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Forbes
27-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Tequila's Continued Growth Encourages New Launches—Here Are 5 To Try
Margaritas may be trending as the drink of the summer for 2025, but that's not stopping a bounty of premium sipping tequilas from entering the market. As the only spirits category to experience growth within the last year—up 1.3 percent year-over-year since March 2024 according to Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA)—tequila's momentum makes it an exciting time for existing brands to release fresh expressions and new brands to enter the market. There's 'an undeniable cultural cachet' that surrounds tequila, shares Alba Huerta, cocktail educator, and owner of Julep Houston. 'People have a deep, enduring love for Mexico—its traditions, craftsmanship, and sense of place, and tequila captures all of that. Its heritage creates a constant pull to tell new stories within the category.' From 2019 to 2024, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for global tequila volume was up seven percent, according to IWSR, the global leader in beverage alcohol data and insights. The majority of that growth, Adam Rogers, IWSR research director for North America, tells Forbes , has occurred in the reposado and cristalino offerings. 'Compared to anejo, reposados are currently providing consumers a better quality-to-price ratio,' shares Rogers. 'That's important in today's difficult economic environment where share of wallet is tightened.' Producers are also capitalizing on a volatile global market as the price of Mexican agave has declined 'massively from the highs during the pandemic,' explains Marten Lodewijks, U.S. president of IWSR. Even though the market may seem saturated, it's actually a more opportune time for tequila producers to launch new products, relying on innovation to differentiate themselves. 'New brands will often use differentiating attributes such as organic, single origin, or different packaging and bottle types,' says Rogers. These new releases have been prevalent within the first half of 2025, especially throughout spring and early summer. Below, discover five new premium tequilas—four of which debuted in June alone—that will have you sipping, not mixing, the agave spirit all summer long. OLUJO Olujo Tequila Launched this past week, OLUJO introduced their new, high-craft tequila brand to the market with the release of its first expression, OLUJO Añejo. Founded by entrepreneur Adam Weitsman, in collaboration with Larsa Pippen and Oliver Camilo, the brand's name stems from the Spanish term luxury—' lujo' —as it's crafted for the discerning palate, not the masses. The agave is slow-cooked in stainless steel autoclaves, fermented in copper and stainless-steel tanks, and double-distilled in copper pot stills to ensure preservation of its nuanced character. The resulting tequila is then aged for 18 months in American oak barrels for a final liquid imbued with notes of vanilla, caramel, toasted almond, slight tobacco and sweet agave. The amber liquid is concealed by a ceramic decanter designed by sculptor Ivan Venkov; a conscious brand choice to pay homage to Mexico's artisanal traditions. SRP $500. Tequila Leyenda 1925 Leyenda Tequila 1925 Crafted by three cousins, Julio, Juan, and Montse González from Los Altos de Jalisco, Leyenda 1925 is another new release from this past week. Though the brand is new, Leyenda 1925's heritage dates back nearly 100 years to the cousins' grandfather and his legacy of agave cultivation and tequila-making. The inaugural collection presents a complete offering of blanco, reposado and añejo tequila; the reposado is aged for eight months in white oak barrels for a tequila with velvet-like texture and woody complexity while the añejo spends 18 months in white oak for a resulting full-bodied sip with layers of cacao and dried fruit. Profits from certain distillery tours and tastings will help raise funds for Jaltepec, an organization that empowers women in vulnerable situations through education and career development. Clase Azul Blanco Ahumado Clase Azul Blanco Ahumado Diego Camacho At the beginning of the month, Clase Azul México added a new icon to their renowned portfolio of premium tequilas and mezcals. The new release is a blanco tequila with a surprisingly smoky profile for an unaged tequila—something master distiller Viridiana Tinoco sought to achieve from the beginning. Tinoco and her team successfully achieved their desired result by reviving an ancestral method of cooking blue agave cores in an underground pit with lit firewood and volcanic rocks; the flames hardly touch the agave as the rocks transmit the necessary heat for it to cook. This technique imparts a subtle smokey profile, vaguely reminiscent of mezcal, all while preserving the undeniable green and herbal character of blue agave. For a further nod to the ancestral method, the bottom of the decanter sits on volcanic pumice for a striking presentation and reminder of the process that makes this Blanco Ahumado possible. SRP $250 Maestro Dobel Atelier Animales Endémicos Maestro Dobel In 2022, Maestro Dobel