It’s estimated that over 2,000 tequila brands are currently active worldwide, showing the immense competition in the tequila industry. Although there are many excellent and famous labels, only a few have plenty of market experience and offer the best products.
That’s the case with Centenario Tequila, a proudly Mexican brand with an incredible range of excellent and exquisite drinks. As one of Mexico’s best-selling tequilas, Gran Centenario Tequila is also a historic company that dates back to 1857, making it one of Mexico’s oldest tequila manufacturers. If you haven’t tried it, it’s definitely a brand worth buying, and below you’ll find all the details of its delicious drinks.
Tequila Centenario
Before knowing Centenario’s products, here’s a look at some essential facts about the brand that would be good for you to know.
History
Lázaro Gallardo, considered the first tequila master, founded the Gran Centenario Tequila family in 1857, more than 150 years ago. Among his goals, he wanted to preserve the tequila spirit and traditions native to Jalisco, Mexico. As a result, his efforts established the well-known brand Centenario which nowadays produces the most traditional drinks in Mexico worldwide.
That dream began in 1839 when Lázaro started the preparation process from which the Tequila Centenario is now obtained. Since then, he and his legacy have strongly committed to producing the best tequila and representing Mexican culture worldwide. Currently, this unmatchable distillate is manufactured at the Ex Hacienda Los Cachimines in the region Altos de Jalisco in Mexico.
Presentation and price
The Tequila Centenario taste depends on the version you buy. However, in general, there are notes of cooked agave and caramel, which are dominant on the nose, along with citrus and an aftertaste of mud and olives. Moreover, this tequila delivers on the promise of a unique olfactory feeling, with caramelized agave notes contributing to the product’s fantastic complexity. This brand offers four different variants of excellent and refreshing products: Gran Centenario Tequila Añejo, Reposado, Plata, and Leyenda, the latter being an extra añejo version.
All of them are made from the Agave Weber plant or blue agave, which is cooked in masonry ovens, fermented slowly with specially hand-picked yeast, and double distilled in copper stills. Centenario prices start at $31.99 and go up to $150, with the Plata the cheapest and the Leyenda the priciest. Considering the excellent quality of every bottle, they’re a pretty good option for every drinker.
Manufacturing process
This tequila is aged for at least six months and a maximum of one year in American oak barrels. Throughout its history, Gran Centenario tequila has been distinguished by a process called ‘’soft selection,’’ which was developed by the founder. This process consists of selecting a mixture of various barrels to achieve a unique profile, resulting in an unmatchable quality and taste. In addition, cold filtration is also used before packaging to enhance the process. Typically, the agave used to manufacture this drink is 10 to 12 years old when harvested from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico.
Centenario Tequila Añejo
On the one hand, Centenario Tequila Añejo is a fine drink made from 100% best-selected agave, which was matured for around ten years. Typically, a standard añejo tequila is aged in Bourbon barrels for at least 12 months before being bottled. The best-quality añejos are aged from 18 months to three years; after that, they’re called extra añejos. The production process of this Centenario tequila involves a double distillation followed by 18 months in toasted American oak barrels. Being there during that time ensures premium quality and gives the tequila a fantastic color and taste.
Moreover, there are hints of gold reflected in the Centenario tequila color, and the nose has a touch of white pepper, clove, and oak, as well as cinnamon and caramel. In the beginning, the taste is reminiscent of cooked agave, with a smooth, buttery mouthfeel that’s pleasant and well-rounded. This añejo is slightly sweet, creamy, and buttery on the palate with sweet and baked agave notes. In addition, there are also fruity notes of pears, orange peel, peached, and pineapple on the finish.
El Centenario Añejo is an excellent traditional tequila that offers a reasonable price, but there are some other good añejos too on the market. However, this añejo it’s a fantastic choice if you’re looking for good, nice, and cheap tequila. It’s also a great option for every drinker type, so it doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced tequila lover or a beginner; this brand has an option for you. What’s best is that this tequila costs around $34 and easily competes or surpasses other añejo tequilas sold for a lower price but that aren’t as tasty as the Centenario. You can buy a bottle of this añejo version in your nearest convenience store or order it online if you prefer.
Centenario Tequila Reposado
As its name suggests, the Gran Centenario Tequila Reposado is an aged or a reposado tequila that belongs to the collection of Gran Centenario tequilas from the Jose Cuervo house. In other words, this tequila is made from the Agave Azul variety from the Jose Cuervo brand, and it’s said that since 1805, this drink has been considered Mexico’s most representative tequila. There are no additives or preservatives in this tequila, and it’s made from 100% blue agave that is age-proofed from six months to one year in American oak barrels.
