila, to be considered real or authentic, it must be made from blue agave specifically.
The cactus plant from which it stems is called Blue Agave Tequilana Weber. It grows only in five Mexican states: Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacan, and Tamaulipas.
There are three characteristics a tequila must have to be considered authentic:
- It must be made in one if the five Mexican states mentioned above
- It must be made from Blue Agave Tequilana Weber
- It must have a special number identifier on the bottle, called Norma Oficial Mexicana, or NOM
Jose Cuervo tequilas are always made with 100% blue agave grown in Jalisco, Mexico, in the town of Tequila . The family, today called the Beckmann family, own land in the town where the agave is grown. It was granted to Jose Cuervo himself by the Spanish king at the time, Carlos IV.
Because Jose Cuervo tequilas meet all three of the criteria, it is considered 100% authentic tequila. Additionally, the brand is the only one to rely on artisanal traditions to craft their spirits.
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Best Chasers For Tequila
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If you struggle to sip or take a shot of tequila without following up with a chaser, youre not the only one. Sometimes the acid of tequila can make taking multiple shots a challenge. And since you dont want to kill the buzz or end up praying to the trash can or porcelain deity, a chaser becomes essential. So, which chasers are actually worth your time? Which chasers are the best for tequila? Were going to answer those questions and more right now.
Let’s Talk About Aging Tequila
The amount of aging and the amount of agave used to make a tequila are what create the different varieties. Each variety has a different type of flavor, aroma, and price point.
These are blanco, reposado, añejo, and extra añejo.
Keep in mind that añejo doesnt mean best, it just means oldest. If you prefer the flavor of blanco, then buy blanco. Extra añejos are often the most expensive tequilas.
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Ready To Become A Tequila Expert
This tequila guide will cover what makes a tequila a tequila and go over some basic definitions so you can dazzle yourself and others with tequila knowledge. Ill provide some recommendations for tequilas that are widely available so you can begin to stock your home bar and ensure the best tequila experience for your next party or quiet night at home.
Leela Cyd Ross
Cuervo Knows How To Get Fancy
When only the finest will do, theres the $140 Reserva de la Familia Añejo Max, in which the art of tequila making is on display. Only the most flavorful pulps from 10-12-year old agave vines are slow-cooked at the brands famous La Rojeña distillery. The liquid is then aged in toasted American and French oak barrels, after which master distiller Alex Coronado blends the three-year-old, super-premium tequila before signing and dating the wax-sealed, handmade bottles.
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Do I Need A Chaser For Tequila
Choosing to use a chaser ultimately comes down to you. Some people find that they do not need a chaser for tequila when it is high quality. Cheaper varieties of tequila are going to be more caustic when taken as a shot, so you may be grasping for something to get rid of the flavor. Better brands of tequila, however, can be sipped or taken as a shot without so much as a wince.
Some tequilas that may require a chaser include Jose Cuervo Gold, El Toro, Pepe Lopez, and Montezuma. A common theme among these brands is the ability to induce your gag reflex and send you running for the garbage bin.
Popular Tequila Brands Ranked Worst To Best
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. However, the classic late-night-at-club unwise decision of the salt-rimmed variety is far from the only face of this agave spirit. Delicious as they may be, margaritas, too, are only scratching the surface.
A quality tequila can be just as fine a sipping alcohol as any Scotch or bourbon out there. The trick is to find out precisely which tequilas are the good stuff, and which ones are best reserved for those barely-remembered early morning hours. What’s more, an aspiring tequila enthusiast needs to make sure that they have reliable access to some of the better brands. 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.
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There’s A Great Tequila For Every Taste And Budget
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Whether you enjoy tequila shots or want to mix up a great , todays tequila market offers many excellent choices. Blanco tequilas are the most versatile and often preferred because they cost less, while the aged tequilasreposado and añejoare a nice upgrade worthy of the occasional splurge. For most styles, the best tequilas include the words “100 percent Blue Weber Agave” on the label, and you will pay a little extra for premium brands, but the majority of these are relatively affordable.
That means there’s no need to hesitate about mixing any of these best tequilas into your favorite cocktails.
Casamigos Tequila is a perfect introduction to premium tequilas. The portfolio follows the basic grading system for tequilas, which is standard for most brands and includes a blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila.
Bottle Size: 750 milliliters | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, citrus, cream | ABV: 40% | Region: Jalisco
Why You Should Ride The Tequila Train To Jose Cuervo’s Best Tequila
The Jose Cuervo Express is a luxury train that takes visitors to the magical Mexican town of… Tequila!
