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Forbes
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
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.
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The World's Best Tequila, According To The 2025 London Spirits Competition
AMATITAN, MEXICO - MAY 15: Fields of blue agave (Weber Azul) considered by UNESCO, as a cultural heritage of humanity. In the constantly evolving landscape of premium spirits, tequila has found its moment. What was once seen as little more than a fiery party pour is quickly becoming one of the world's most complex and nuanced spirits. Behind this transformation stands a growing cadre of producers reasserting tequila's identity—not through marketing theatrics but through craftsmanship, authenticity, and deep cultural roots. Among them, the Orendain family holds a place of distinction. And with Gran Orendain Reposado recently earning "Tequila of the Year" honors at the 2025 London Spirits Competition (LSC), their enduring commitment to quality has found a new stage. Gran Orendian Reposado Tequila. For those familiar with the tequila world, this recognition won't come as a surprise. Gran Orendain Reposado is not a new arrival chasing trends. It is the result of nearly two centuries of knowledge, handed down and refined over generations. It represents the soul of the Orendain legacy—a legacy that traces its beginnings to 1926 when Don Eduardo Orendain González laid the foundation for what would become one of Mexico's most respected tequila-producing dynasties. Located in the heart of Jalisco, Destilería Orendain is woven into the very fabric of the town of Tequila. Known as "La Mexicana," it is the only remaining fully family-owned distillery from the famous Tequila Founding Families that laid the groundwork for the industry. It remains fiercely independent and deeply tied to tradition, even as the global tequila market surges and consolidates around corporate acquisitions. For the Orendain's, making tequila is not just a business—it's a cultural responsibility. That sense of duty is evident from the ground up. Gran Orendain tequilas begin with 100% blue Weber agave, grown exclusively on the family's fields in the Tequila Valley. Unlike many large-scale producers who source agave from third-party suppliers, the Orendain's control every step of the cultivation process. Their agaves are harvested when fully mature—typically after seven to nine years in the red volcanic soils of Jalisco—ensuring maximum sugar content and flavor complexity. Once harvested, the piñas (agave hearts) are slowly baked in traditional stone ovens. This slow-cooking method, often passed over by more industrialized distilleries in favor of high-pressure autoclaves or diffusers, allows the natural sugars to caramelize gently, preserving the earthy, rich characteristics of the plant. The cooked agave is then crushed using a roller mill, and the extracted juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks using proprietary yeast strains. Fermentation is closely monitored to preserve the delicate balance of agave flavor and natural sweetness. Distillation at La Mexicana takes place in small copper pot stills—a nod to the classic, artisanal methods that defined tequila long before global expansion. This slow, deliberate approach yields a spirit with real texture and depth, traits often lost in high-speed production environments. For the Reposado expression, the tequila is then aged in American white oak barrels, a process that adds structure and refinement without overwhelming the agave's intrinsic character. The result is a tequila that defies expectations. Gran Orendain Reposado opens with a soft, expressive nose of roasted agave, vanilla, and toasted oak. This is what the judges at the LSC had to say about it in their tasting notes. Subtle minerality and a light floral touch on the nose give way to a peppery palate, finishing short but clean with faint cereal warmth and crisp simplicity. What sets this tequila apart is its harmony. In a category often driven by either overaged oak influence or raw agave bite, Gran Orendain Reposado strikes the rare middle ground. It is smooth without sacrificing character and flavorful without losing focus. Whether sipped neat, served with a single cube, or incorporated into a refined cocktail, it adapts without losing its identity. That adaptability, paired with an unwavering commitment to quality, is part of what caught the attention of the judges at the London Spirits Competition. Unlike many other awards that focus solely on taste, the LSC evaluates spirits across three dimensions: quality, value, and packaging. Gran Orendain scored high across the board. Its packaging is understated and classic—an elegant glass bottle with restrained branding, reflecting the confidence of a product that doesn't need to shout to be noticed. The most compelling part of Gran Orendain's story is that it remains rooted in family. Today, Eduardo Orendain III, a fifth-generation descendent of Don Eduardo, oversees operations. Under his guidance, the distillery has remained fiercely committed to its traditional processes while embracing thoughtful innovation. This balance—between past and future, heritage and evolution—is what has allowed Gran Orendain to quietly establish itself as one of tequila's most respected names. Winning "Tequila of the Year" is a remarkable accolade, but for the Orendain family, it's simply a reflection of what they've always believed: that great tequila comes from time, care, and respect for tradition. Gran Orendain Reposado is more than just an award-winning bottle—it's a distilled expression of Mexican heritage and a standard-bearer for where the spirit is headed. Follow here for the most up to date information about the ever changing beer, wine, and spirits industry. MORE FROM FORBES
