SF World Spirits Competition Crowns The World's Top Blanco Tequila
The Blanco Tequila finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
Five Tequilas are finalists for the World's Best Blanco Tequila at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The SFWSC is among the world's largest and most prestigious spirit judging events. Consumers and the beverage industry closely follow its results. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists.
The Tequila is crafted using traditional methods: stone/brick ovens for cooking, roller mill extraction, fermentation in stainless steel tanks without fibers, and double distillation in stainless pot stills with copper coils. The Tequila is rested for 15 days in stainless steel tanks before bottling to ensure a smooth palate.
On the nose, the Tequila offers aromas of cooked agave, citrus, herbal notes, and a hint of savory character. It's smooth and creamy on the palate, showcasing cooked and green agave, black pepper, subtle caramel, and a trace of earthiness. The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering spice notes.
Cutwater's Tequila is produced by Orendain, one of Mexico's well-known and historic family distillers. The label features a hand-drawn skull of a Rayador, a Black Skimmer sea bird, which reflects its maritime-inspired branding. Cutwater's Tequilas have been perennial medalists in international spirit competitions.
The Tequila presents cooked agave notes of caramel and butterscotch, alongside herbaceous hints of raw agave and cut grass on the nose. The palate exhibits pronounced sweet and caramel flavors of cooked agave. The finish is long and sweet, featuring lingering caramel and herbaceous notes.
An Australian-owned brand, Sesión Tequila is produced in Mexico under the supervision of master distiller Francisco Quijano.
The Tequila is light and fresh on the nose, with subtle cooked agave, caramel, and spice notes. It's sweet and herbaceous, featuring citrus, both cooked and raw agave, green pepper, and mint. The finish is long, with lingering white pepper notes.
Blanco Tequila shots with salt and lime slices
Don Vicente Tequila is made at the El Pandillo Distillery in Jesús María in the Jalisco Highlands. Renowned Master Distiller Felipe Camarena crafts it. This high-proof Tequila showcases traditional and innovative production methods, resulting in a robust and flavorful spirit. With an ABV of 54%, it is just under the maximum of 55% ABV allowed for bottling Tequila.
The Tequila is aromatic and fruity on the nose, with a crisp, wet stone minerality. It features citrus zest, fresh apple, cooked agave notes of caramel and butterscotch, and herbaceous hints of raw agave. It's earthy and herbaceous on the palate, showcasing damp compost, wet moss/forest floor, chocolate, nuts, and assorted herbal and fruity notes. The finish is smooth, sweet, and fruity, with lingering notes of cooked agave.
The Tequila is produced from piñas sourced from the Lowlands (Tequila Valley) and Los Altos (Jalisco Highlands) regions. The Tequila claims to be additive-free, although the CRT doesn't recognize or certify this designation.
The Tequila has a fresh and crisp aroma, featuring a slight minerality, both cooked and green agave notes, some earthiness, and hints of tropical fruit and vanilla. The cooked agave notes are more prominent on the palate, accompanied by citrus and tropical fruits, a touch of anise/licorice, and a mild pepperiness. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering citrus, spice notes, and a hint of black pepper.
These Blanco Tequilas each present a distinct expression of agave craftsmanship, showcasing their respective distilleries' diverse production and sourcing methods. All five are exceptional and work equally well served neat or as a cocktail base. If you enjoy Blanco Tequila, these five finalists are worth exploring.
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