Larry Olmsted
Ive been on a lot of distillery tours all around the world, and to some degree, they all begin to feel the same. But this is definitely not the case at the home of Jose Cuervo, the worlds most famous tequila – and the worlds biggest tequila brand. It is also the oldest distillery in Central America, circa 1775. Cuervo puts on a one-of-a-kind experience that is a must for spirits fans – or any tourists to Mexico. But if you have no travel plans South of the Border in the near future, you can make do for now with some excellent tequilas.
The train rolls past fields of blue agave while passengers are guided through tastings of high-end… tequila.
Larry Olmsted
The 2018 edition of Cuervo’s highest-end tequila, the Reserva de la Familia, which comes in a… display box created by a renowned artist.
Jose Cuervo
But I digress. The thing that really sets a visit to Jose Cuero apart and elevates it above hundreds of other distillery tours in the world is that the distillery is in the town of Tequila, the family has poured a ton of cash into improving Tequilas tourism business, and in 2012, they started running their own luxury train. They also operate a luxury Relais & Chateaux hotel here and several restaurants. Nobody else has this, anywhere.
Larry OlmstedLarry OlmstedLarry Olmsted
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How Much Tequila Do You Put In A Margarita
For a single margarita, a 1.5-ounce shot of tequila is standard. It is typically equal to the total volume of the other two ingredients . For instance, the classic margarita formula is three parts tequila, two parts triple sec, and one part lime juice. This is adjusted to taste, pouring more triple sec for a sweeter margarita or extra lime to increase the tartness.
When sizing the margarita up to a pitcher, simply increase the ingredients and keep them in proportion. For example, in the typical half-gallon pitcher, you would combine 3.75 cups tequila, 2.5 cups orange liqueur, and 1.25 cup lime juice. This makes 7.5 cups, leaving room in the pitcher for you to adjust the three ingredients to taste, add a sweetener without increasing the alcohol, or chill it with ice. The margarita is a strong drink, so dilution and small servings are important.
What Percent Of Jose Cuervo Is Tequila
There is no reason for TEQUILA to be stronger than other spirits. Unlike most spirits, Jose Cuervo produces a product with a fairly high alcohol content. The flavor of Tequila, however, makes it a popular shot to ingest straight. Tequilas intense flavor may be one of the reasons why people think its stronger than other liquors.
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Jose Cuervo Buying Guide
The most well-known tequila from the Jose Cuervo brand is the Especial label. Jose Cuervo Especial is also the most widely available. These are Mixto tequilas which are bottled at 40% ABV.
Jose Cuervo Tradicional is composed of 100% Blue Agave, unlike the Mixto types. This edition is smooth and moderately priced. The Anejo type is finished in Irish whiskey casks and contains more fruit notes.
Jose Cuervo Reserva de Familia is the most expensive Cuervo tequila and is considered a high-end tequila. It is also considered the worlds first Anejo tequila.
Each tequila type requires a different production process.
Cuervo Got A Royal Start
Cuervo might seem like a 20th-century college mainstay, but it actually got its start with a royal grant of land. In 1758, José Antonio de Cuervo y Valdés obtained a writ of land ownership from King Ferdinand VI of Spain to grow agave for tequila production. By 1781, the Cuervo family was producing 800,000 liters per year a drop in the bucket compared to the approximately 35 million liters it sold in 2020.
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Cuervo Was The First To
It may seem like late timing, but when Jose Cuervo started putting its tequila in glass bottles in the late 19th century, it was actually the first tequila company to do so, all the other distillers were using barrels. Demand was so high that the only way to keep the good stuff flowing was by parceling it out. To the delight of tequila lovers north of the border, glass made the liquid easier to transport and export. That same year, in 1880, Cuervo won first-place at the second Exposición de Las Clases Productoras exhibition held in Guadalajara.
What Is Tequila Made From
Tequila is made from the extracted juices of the agave plant. By law, tequila must include at least 51 percent Weber blue agave, and the majority of tequilas exclusively use that variety. The agave juice is fermented and distilled, and the tequila is diluted to bottling strength. Tequila destined to be reposado or añejo is aged in wood barrels for two months to a few years. Silver tequila is unaged, but can rest in stainless steel for up to two months. Gold tequila is the only style that can include coloring and flavoring additives.
