A Silver medal was given to coffee‐flavoured Sierra Milenario Tequila Cafè. Two more Silver medals were hailed in the Tequila Liqueur round. El Sueño Watermelon Liqueur pleasantly surprised the judges with its “fresh watermelon notes” and some “light earthiness”. Silver winner Horus was likened to a “very well done chocolate cream”. There’s a reason celebrities are eager to claim a stake in the Tequila category, and that’s because the agave‐based spirit is soaring in popularity. Mixto tequila is made with caramel coloring, artificial flavorings and other additives, and is considered less desirable relative to 100 percent blue agave. What Type Of Tequila Is Meant For Sipping? This was well balanced with good agave notes, good mineral flavours; the barrel influence was there but not too much,” added Gomez. “It gave the Tequila just the right balance.” In the bar and party scene, the gold tequila is often served as a short shot and is always the highlight of any celebration. Tastes especially good with a fresh slice of orange and a little cinnamon. This Mexican premium tequila is the perfect companion for any occasion!

Mijenta Reposado also scooped a Master, praised for its “lovely long finish with oak and earthy, smoky notes lingering for ages”.

How to enjoy Tequila Sierra Reposado?

Creyente Mezcal also joined the Master winners. The expression offered “punchy pepper on the palate, smoke and some agave syrup sweetness. Bold, long and flavoursome,” noted the judges.

People are buying their spirits more and more online, so they are searching and getting more knowledge about Tequila and mezcal, how they’re produced and what’s behind the two spirits,” Gomez explained. The Master standard continued into the higher end of the añejo category, with one top award winner unearthed in the ultra-premium heat. Corralejo 99,000 Horas Añejo was a deserving Master medallist. The Tequila impressed the judges with its “very rich nose”, followed by a “smooth mouthfeel, wonderful complex mature flavours, and a long and elegant finish”.The third team consisted of Matt Chambers, co‐founder of the Whisky for Everyone blog and the North London Whisky Club, Evan Prousaefs, bar manager and assistant general manager of Los Mochis restaurant in London’s Notting Hill, and Chris Tanner, bar manager at Milroy’s. Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business, chaired the panel.

El Mayor Tequila Blanco also won a Gold medal for complex aromas of “ripe stone fruits and dried florals”, leading to “chilli, pepper and citrus” on the palate. This was very delicious with dry notes on the nose,” said Gomez. “It was smooth, well balanced, with apricots and cinnamon notes on the mouth. The extra ABV gave it that extra push and brought out the aromas and flavours more.” Sierra Milenario Extra Añejo also received the top award for its “complex” profile. Tasting notes included: “Resinous, rich and bold nose with some dates and dried fruits. Spiciness has mellowed wonderfully, leaving toffee and subtle wood influence. Well‐rounded, balanced and delicious.”The opening flight of Mixto Tequila – Blanco delivered a set of Silver medals for El Sueño Tequila Silver and Sierra Tequila Silver. El Sueño Tequila Silver was “light and bright” on the nose, with “delicate citrus and a peppery palate”. Sierra Tequila Silver had a “slight nuttiness”, but was found to be “what you’d expect” from a mixto blanco – “solid”, noted one judge. If seeking a novel tequila that retains the complexity and richness of aged tequilas but pours as clear as a blanco, then a bottle of cristalino is your best bet. A lesser-known category steadily gaining momentum, cristalino is typically an añejo or extra añejo (though there are reposados in the mix) that have been filtered, sometimes multiple times, with charcoal. The style, invented by Don Julio in 2011 to celebrate his 70th birthday, has seen a surge in offerings over the past several years. FAQ What’s So Special About Blue Agave? Two Gold medals were given to “classic, earthy” Matra Mezcal and “very smooth” Mezcal Artesanal Noble Coyote Espadín‐Tobalá, with “ripe banana” notes. A Silver medal went to Mezcal Artesanal Noble Coyote Jabalí.