With over 250 years of experience, it’s not surprising that Jose Cuervo tequila is the best-selling tequila brand in the world.
To give you an idea of its renown and success, it’s estimated that this company sells a fifth of the tequila consumed worldwide. Through its existence, the Mexican-based company has expanded its portfolio to continue satisfying all palates with exquisite and refreshing drinks everyone loves. So whether you’re easily pleased or have demanding tastes, any of Jose Cuervo’s tequilas will surely fulfill and even exceed your expectations.
Here’s everything you need to know about this brand and some of its fascinating products.
Tequila Jose Cuervo
If you have already tasted a Jose Cuervo tequila, you may be familiar with the brand, but have you ever wondered what the history behind the top-selling company is? All goes back to 1758 when King Ferdinand VI of Spain granted José Antonio de Cuervo y Valdés permission to produce tequila and trade it afterward. However, it wasn’t until 1795 that the brand made the first ‘’Vino Mezcal de Tequila’’, and that’s how the tequila industry was officially created. For many years, that name remained, but eventually, the Mexican government removed the word ‘’mezcal,’’ and from that moment, is known as just ‘’tequila.’’
On the other hand, the Jose Cuervo distillery was founded in 1812 and named ‘’La Rojeña’’, and since then, is in charge of manufacturing all Jose Cuervo tequila. This family-owned business is located in Tequila, Jalisco, and holds the title of the oldest active distillery in Latin America. In its early stages, this tequila was put in barrels, but later on, the company realized that it was easier to distribute it in bottles. As a result, in 1906, Jose Cuervo sold its first bottled tequila, which helped the brand to trade it easily worldwide. Regarding the design of the bottles, each one has Cuervo’s family crest, which is the blue agave plant, a crow, and the blended iron of the founder’s Hacienda. However, the event that consolidated this brand was November 7, 1933, when it became the first tequila company to register a trademark.
Production process and ingredients
The main ingredients Jose Cuervo uses for tequila production are agave juice grown for a minimum of twelve years before being hand-picked. The pulque is first agave juice, but after it’s fermented and rested for ten days, it comes out as tequila Blanco. To produce the alcohol, the brand uses the plant’s natural sugars created after the double distillation.
On the other hand, the process is fascinating; first, the agave piñas are cooked for around 36 to 38 hours in autoclave ovens after fermentation. Then the resulting juice is double-distilled in a column or pot still; the first part eliminates byproducts, and the second determines the alcohol percentage, around 77.5%. After that, during the maturation process, Jose Cuervo Tequila is aged in exclusive and fine barrels coming from World Cooperage in Napa, California. Once this is completed, water is added to prove the tequila to bottle strength in the company’s main bottling facility in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Jose Cuervo Tequila Price
As the company that set a benchmark for the whole tequila industry, they have a wide range of exquisite tequilas, and of course, the prices vary from product to product. Because of the fame and renown of Jose Cuervo, you may think at first that this brand it’s expensive, but it turns out that they offer different prices for every pocket. Every product is unique and delicious, so it would be hard not to find something that meets your expectations in their collection. The price is between $20 and $35, but the actual cost varies depending on where you buy it and the market demand.
Nevertheless, you’ll be happy to know that hardly ever the price rises, and you may even find some great deals at your favorite retail store. The most common bottle sold is the Tradicional Plata Tequila of 750 ml, which costs around just $21, a very reasonable price considering the excellent quality. However, if you’re looking for superior quality and a one-life-time experience, you must buy the Jose Cuervo Aniversario for $2336. If this isn’t your case, below are some of Jose Cuervo’s tequilas at fantastic prices!
Jose Cuervo Silver Tequila
The Jose Cuervo Especial collection is available in two different versions: Gold and Silver, and the Silver Tequila was launched in 2011. This tequila type is referred to as ‘’mixto’’ as it’s not made from 100% blue agave plants, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not tasty as the rest of the other tequilas. Instead, the alcohol volume comprises only 51% of them, and the additional 49% is distilled from other non-agave sugars, usually sugar cane.