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How Good Is Jose Cuervo Tequila
4/5Jose Cuervogoodtequilacomplete answer
Most commonly known as Cuervo Gold, this mass-market mixto tequila is the first tequila many people experience and is the number one selling tequila in the world. This mixto tequila is a blend of both blanco and reposado tequila and, of course, is not 100% agave.
Subsequently, question is, is Jose Cuervo tequila smooth? The tequila with the smooth and subtle complexities that aficionados seek. A true silver tequila, Cuervo® Silver is the epitome of smooth. Reserva de la Familia® is the world’s first extra-añejo tequila. An ultra-aged tequila, 100% from blue agave, to commemorate the tradition and history of Jose Cuervo®.
Moreover, which Jose Cuervo Tequila is the best?
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la FamiliaIt’s by far the best tequila I’ve ever tasted. It’s deep and full flavored. It’s almost more bourbon than tequila.
What percent agave is Jose Cuervo?
100% Agave
You Can Take A Luxury Train Ride To The Distillery
The Beckmann family wants to turn the town of Tequila into a travel destination, not unlike a Napa Valley for tequila fans, complete with luxury hotels and high end restaurants. The main attraction, of course, is the tequila. For those who like to travel in style, the Jose Cuervo Express travels from Guadalajara to the Mundo Cuervo facilities.The Elite Wagon includes an open bar with a line of cocktails designed exclusively for this experience, made with the finest spirits, including Tequila Maestro Dobel, Centenario, 1800, and Reserva de la Familia.
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Which Tequila Is Best
Here, the best sipping tequilas our experts recommend to drink right now.
- Best Overall: Tequila Ocho Plata.
- Best Blanco: Don Fulano Blanco.
- Best Reposado: Siete Leguas Reposado.
- Best Añejo: Don Julio Añejo.
- Best Extra Añejo: Gran Patrón Burdeos.
- Best Valley: Fortaleza Blanco.
- Best for Beginners: Casamigos Blanco.
How To Drink A Jos Cuervo Tequila
Contrary to popular belief, the traditional way to drink tequila is not by downing it shooter style, with lime and salt. That is categorically and unsurprisingly a Western approach.
Treat tequila like you would a good Scotch.
Its best enjoyed sipping from a short glass, at room temperature, in order to savor the flavors.
And, if you prefer to sweeten the deal, so to speak, the best way to proceed is to add sangrita. This is a Mexican chaser-type mix of citrus juice, hot sauce, and tomato juice.
Serve this in a separate glass, and sip in between sips of tequila. The flavors of the sangrita highlight the peppery, citrusy undertones of the tequila.
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How Jos Cuervo Tequila Is Made
Cultivating agave plants, whose hearts or piñas are the core ingredient of tequila, is definitely a long game. Each shoot requires roughly seven years of maturation, and its certainly worth the wait.
Fortunately, José Cuervo possesses the largest agave holdings in the world, and theyre perfectly located, too:
On the foothills of the Tequila Volcano with its rich, volcanic, and therefore highly arable soils, youll find endless rows upon rows of the spiky, blue-hued plant.
After growing for seven years, swathes of the blue agave plants are harvested. Their piñas are removed and duly transported to La Rojeña distillery.
Plenty Of Cuervo Is Pure Agave
Cuervos Tradicional Silver is 100 percent agave, and is priced right at around $20. The Reposado is a little sweeter with less piquant pepper, and is usually available for about $30. On the higher end is the Reserva de La Familia Reposada, coming in around $80, noted for an oaky depth and balanced flavor profile.
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Compared To Other Brands
DeLeon
Deleon is one of the top brands in the tequila-making industry, and their quality is not questioned as well as the price. The DeLeon Platinum Tequila 750ml is around $27.99 $29.99, which is near the price range of the 1.75L of Jose Cuervo Especial Silver . The aging process of DeLeon is what makes their products costly, and you can tell by the taste of their tequila liquor what makes them different from the rest.
Sauza
Tequilas from Sauza are almost alike with Jose Cuervos regarding pricing, but Cuervos are still a little bit expensive. They began distilling almost at the same time as Cuervo did, and both know how this business goes. Sauzas 750ml of Sauza Signature Blue Silver is about $13.99 $19.99, while Jose Cuervo Especial Silver 375ml is at about $13.99 $16.99.
Patron
Another premium tequila is Patron, which is why the prices are much higher than what Jose Cuervo has. The Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia is the most expensive bottle from their line, while the Patron Gran Burdeo, the most popular bottle from Patron, costs roughly $419.99 $499.99. These tequilas are marketed in the higher bracket reason why they have such pricing.
Milagro