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In the 100% Agave Mezcal – Blanco heat, two Master medals were enjoyed. Ojo de Dios Mezcal was one of the recipients.
Highly complex but with a reserved delivery that takes its time opening up, this is the one that makes us wonder if Paul and Nav named their brand “To Live” (translation of Spanish word “Vivir”) as either an ode to or a challenge at whisky (commonly called “the water of life”). The similarities between a good sipping whisky or rum are palpable and both the impossibly smooth mouthfeel and longevity on the palate truly challenge what we think of as “tequila”. Suggested ServeThe fruity, spicy notes of agave are what makes a tequila. Purists love to taste that raw material in the bottle. No aging process should erase that. Our panel – made up of 10-accredited spirits experts and tequila-loving consumers – put 27 blanco, reposado and anejo tequilas to the test.
Three panels put the majority of entries to the test at the Novotel Hotel in London Bridge. The first group comprised Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business magazine, and Michael Fichtner, head bartender at the Coburg Bar at The Connaught hotel in London. Bryan Rodriguez, wine and spirits buyer at Harvey Nichols, chaired the panel. There are two types of tequila — those that are made with 100% agave, and the inferior 'mixto', which only contains the legally required minimum 51 percent (with the rest made up of any other sugar, often corn). Don’t worry, we’re not going to recommend any of those. The number of excellent Tequila and mezcal bottlings on the market has been increasing at an impressive rate, with producers bringing interesting expressions to keen consumers, as this year’s blind-tasting competition showed. This year’s Tequila & Mezcal Masters received a record number of entries People sometimes think we’re just chancers coming into the market but then they try our tequilas and every time realise that they’re really good. We’ve been in the market for a long time and we know what we’re doing and always wanted to create something to be proud of. Tell us about your distillery and why you chose it.Tequila blanco (or silver as it’s sometimes called) is clear in colour and unaged. As such you can expect a fresh, agave, citrus-spiked flavour. Reposado The judges then turned their attention to aged Tequilas, beginning with a flight of Mixto Tequila – Reposado. In this round, two Silver medallists were discovered. Sierra Tequila Reposado secured Silver for aromas of “fruit, vegetal notes and a touch of pepper”, leading to “some warming spice” on the palate. El Sueño Tequila Gold also took home Silver for delivering “some grassy notes” on the palate, and a “nice spiciness”.
If you're looking for a versatile reposado tequila, our favorite is the Mijenta Reposado because it's high-quality and rich in flavor that's great for sipping and mixing.Mangrove will also be distributing El Sueño (meaning ‘dream’), VIVIR’s quality Mixto as an environmentally friendly and affordable Tequila alternative. As the demand for tequila grows and the pressure on agave supplies increases, there are producers who are adopting processes which are neither kind to the land or the reputation of tequila. Mixtos are not made of 100% agave, however quality varieties like El Sueño offer a sustainable alternative with no compromise on raw materials and production. Like champagne, tequila production is a closely guarded secret and must be made and bottled within a specific area in Mexico. It can only be made from blue agave (unlike smoky mezcal which can be created from over 30 different varieties).
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