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Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Best Tequila Right Now—According To Tequila Matchmaker Competition
The inaugural Agavos International Spirits Competition recently crowned best tequila winners in a variety of categories. getty Judges at the inaugural Agavos International Spirits Competition recently revealed their picks for the best tequila, mezcal, baconara, raicilla and more. The 26-person judging panel rated a variety of aged and unaged tequilas as well as mezcals and other agave spirits. The duo behind Tequila Matchmaker, a prominent agave spirit reviewing resource, started the competition. Forbes reported previously that the Best in Show winner at the competition is Trujillo Special Edition Manifiesto 56, a blanco tequila from the Trujillo distillery in Capilla de Guadalupe, Jalisco. Here we'll look at the best of winners in all the categories judged, including the best tequila in multiple subcategories, the best mezcal, baconara, raicilla and agave spirit. Montagave Blanco 'Las Rocas' Swell Spirits Mexico 45% ABV Price: $70 MSRP What the judges said: 'Ethereal sweet agave notes on the nose. An incredibly bright flavor profile with hints of cinnamon and a lovely finish. This is really delicious. Pretty much everything I want in a blanco.' LALO Tequila High Proof LALO Tequila 54% ABV Price: $74.99 What the judges said: 'Sweet aromas of cooked agave, butter, walnut, and pistachio. The bouquet is persistent, lingering beautifully over time. On the palate, the buttery and nutty notes deliver on the aromatic promise, creating a rich and lasting impression. Exceptionally well-balanced.' Ultramundo PKGD Group Mexico 47% abv Retail Price: $129.99 What the judges said: 'Fire roasted serrano chilies and tomato vine aromas are bursting with freshness and infinitely alluring. So rich and concentrated, with flavors for days. Waves of herbs and berries unfold on the tongue. A treat to sip.' Tequila Volcan de mi Tierra Reposado 40% ABV Price: $59 What the judges said: 'Significant aroma of nuts and banana. Lots of barrel character here, but not over the top. More than I expected from a reposado, but not overbearing with barrel notes.' Tequila Arte NOM 1146 Añejo Terranova Spirits 41.3% ABV Price: $119.99 What the judges said: 'Cooked agave, oak, cinnamon, sweet potato, olive brine; one of my favorites. Finally, very prominent cooked agave, balanced by very present oak.' Alquimia Extra Anejo 14 year Cask Strength Tequila Alquimia Organic Tequila 50% abv Price: $279 What the judges said: 'Aroma of chocolate, flowers, pitted fruit, and oak. Citrus and minerals also come through on the aroma, indicating an intact agave core alongside thoughtful barrel aging. Nice balance between sweet spices, salinity, and subtle roasted agave that comes through. Long floral and buttery finish. The texture and flavors are in harmony. I like this one a lot.' Tequila Ocho Plata Puntas 2024 Mirandillas Samson & Surrey 54% ABV Price: $74.99 What the judges said: 'A fragrant bouquet of orange, lilac and springtime grass. The mouthfeel is fantastic, brimming with gobs of florality that eases you into the above-average ABV.' ROHO Kenyan Agave Spirit ROHO Agave Ltd. Kenya Category: Agave Spirits 45% ABV Price: $100 What the judges said: 'Ooooh, cool. Smoke. Wild. Mezcal-like. Deep and full. This tastes like a competent mezcal. Big rising smoke dominates the front palate, fading to reveal wood ash, roasted agave, honeyed sweetness, white florals, dried grass. Quite good. This is a solid entry, a bottle I'd be happy with, particularly if I'm taking a chance on non-Mexico agave spirits.' Estaca Bacanora Estaca Mexico 40% ABV Price: $90 What the judges said: 'Mild, pleasant floral and agave nose. Taste of cooked agave, piloncillo, baking spices. There's a caramel-like sweetness on the finish. This is cool. A classic Bacanora profile. Nicely balanced with a good finish.' Raicilla Asil PKGD Group 45% ABV Price: $139.99 What the judges said: 'The balance is great, nice kiss of oak sweetness. Barrel gives lots of butterscotch, maybe would be too much in tequila but this sweet note helps anchor the rest of the flavors. Grassy, earthy, white pepper, butterscotch, and a finish of pineapple rind. Phenomenal developing and ever-changing flavor. I need this one immediately. I wanted to drink it over and over again. Agave sings through while offering so much.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Leading Additive-Free and Carbon Neutral Tequila Brand, De Nada Tequila, Secures Double Gold Nod via Inaugural Agavos International Spirits Competition
