Tequilas aged in wine casks have grow to be stylish not too long ago, as producers play with totally different barrel influences. However “Rosa” tequilas, like “cristalino”, aren’t an official class.
Blanco tequilas rested in pink wine barrels are sometimes referred to as “Rosas”. In reality, that is the one authorised time period for blancos which have achived their shade from pink wine casks.
Pink wine barrels will flip a blanco tequila pink, however with out the assistance of components, that shade gained’t final for lengthy. A product with out shade added will shortly oxidize and switch right into a shade of salmon, and ultimately lose its pink shade solely.
Sherry casks are technically white wine barrels, so tequilas rested in them don’t carry the time period “rosa”.
Tequilas rested or aged in wine casks deliver greater than shade to the ultimate profile. They’re typically sweeter as a result of they choose up residual sugars from the wine it beforehand held. For that reason, though they’re a blanco, the regulator will allow the next quantity of dry extract weight for these merchandise.
Pink, or white, the affect that wine casks can deliver to a tequila is a wholly new taste profile. Our analysis exhibits that wine-aged merchandise will be considerably polarizing. Some tasters don’t benefit from the aromas and flavors introduced on by wine or sherry casks. However many do.
So, we took ten of the very best of those wine-touched tequilas, and despatched them to our panel.
Listed below are which of them they favored essentially the most, and their tasting notes, so you may resolve that are best for you. From calmly aged reposados, to wealthy sherry-soaked añejos, we expect wine casks can deliver an entire new set of aromas and flavors to the celebration.
Montagave Blanco ‘Héritage’
First off, now we have Montagave Blanco ‘Héritage’. This tequila hit it out of the park in our blind tasting. Tasters cherished its anise, fruit, cinnamon and butter notes, and lingering end. It’s rested in Bordeaux barrels for simply 45 days.
El Negocio Reposado
Not far behind, was one other tequila, El Negocio Reposado, made on the identical distillery as Montagave, NOM 1123, Cascahuín. It’s additionally aged in French Oak cabernet barrels for 4 months. With notes of agave, honey, vanilla and apple, it has some subtlety to it. It was loved by each women and men on the tasting panel.
Patron Sherry Cask Añejo
Scoring third was Patrón Cask Assortment Sherry Añejo. Tasters discovered wealthy flavors of dried berries, baking spices, oak and pecan with a silky end. It was aged for over 2 years in Oloroso Sherry casks, and in case you have a tough time discovering it, Outdated City Tequila nonetheless has a bunch of it. That’s the place we purchased the bottles for this blind tasting.
Dos Ángeles Caídos Blanco Rosa
Shut behind, Dos Ángeles Caídos Blanco Rosa fell into the highest scorers with notes of caramel, butterscotch, bourbon and a protracted, rounded end. For us, this is among the greatest within the lineup. It’s light and has a ton of refined complexity, but just isn’t overpowered by wine notes. It’s rested in Tempranillo barrels from Viñas del Sol, a small Mexican city in Baja California, only a 1.5 hour drive south of Tijuana.
Cazcanes No. 9 Rosa Reposado
On its heels was Cazcanes No. 9 Rosa Reposado. This high-proof rosa introduced wealthy flavors of caramelized agave, vanilla, cherry and apple. It was aged for 82 days in French Oak Cabernet barrels that got here from numerous wineries in Napa, California.
Don Fulano twentieth Anniversario
Subsequent up was one other one in every of our private favorites, Don Fulano twentieth Anniversario, aged solely in sherry casks. With layers of cooked agave, dried fruit, butter, pepper and that slight signature Don Fulano funk, it’s stuffed with complexity.
Tico Blanco Rosa
Simply on its tail, and solely obtainable within the UK, is Tico Blanco Rosa. This very gentle rosa supplied brine and mineral notes with a contact of baking spices and a dry end. This one additionally comes from the Cascahuín distillery, in order that they’ve clearly obtained their rosa recreation down! Seven of the judges scored this a 90 or increased, and for a couple of it was their general favourite.
Inspiro Rosa Reposado
Subsequent up, Inspiro Rosa Reposado impressed tasters with its naturally candy agave, honey, butter, and plenty and plenty of fruit aromas. It’s aged in rosé wine barrels from France. One of many judges commented: “All in all, nice sipper. I might preserve it on my shelf 100% (of the time).” We completely agree.
Codigo 1530 Rosa Blanco
Hey, let’s discuss Codigo! Codigo 1530 Rosa Blanco was one of many first rosa blancos we ever tried. They have been into the wine cask recreation earlier than it was stylish and it nonetheless stands out for its cooked agave, gentle caramel, anise and heat fruit notes.
Cazcanes No. 9 Rosa Blanco
Rounding out our high 10 wine-aged tequilas is Cazcanes No. 9 Rosa Blanco. Identical to the model’s Rosa Reposado, it’s increased proof and as one taster put it, “a spice bomb”, with agave, citrus, hay, brine, and pleasing baking spices. We predict this drinks extra like a spicy blanco with some wine barrel affect so in the event you’re a fan of a blanco profile, this could be a match for you.
In the long run, all of those tequilas are good. Wine barrels can deliver an entire new aroma and taste profile to a tequila, and a contact of sweetness, too.
Tell us within the feedback which of them you like!