Moreover, there is a little sweetness and some fruitiness on the reposado, which is made with 40% ABV and sold in a 750 ml bottle. Although the agave notes are more cooked, there’s a more pronounced tropical fruit note in the agave than in the palate. In addition to the noticeable smokiness, the notes of vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, and chocolate are more robust on the aftertaste. In contrast to the earthiness of the white pepper on the palate, this tequila features a noticeable pepperiness reminiscent of chili peppers. With hints of vanilla and clove, Tequila Gran Centenario Reposado is subtly sweet and soft on the nose and palate.
With its gold and burgundy label and vertical reliefs, this tequila reposado comes in an eye-catching and stylish bottle. There’s a 35% alcohol content in this bottle with a capacity of 750 ml, and the cost is way cheaper than other reposados of the same quality. You can find this Centenario Reposado for around $28 in almost every retail store.
Centenario Tequila Plata
On the other hand, Centenario Tequila Plata was first launched in 2008, and since then, it has been a massive success and one of the best-selling products of Centenario. To create a unique young-looking tequila, this drink spends only 28 days in French Limousin oak barrels before bottling, resulting in a pale yellow color. Fresh agave and pepper fill the nose, as well as a rustic spice that’s green and herbal at the same time. Luckily, it seems that there’s no mellowed scent in the tequila; it smells more like a classic tequila Blanco.
The flavors of caramel and vanilla often associated with reposado tequilas are evident on the palate, filtered through hints of rosemary, white pepper, and Mexican chocolate. However, while this tequila follows the line nicely between Blanco and reposado, sometimes it seems that it’s not grabbing onto the most compelling features of each one. The white can be overly intense in terms of flavor, while the reposado can have a bit more sweetness in the aftertaste. Finally, the herbal pungency of the Blanco stands out, with peppery spice at the end. Nevertheless, despite this mixture, the Centenario Tequila Plata usually provides an excellent experience from the first time you drink it.
A highlight of this brand is that there hasn’t been a change in the Gran Centenario bottle since Gallardo’s son designed it in 1920. This tequila is presented in an elegant and unique bottle with a distinctive oval base and pronounces striations. The design was inspired by Art Decó, which was predominant in that period, and reminds you of the famous Chrysler Tower in New York, United States. Similarly, the bottle label depicts an angel that symbolizes how Lázaro Gallardo prayed to angels to help him watch over his immature agave plants. This fascinating and creative bottle is sold at an average of $32 for a bottle presentation of 750 ml, with an alcohol content of 40%.
Centenario Tequila Leyenda
Lastly, this Leyenda bottle, an extra añejo tequila, is aged for more than three years in French oak barrels with a maximum capacity of 160 gallons. Generally, extra añejos have dark chocolate, Asian spices, and tobacco notes; these dark-colored tequilas have a spicy oak-influenced flavor and usually have a long and refined finish. Following that reference point, Centenario Leyenda Tequila has a dark amber color and hints of bright copper with soft notes of sweet wood, maple, caramel, and toasted almonds.
This Centenario drink is characterized by fine taste and elegance because it’s crafter, according to the original process of its creator, which ensures the protection of the agave flavors. To obtain the best product, a tequila expert supervises the process of creating this drink. For over a century, each bottle has been hand-crafted and packaged in a jute leather box that pays tribute to its Mexican culture and heritage.
As this is an extra añejo tequila and the best product Centenario has, the price is way higher than its other products. This is completely understandable because high-quality tequila is made from the best ingredients, which are obviously pricey. That’s why the Centenario Tequila Leyenda is available for sale at around $127 to $150, depending on where you buy it. However, as it’s a special edition, sometimes not all stores may have enough stock, but you can always purchase it online as it’s more likely always to find availability.
Summary
Throughout the years, Tequila Centenario has been characterized by its exquisite flavor, made from the best agave in Jalisco, Mexico. Since its creation, the brand has committed to offering the best products for any occasion, leading the company to be one of the top-selling tequila labels. This tequila is undoubtedly a tribute to Mexican history and worthy of holidays in which Mexican people commemorate events that shaped modern Mexico. This tequila offers the best quality in every drink, which creates a perfect taste that has never been tasted in any other tequila in the market. If you haven’t tried Centenario products, we strongly recommend you buy any of its bottles and experience the fascinating tequila bandwagon. So what are you waiting for to buy a Centenario bottle and enjoy with all your senses its incredible taste?