NEW YORK, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, De Nada Tequila, a leading additive-free and carbon neutral tequila brand, is pleased to announce the securement of a Double Gold Award via The Inaugural Agavos International Spirits Awards. The world's top tequilas, mezcals, and agave spirits were blind tasted and evaluated in Tequila Matchmaker's inaugural competition - in which De Nada placed as one of the highest-scoring bottles across the board. "This particular award bears notable weight as this is the first-ever award focused on additive-free tequilas," states Adam Millman, Co-Founder and CEO of De Nada Tequila. Millman continues, "Given the magnitude of the wider Tequila Matchmaker platform and the level of quality their platform stands for, it really means a lot that we not only placed, but received the highest level of recognition for the work we're doing to provide consumers with a delicious new additive-free tequila option for many of life's memorable occasions." The latest award comes on the heels of additional notable company news, including the recent securement of capital via a sports related family office, overall company refresh led by Sandstrom Partners and expanded distribution and footprint in California, Texas, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut markets in select Total Wine, Spec's, and Trader Joe's stores. To check out more on the awards as well as the wider list of award winners, check out the link below: De Nada is made from 100% Blue Weber agave by fifth generation growers and distillers at the Vivanco estate (NOM 1414). The brand was founded by Millman and Neeson, who bonded over Tequila and sustainable business ventures as roommates at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. De Nada Tequila's Blanco and Reposado offerings are available in select key markets including New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, and Connecticut as well as available to purchase via the brand's website. To learn more visit or check out or visit the company's Instagram. Communications ContactTaylor Foxman395857@ Collective609-432-2237 Company ContactAdam Millmanamillman@ Nada Tequila845-570-1170 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE De Nada Tequila Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The World's Best Tequila—According To The 2025 Agavos Awards
Manifiesto 56 Tequila Blanco from Trujillo Distillery Earlier this year a panel of 26 spirits industry experts convened for the inaugural chapter of the Agavos International Spirits Competition. The awards were conceived to honor excellence across all categories of agave spirit. Although new on the scene, it promises to have an immediate impact thanks to the advanced knowledge of those running it; Agavos is the brainchild of Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin, the husband and wife duo responsible for Tequila Matchmaker--the preeminent database for all things agave. Hundreds of entries were submitted for the debut competition and they were blind-tasted and graded on a 100-point scale. Marks were meted out related to appearance, aroma, taste, and finish. After top scores were recorded for each of the major styles, a championship round brought them all head-to-head to determine an ultimate Best In Show. Those results are now in and we can exclusively reveal the best bottle of agave spirit for 2025: Manifesto 56, a blanco tequila from the Trujillo distillery in Capilla de Guadalupe, Jalisco. Here's everything you need to know about the liquid… The grand champion is an organic, 92.6-proof sipping spirit crafted from single estate agave in the fields of Los Altos, under the shadows of the distillery itself. It relies on extra-mature agave--a minimum of eight years in age--traditional tahona extraction and open-air (spontaneous) fermentation to come away with a juice that's brimming with earthy, mineral-forward notes. The agave is then double-distilled with its fibers in copper pots and bottled at still strength. After resting in stainless steel, the product that emerges is a paragon of complexity. It noses with jalapeño peppers and spiced herbs. In the sip, a sweetness emerges reminiscent of canelé custard and cinnamon-dusted tres leches cake. The confection subsides as it retreats into the finish, leaving a faint residue of baking spice and freshly-cracked black pepper. Overall it's a profoundly satisfying sip and one that goes down without a fight--especially considering its elevated proof point. Securing a bottle online is effortless as well. Trujillo Manifiesto 56 Tequila Blanco enjoys relatively widespread distribution here in the States. But it's by no means the cheapest un-aged tequila you'll find on shelves, with an average retail price encroaching upon the $70 mark. We shall soon see if Agavos recognition does anything to move the needle on that price point. $70 could ultimately end up feeling like a bargain for something so heavily sought after. If you're a a devoted tequila aficionado exploring the silver-tinted field of Jalisco in the near future, you can always schedule a tasting experience at Tequileria Trujillo. The 56-year-old facility offers daily tours by appointment only. Meanwhile, even the most sedentary of agave fans can head over to the Agavos site to learn more about the other Best In Class winners. As always, follow along here, and we'll keep you updated on all the latest and greatest tipples to add to your shelf. Aerial view of an agave plantation used to make tequila in Tequila, Jalisco state, Mexico, on July ... More 23, 2021, amid the International Tequila Day. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP) (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)