On the other hand, the packing is attractive as it’s a square rather than a round shape, but it’s still designed for easy and quick handling. Moreover, a stylized version of the brand name appears on the front bottle with a bright blue label highlighting the fact that this product is made from blue agave. Regarding the taste, most notes are mainly agave with a hint of white pepper and a pleasing creaminess, creating a perfectly well-balanced impression.
On the palate, this tequila it’s just in the exact point of sweetness, neither gooey nor tasteless, perfect for adding that special touch. The finish features various notes such as citrus, warm agave, soft pepper, and a creamy vanilla sipper. In addition, this tequila is well-known for being easily sipped and mixed into a delicious margarita. As for the price, you’ll be surprised that this 750 ml bottle is the most affordable of the brand, costing only from $16 to $18.
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
On the other hand, the Special Gold is the other tequila in this ‘’mixto’’ category that Jose Cuervo has, and it’s also as popular and tasty as the silver. The agave plants used for its production are carefully harvested and hand-picked to ensure excellence, but the leaves are cut, leaving the hardcore behind. After that, the core is cooked in ovens for three to four days to convert the agave plant into sugar. Then the result is later placed into big containers to ferment so the yeast can transform that sugar into alcohol. As soon as the fermentation is complete, the tequila is distilled twice in copper pot spills to increase the alcohol level and concentrate the result. The newly produced tequila is combined with other distilled alcohols for the final product to enhance taste and quality.
Once you open the bottle, it displays a pleasant aroma of cracked black pepper, cocoa nibs, cedar sawdust, earth savory, lemon meringue, and black tea. While the liquid is on the glass shows a light golden color and features a sweet flavor of caramel, herbaceous agave, and mild white pepper. This sweetness increases as the glass sit, and you can even catch an almost rum-like taste of sugar cane. Also, the agave’s light fruitiness is complemented by notes of green herbal, savory, floral, leather, pine, and a slight touch of honeysuckle. Like every tequila from Jose Cuervo, this spirit is perfect for Margaritas; the result is perfect for the palate and tastes delicious. This exquisite and refreshing drink is available in a 750 ml presentation at your favorite retail shop for a low price of $15.99.
Jose Cuervo Tequila Cristalino
Unlike the standard ‘’mixto’’ version of Jose Cuervo, this tequila is made from 100% blue agave plants. The tequilas from this brand usually come in similar bottles, but this one seems like they invested a little more time and attention into the packaging to make it more appealing. The bottle’s shape is similar to others, with a cylindrical body and rounded shoulder flowing into a medium-length neck, but it has an additional ring around the transition. The thick glass base appears to be designed to catch the light from an underlit shelf and focus it into the bottle. A series of rings of increasingly small dots radiate out from the center of the label, replacing the sharp edges found on the other versions of this line. Plus, a shiny metallic stopper and corks top off the bottle create an eye-catching and innovative design.
Moreover, the filtration process is excellent as the drink is crystal clear, but the aromas coming from the glass are still powerful, indicating barrel aging. The flavor has notes of agave, black pepper spice, lemon citrus, and a hint of brown sugar from the barrel aging in the ground. Plus, a hint of vanilla and brown sugar are brought in to give it a very smooth texture and taste as the flavor develops, followed by a touch of citrus zest. On the finish, you’ll primarily experience how the herbal agave and brown sugar interact nicely on your palate. The 750 ml bottle of Jose Cuervo Tequila Cristalino has 40% of ABV and is available for approximately $34.99.
Summary
When this brand was created, Don José Antonio de Cuervo probably never imagined the impact and success his company would have in the future. Nowadays, just mentioning Jose Cuervo immediately evokes exquisite flavors and unforgettable memories created with a bottle of its collection. You just read a few examples, but Jose Cuervo offers a wide and delicious range of tequila that satisfies even the pickiest palates. What’s best is that despite being one of the best tequila products in the world, its price is very affordable, and every product is perfect for any occasion. So if you’re looking for a high-quality and tasty tequila for a small family reunion or a big party, Tequila Jose Cuervo has your back!
