Latest news with #TearsOfLlorona
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World's Best Tequila—According To The 2025 World Spirits Championships
Tears Of Llorona Small Batch Extra Añejo Tequila The Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) is a 44-year-old organization committed to providing comprehensive, expert-led sensory evaluations for beer, spirits, cider, sake, and even mead. Panelists employ a scientific-degree of analysis to come away with professional-grade results. When it comes to hard liquor, specifically, it is constantly updating its scores across all major categories throughout the calendar year. This June BevTest revealed its winners for tequila as part of an annual evaluation it aptly dubs the 'World Spirits Championships.' The top scoring bottle--earning an impressive 96 out of 100 possible points--was a small batch extra añejo from ultra-premium brand Tears of Llorona. Today we're going to take a closer look at that exact expression to understand what makes it so exceptional. Let's start off by seeing what the folks at BevTest had to say. Here are the tasting notes provided on the company's website: The batch of 86-proof spirit they sampled was on May 29th of this year. As we stated before, the judges are quite methodical in their approach. But even using measured, scientific language, the brilliance of the juice shines through in their effusive praise. The expression, formally known as Tears of Llorona No. 3, is a lowland tequila crafted by master distiller Germán González Gorrochotegui at the Tequileña distillery (NOM 1146). This is the same vaunted facility responsible for other top shelf expressions of agave spirit from brands including Cierto, Don Fulcano, and ArteNOM. Gorrochotegui separates his product from the pack by using a combination of barrels seasoned with three separate types of alcohol: scotch, brandy and sherry. The industry standard is typically ex-bourbon; both cheaper and more-widely available than the aforementioned casks. By bearing the extra effort (and cost) to source this speciality cooperage he comes away with a rich and sophisticated sipping spirit that carries many of the leather-laden characteristics you might suspect from Speyside Scotch or XO Cognac. Another way in which the liquid mines those deep flavors is by resting for an extended period of time in the luxe barrels. In order to be labeled an extra añejo a tequila must spend a minimum of 3 years in oak. Tears of Llorona matures for upwards of five. And yes, the oak extraction is pronounced as a consequence. Its finish is long and lush, painting the palate with broad brushstrokes of butterscotch and cinnamon. But there are still filaments of herbaceous agave earth to ponder--particularly in the nose of this tequila. The product's name refers to a popular Latin-American ghost story of a grieving woman who wanders the land, shedding endless tears for the loss of her two young sons. The tale is frequently told as a cautionary one to children to discourage them from staying out too late at night. For the tequila, it's also meant to represent the tears of the angels; agave spirit that evaporates from the barrel during that lengthy maturation process. As much as 50% of the liquid can vanish after 5 years in this climate--quite a sad story, indeed. And so the care and patience of Gorrochotegui's craft comes at an elevated cost, of course. A bottle of his top-scoring spirit retails for $230. But it's also offered in a unique 1-liter decanter, notably larger than the 750ml standard for distilled spirits. Too much of a good thing? Hardly. After sampling this 96-point belter the only tears to speak of will be your own, after you reach the end of the glass. A Jimador (person who works on the agave plant) holds an agave pineapple on a field in Tequila, ... More Jalisco state, Mexico, on July 23, 2021, amid the International Tequila Day. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP) (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Forbes
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Top Extra Anejo Tequila, According To The Beverage Testing Inst.