launched their limited-edition Atelier collection as a way to honor traditional Mexican craftsmanship. This year, in mid-June, Maestro Dobel unveiled the third edition of Dobel Atelier as Animales Endémicos; six hand-painted bottles in vivid, dotted patterns akin to the technique used to decorate alebrijes , or small figurines of fantastical, Oaxcan creatures. Each bottle is painted with one of six native Mexican species—the axolotl, jaguar, monarch butterfly, dwarf jay, Tamaulipas owl, or Mexican wolf that are assigned randomly for each purchase—houses an extra añejo that rests for three years in both new American and European oak. The new oak infuses unique layers of toasted coffee and baking spices to this highly collectible bottle of tequila. SRP $250 Escasa Escasa Tequila In April, Luxco, Inc. debuted Escasa, an ultra-premium sipping tequila in two variations: blanco and reposado. The single estate, triple-distilled tequilas use heirloom yeast and Bagazo fibers to enhance the depth and complexity of the flavors during fermentation. Further, Escasa reposado is the first of its kind as it's aged in formed Albariño wine barrels from the Rias Baixas region of Spain. "As a wine lover, I am always trying diverse wines from where my travels take me," says master distiller Grace Gonzalez. "One thing I love about tequila and Albariños are the minerals and crisp flavors of both… I knew the pairing would be a great match." The reposado offers a spiced palate of clove and molasses with delicate floral layers (SRP $119.99). Escasa Tequila Blanco presents a pure agave profile with a silky texture that finishes with a juicy pineapple note (SRP $99.99).
CNET
25-06-2025
- General
- CNET
How Long Will That Open Bottle of Wine Actually Last? We Asked an Expert
There are days when you get home from work and you just want a glass of wine. However, once you open it, you start wondering if it will go bad before it can be used. While opened wine does have a shelf life, you don't need to drink it immediately. If you properly store it after popping it open, it can last longer than you might think. Whether you're sipping red, white or sparkling, how you store the open bottle matters. It can be the difference between enjoying a second glass tomorrow and pouring it down the drain. To make sure you're getting the most out of every bottle, I spoke with wine educator Rachel Thralls, who shared her best advice on how to store wine properly -- including the truth about putting red wine in the fridge. On that last topic, Thralls answers bluntly: Yes. Your refrigerator's cool temperature helps keep opened wine fresh for up to five days. Just be sure to let it return to the proper serving temperature before drinking. Here's how to make every unfinished bottle last a little longer. Read more: Buy Great Wine at a Great Price With These Expert Tips Here's how long wine lasts and how best to store it Once any bottle of wine stays open beyond the few hours it takes to breathe and decant, its quality begins to deteriorate. That's why it is crucial to take some steps to preserve its longevity, should you want to finish the remaining beverage before it essentially turns to vinegar. According to Thralls, each wine type requires different storage methods. Here's a breakdown of the most common. Red wine Open red wine should be stored in the fridge to preserve it and removed about 10 minutes before serving. Pamela Vachon/CNET Days it will last in the fridge: 3-5 "Red wines can be stored in a cool, dark place with a cork or in your wine fridge or refrigerator," says Thralls. "The more tannin and acidity the red wine has, the longer it tends to last after opening." For example, a lower tannin wine like Pinot Noir won't last as long as rich reds like Cabernet Sauvignon. "Some wines will even improve after the first day open," Thralls adds. "If you don't have a wine fridge, your regular fridge is better than letting the wine sit out in a 70-degree room. Just take the red wine out about 10 minutes before you want a glass so it warms up a little. The red wine will also open up in the glass." Full-bodied white wine Days it will last in the fridge: 2-3 Fuller-bodied whites tend to lose their oomph a little faster. YourWineStore "Full-bodied white wines such as oaked chardonnay and viognier tend to oxidize more quickly because they see more oxygen during their prebottling aging process," explains Thralls. "Be certain to always keep them corked and in the fridge. If you drink a lot of this type of wine, it's a really smart idea to also invest in vacuum caps." Not long after the cork is popped, all wine begins to deteriorate. Vacu Vin Sparkling wine Days it will last in the fridge: 1-3 Sparkling wine has the shortest shelf lives of any wine. Shutterstock "Sparkling wines lose their carbonation quickly after opening," stresses Thralls. "A traditional method sparkling wine such as cava or Champagne (which have more atmospheres of pressure, aka more bubbles) will last a little longer than a tank method sparkling wine like prosecco." Invest in a bouchon (sparkling wine stopper) for best results. If you're really serious about preserving your Champagne, Coravin