Review: El Tequileno Cristalino
El Tequileno Cristalino is made from 100% estate grown Highland agave, pure volcanic spring water, and a proprietary yeast. Don Jorge Salles Cuervo pioneered the use of steam pressure autoclaves in the production of tequila when he opened his distillery in 1959. Since then his distillery, Jorge Salles Cuervo y Sucesores has only distilled one tequila brand, El Tequileno. El Tequileno Cristalino was created by third generation Master Distiller Tony Salles. Once steam cooked and cooled the juice is extracted and fermented for 48 hours in open air ceramic tanks with 150 year old mango trees planted only steps away. The spirit is double distilled in copper pot stills. El Tequileno currently packages 2 Reposado tequilas one aged 3 months the other 8 months. El Tequileno Cristalino is made from a Reposado base that has been aged 4 months in gigantic American oak barrels containing between 5000-30,000 liters of tequila. Once mature the spirit is charcoal filtered before bottling. The aroma leads with lime, cooked agave, and caramel. Additional time brings out vanilla, orange, toasted oak, mango, and black pepper. The sweet steamed agave entry is joined by lime, orange, and caramel building to a tropical fruit peak featuring mango and cherry. It fades with orange, vanilla, and baking spice and finishes semi-dry with bell pepper, toasted oak, orange peel, a sprinkle of black pepper, and cooked agave. Well done Tony.
NOM: 1108
Highland Region
40% Alcohol
Score: 92
Award: Gold Medal