Extra Añejo Tequila with lime and salt. Four Extra Añejo Tequilas and three Cristalino Tequilas were awarded Gold Medals at the 2025 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) Tequila Judging. Tears of Llorona Small Batch Extra Añejo Tequila was the top-ranked Extra Añejo and the only Platinum medal winner among Tequilas. 1800 Cristalino Tequila Añejo was the top-ranked Cristalino Tequila. Below is a brief background on each of the gold medalists, along with the official BevTest tasting notes on the Tequilas. Score: 96 - Platinum Medal–Superlative Crafted by Master Distiller Germán González, Tears of Llorona is a luxury, small-batch Extra Añejo Tequila matured in Sherry, Scotch, and brandy barrels. It's widely praised for its rare complexity and depth and has been a perennial winner in international spirit competitions. The official BevTest Judging Panel described the Tequila as featuring aromas of 'root beer, coffee grounds, and tobacco, followed by flavors of oak, peach- fig cobbler, and anise. Vibrant, decadent, and wildly nuanced, and still easily identifiable as agave-forward Tequila.' Score: 94 - Gold Medal–Exceptional Crafted by Casa Cuervo, Milenio is aged in French oak Cognac barrels. This elegant extra añejo is designed for special occasions and delivers layered, dessert-like richness. The official BevTest Judging Panel described the Tequila as featuring aromas of 'dark caramelized nuts, chocolate coconut bar, and vanilla frosting, followed by flavors of chocolate orange peels, delicate spices, and creme brulee with powdered sugar. A tasty and very well-balanced Extra Añejo that is sure to please.' Score: 93 - Gold Medal–Exceptional Alquimia Reserva de Don Adolfo VI is an estate-grown organic Extra Añejo Tequila. It offers richness, balance, and subtle influences of tropical and orchard fruits. The official BevTest Judging Panel described the Tequila as featuring aromas of 'cinnamon, grass, and balsa wood accompanied by flavors of salted caramel, baked orchard fruit, and pineapple skin. Rich and inviting with lovely, dried citrus that balances the rich flavors that are beautifully balanced for Tequila Old Fashioneds or after-dinner sipping.' Score: 93 - Gold Medal–Exceptional This cask strength Extra Añejo from Alquimia is bold and intense. It's bottled at full barrel proof and aimed at seasoned Tequila drinkers looking for robust flavor and structure. The official BevTest Judging Panel described the Tequila as featuring aromas of 'warm maple syrup, Demerara with chopped nuts, and baker's chocolate, followed by flavors of dark chocolate, cigar ash, and sandalwood. A bold and intense Extra Añejo sipper.' 1800 Tequila Holiday Dinner With Designer & Curator Greg Yuna(Photo byfor 1800 Tequila) Score: 93 - Gold Medal–Exceptional Produced by Casa Cuervo, 1800 Cristalino is a charcoal-filtered Añejo Tequila that removes color while retaining complex flavors. It combines the aging process of an Extra Añejo with crisp modern appeal. The official BevTest Judging Panel described the Tequila as featuring aromas of 'coconut dulce de leche, heated stones, and fresh ream of paper with flavors of chipotle, parmesan, and cream cheese. The complexity of an Extra Anejo in a crisp, tailored white Armani suit, stylish and grounded in high-quality agave.' Score: 92 - Gold Medal–Exceptional Patrón's Cristalino blends aged complexity with polished smoothness. It undergoes charcoal filtration to remove color while preserving flavors from ex-bourbon barrels. The official BevTest Judging Panel described the Tequila as featuring aromas of 'white pepper, caramel, and agave fibers accompanied by flavors of preserved lemon, vanilla salt, and crème anglaise. Impeccably balanced and clean with notes of cultured salted butter, extra virgin olive oil, vanilla, and fresh biscuits.' Score: 91 - Gold Medal–Exceptional Agavales Cristalino is a filtered Reposado that offers a bright, tropical profile with the roundness of brief oak aging and the clarity of a Blanco. The official BevTest Judging Panel described the Tequila as featuring aromas of 'spring, coconut water, and roasted coconut flakes on frosted white cake with flavors of spicy banana bread pudding, pepper, and white chocolate. A supple, vibrantly flavorful Cristalino with excellent versatility.' These seven Tequilas showcase a range of aroma and flavor profiles. The Extra Añejo expressions offer a classic aged Tequila profile that retains its agave core, surrounded by the added complexity and flavors provided by extended oak aging. The Cristalinos, on the other hand, while retaining the agave and oak influence, also offer a cleaner, fresher style that blends a layered, nuanced complexity with a lighter, crisper style. If you like brown spirits, all of these Extra Añejo Tequilas deserve a place on your shelf. If you're looking for a lighter style that still retains the complexity afforded by oak aging, consider exploring the Cristalino expressions. Either way, you won't go wrong with any of these Tequila bottles.