makes a bougie sparkling wine preservation system that pumps carbon dioxide back into the bottle to extend its effervescent fridge life by weeks. Light white, sweet white and rosé wines Days it will last in the fridge: 4-5 Uncorked light white wines can go for as long as five days if kept cold. Fresh Vine "Most light white and rosé wines will be drinkable for up to a week when stored in your refrigerator with a cork," advises Thralls. "You'll notice the taste will change subtly after the first day as the wine oxidizes. The overall fruit character of the wine will often diminish, becoming less vibrant." Tips for storing wine How and where you store wine is important, both before and after opening. Wine Enthusiast The aforementioned guidelines are helpful for any wine novice, Thralls suggests a few general rules to take into consideration with any opened bottle. 1. Invest in a wine preserver. "They work very well for keeping wine after it's been opened. You can use the cork and push it back in or try [a product such as] Repour, which removes the oxygen from the bottle." Coravin wine systems are pricier but these high-tech units actually refill the bottle with argon gas, extending the life of red and white wine for up to a month. 2. Store any open wine in the refrigerator. "Or a wine fridge, if you have one," says Thralls. "This cold storage will slow down any development of the wine, keeping it fresh. The ideal cellar or wine fridge temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit." 3. Keep wine away from direct sunlight or sources of heat. "This includes above a refrigerator or oven. It will get 'cooked' and ruin the aroma and flavor." Ideal serving temperatures for serving wine The Hyperchiller can help you chill warm wine to a proper serving temperature. HyperChiller One could argue that wine temperature depends on personal preference; there are optimal temperatures that somms and wine professionals aim for. Generally, wine actually tastes better served slightly cool, which applies to both whites and reds. This $21 device can chill warm wine (or any other liquid) in seconds. "The same ideology of experiencing coffees, teas and sparkling waters at different temperatures also applies to wine," says Thralls, revealing that the more delicate floral aromatics in fine wines can actually be subdued at overly cool temperatures or burn off too quickly when the wine is too warm. "If you drink affordable wine most of the time, serving it slightly chilled will disguise most 'off' aromas," she shares. "A wine above 70 degrees Fahrenheit will start to smell more alcoholic because of increased ethanol evaporation that occurs as the temperature rises." Thralls notes that this is a good reason to not fill your wine glass up to the brim. "A typical serving of wine is about 5 ounces and a bottle of wine contains just over 25 ounces, so you should get about five glasses of wine per bottle," she explains. "The extra space in a typical wine glass is designed to hold the aromas when you swirl and smell your wine, so try and save some space." The ideal serving temperatures for each type of wine There's an ideal temperature for serving every type of wine. Africa Studio/Shutterstock Champagne and sparkling wines Affordable sparkling wines taste best served at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a high-quality, more expensive Champagne or sparkling wine, serve at ideal light white wine temperatures, which are slightly warmer. Light white wines and rosés Examples of light white wines are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. These wines are best served between 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, slightly cooler than heavier white wines. Rosé wines also taste best and maintain their crispness and acidity at these temperatures. Heavy whites and light reds Heavier white wines, such as chardonnay, taste well at a range of temperatures depending on someone's personal preference, from 48 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Oak-aged whites' fruit tends to taste better and when served slightly warmer. Lighter red wines such as Pinot Noir taste better at this cooler end of the spectrum. Read more: 5 Most Common Wine Drinker Mistakes to Avoid, From a Wine Expert Medium-bodied reds Medium-bodied reds, such as merlot, are best served right around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is also the ideal cellar temperature. You can grab your bottle right out of your cellar and pour a glass. Keep in mind that wines tend to warm up in the glass as well. Full-bodied and aged reds Full-bodied reds such as cabernet sauvignon, syrah and zinfandel are best served between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. But isn't that too cold for a red wine? The wine will taste much better if cool and, as Thrall mentioned, the glass will warm the wine as well. No matter how you swirl it, a good wine is one that doesn't end up down the drain. If you must tap out and savor the remainder of your bottle for future imbibing pleasure, take all of these tips into consideration and you'll never waste money (and precious alcohol) again. Cheers. Wine expiration FAQ
