Review: Casamigos Cristalino Tequila
Casamigos Cristalino Tequila was just released. It has been 10 years since George Clooney, Rande Gerber, and Mike Meldman first released Casamigos, and 6 years since they sold the brand to Diageo for $1 Billion. They still remain active in promoting the brand and developing new products. Cristalino is the fastest growing tequila expression and with Casamigos joining the party, that trend is sure to continue. Cristalino, is not currently recognized by Consejo Regulador Del Tequila as a regulated expression. That may explain why some Cristalino tequilas on the market today are made from a Reposado tequila base, some from an Anejo tequila base, some from an Extra Anejo tequila base, and some from a blend of tequilas aged various periods of time. Casamigos Cristalino is made from a reposado tequila base, starting with 100% blue weber agave grown in the rich clay soil in the Highlands of Jalisco. The hand trimmed agave is baked for 72 hours. Once extracted the juice is fermented for 80 hours and double distilled. The tequila is barrel aged in white oak barrels. Casamigos Reposado is aged for 7 months before bottling. It is unclear if the tequila base for Casamigos Cristalino is Casamigos Reposado or a tequila Casamigos has barrel aged 2-12 months. Once matured the tequila is charcoal filtered to remove the golden color and to restore agave flavor while retaining the wood notes of a barrel aged tequila. Read more 
Review: Don Julio 70 Cristalino Tequila
Don Julio 70 Cristalino Tequila introduced the world to the first clear anejo tequila. It was created in honor of the 70th anniversary of tequila making by Don Julio founder, Don Julio Gonzalez. Don Julio Gonzalez began distilling tequila at age 17 at his uncles distillery. In 1942 he borrowed money to open his own distillery La Primavera. His first tequila was Tres Magueyes. In 1985 his sons commemorated his 60th birthday by crafting a tequila named for their father. This was the start of the Don Julio brand. Don Julio 70 Cristalino is made from 100% agave grown on the family estate 6500 feet above sea level in the Highlands of Jalisco. The hand selected agave is trimmed and slow baked for 72 hours, fermented and twice distilled on site. The spirit is aged for 18 months in American White Oak barrels and then charcoal filtered to bring out the freshness of a Blanco in a crystal color. Read more
Review: Gran Coramino Tequila Reposado Cristalino
Gran Coramino Tequila Reposado Cristalino was founded by entertainer Kevin Hart, and 11th generation tequila maker Juan Domingo Beckman. Kevin Hart has spent 3 years working on this tequila. It is crafted at Casa Cuervo, the number one tequila producing distillery in the world. This distillery is best know as the house of Jose Cuervo, and 1800 tequila, but they produce several other tequila brands including Maestro Dobel, JaJa, and Gran Centenario. The 100% blue weber agave is estate grown and hand planted in the valley. The trimmed pinas are slow cooked in traditional brick ovens and double distilled in copper pot stills. The tequila is aged in Eastern European oak barrels and then finished in California Cabernet wine casks. It is then double filtered to remove the color not the taste. $1 from every bottle sold will be donated to programs focused on empowering aspiring entrepreneurs from communities in Mexico and the US. Read more
Review: The Butterfly Cannon Silver Cristalino Tequila
The Butterfly Cannon Silver Cristalino Tequila was created by the team at Biggar & Leith, owned by Mark Teasdale and the Founder of Malfy Gin, Elwyn Gladstone. It was launched in the UK September 2021 and was recently released in the US. This is one of three tequila’s in The Butterfly Cannon family of tequilas. The others include Blue, a silver tequila infused with prickly pear, and clementine with a natural blue color, and Rosa, a silver tequila infused with Mexican Pink Grapefruit Peel. Butterfly Cannon is named for the migration Monarch Butterflies take traveling through the US via Texas and into Northern Mexico where they winter in trees for around 5 months. It is one of over 150 brands of tequila produced at Destilador del Valle de Tequila. Some of the other tequilas crafted here include Cincoro, Sparkle Donkey, Siempre, Hussong’s, and Casa Maestri. The hand harvested 100% agave is grown for 7-8 years and baked in traditional steam ovens. Once distilled the tequila rests for 30 days in American oak barrels before being charcoal filtered. A portion of their profits help support butterfly conservation across the US and Mexico. Read more
Review: Rock N Roll Cristalino Anejo Tequila
Rock N Roll Cristalino Anejo Tequila is one of three tequila expressions recently released. The others include Platinum Silver, and Mango. Like their Platinum Silver Tequila, Cristalino Anejo is bottled in a glass Gibson Flying V shaped guitar. The patented bottle top known as a roadie contains 50ml of their Platinum tequila. Cristalino Anejo is hand crafted by Master Distiller Jose Aceves and is double distilled, filtered to perfection, and barrel aged for 12 months. Read more