Tequila

Reserva de la Familia - A Full Range of Super Premium Organic Tequilas from Jose Cuervo

Overview

Jose Cuervo (NOM 1122), the world's largest tequila producer, has three sub-brands at different price tiers. The Especial label is their mixto (not 100 % agave) brand, Tradicional is their 100 % agave brand, and Reserva de la Familia is their tequila portfolio's highest tier. Often shortened to just Reserva, they are small-batch tequilas compared to the other products from Jose Cuervo. The brand is crafted 100 % from only the hearts of hand-selected, fully mature eight-to-ten-year-old blue Weber agave plants sourced from their estates' richest volcanic soil. The agave plants are more commonly referred to as piñas or pineapples in Spanish because that's what they look like when they are harvested and trimmed. 

The Reserva Extra Añejo was first released in 1995 to commemorate the Cuervo family's 200-year tequila legacy, drawing from the family's best private reserves. The Extra Añejo was the only product bearing the Reserva de la Familia name for many years. Now, Reserva is a full lineup of super-premium tequilas featuring the Platino, Reposado, Private Cask Collection, Cristalino, and the OG, Extra Añejo. The meticulous care extends to the packaging. The entire packaging process, from the application of the unique label design to the wax seal featuring the Cuervo family crest, is done by hand. Each bottle is individually numbered, wrapped, and packaged in a gift box designed each year by a different Mexican artist. Starting in 2023, the entire Reserva de la Familia brand is transitioning to certified organic labeling. 

Photo by Proximo Spirits

Reserva De La Familia Organic Platino

The Platino is specially made through a unique and proprietary process called "Esencia de Agave, " which was created by Cuervo and is known only by the distillers. The operation extracts agave sweetness and aromas from the piñas, or hearts, of the agave plants. It is a meticulous method that brings the entire character, flavor, and essence of agave to life, offering a perfect balance and smoothness unmatched by other clear tequila. This product is now USDA-certified organic, unaged, and bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV) for the United States. This product is available in 750 ML and 375 ML bottles in the United States. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $65 for the 750 ML and $38 for the 375 ML.

Tasting Notes Provided by the Brand

  • Color - Bright and clear 

  • Aroma - Pepper, cooked agave, sweet on the nose with a touch of apple and parsley 

  • Flavor - Unique, sweet and spicy palate with notes of melon, honey and hay

  • Finish - Mellow & smooth

Serving Recommendations 

  • Served neat in a tequila glass 

  • Can be served chilled 

  • Can be mixed in an Elevated Margarita or Margarita variation 

Photo by Proximo Spirits

Reserva de la Familia Organic Reposado

The Reposado is distilled from 100 % fully mature agave using only the inner portion, or the heart, of the agave piña. This product is aged up to six months in three distinct barrels:

  • Heavily charred American oak

  • Lightly toasted American oak

  • Lightly toasted French oak

The heavily toasted American oak contributes baked spices, while lightly toasted American and French oaks bring mellow flavors of toffee and vanilla. Each tequila is aged separately before being blended by the Maestro Tequilero. The final product is USDA-certified organic and bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV) for the United States. This product is available in 750 ML and 375 ML bottles in the United States. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $65 for the 750 ML and $38 for the 375 ML. 

Tasting Notes Provided by the Brand

  • Color - Golden, brilliant

  • Aroma - Pepper, cooked agave, orange peel, ginger, toasted wood

  • Flavor - Tropical fruit, clove and vanilla

  • Finish - Mellow & smooth

Serving Recommendations 

  • Served neat in a tequila glass

  • Can be mixed in a Reposado Old Fashioned

Photo by Proximo Spirits

Reserva de la Familia Private Cask Collection – Edition No. 1 Colombian Oak Cask (2023)

The Reserva Private Cask Edition is a limited-time store/customer pick bottling of four distinct blends of Añejo tequila aged in a signature cask, which will change annually.  For the No. 1 Edition from 2023, each of the four distinct blends comprises a unique ratio of Añejo tequila aged in featured Colombia Oak casks and Añejo tequila aged in new American Oak casks. Reserva de la Familia features the only tequila in the world matured in rare Colombian Oak casks. Colombian Oak, also known as Andean Oak, is a species of oak tree only found in Colombia and Panama. The Colombia Oak cask was chosen for its Latin American provenance, and the unique rich chocolate and tobacco notes it imparts in the maturation process. This product is bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV) in the United States, and the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $120 for the 750 ML.

Photo by Proximo Spirits

Reserva de la Familia Añejo Cristalino Orgánico

The PX Organic Añejo Cristalino is the newest line extension from Jose Cuervo to the Reserva de la Familia brand. It is the first widely available organic Cristalino Tequila in the market and the seventh Cristalino Tequila released by parent company Proximo Spirits. This tequila is aged in American oak for a minimum of 12 months and then finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks to impart an extra Sherry sweetness and softness, with flavors of dried fruits and raisins, before being filtered as the color is carefully removed while preserving the unique Añejo flavors and achieving a crystal clear presentation. Pedro Ximénez sherry, usually shortened to PX, is a sweet fortified dessert wine from southern Spain. The final product is USDA-certified organic and bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV) for the United States in a sleek, eye-catching bottle with a long waxed neck. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $150.

Tasting Notes Provided by the Brand

  • Color - Bright and clear with distinct tearing and a pronounced body

  • Aroma - Sweet notes of cooked agave, honey, baked fruits with lasting light notes of oak

  • Flavor - Sweet and soft on the palate with rich, smooth notes of stone fruit and a refreshingly bright finish

  • Finish - Fresh and complex

Serving Recommendations 

Photo by Proximo Spirits

Reserva de la Familia Extra Añejo

The Extra Añejo is distilled from 100 % fully mature, 8 years old or more, agave using only the inner portion, or the heart, of the agave piña sourced from rich volcanic soils of the family's private single estate fields. The agave piñas are cooked in smaller ovens at La Rojeña distillery in Tequila in Jalisco, the oldest distillery in Latin America, for 48 hours: 36 hours by direct vapor and 12 hours with residual heat. The fermented agave juice is double-distilled in small batches in copper pot stills. The tequila is aged for over 3 years in a combination of small, new American, and French oak barrels charred at different levels and bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV) for the United States. The bottle is made of hand-blown glass, individually numbered, and sealed with wax. Each year, the Cuervo family commissions a Mexican-based artist to design original artwork for the collector's box. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $185 for the 750 ML.

Tasting Notes Provided by the Brand

  • Color - Dark amber tone

  • Aroma - Oak, almonds, dark chocolate, cinnamon

  • Flavor - Rich oak, toasted almonds, vanilla and cinnamon

  • Finish - Complex & smooth

Serving Recommendations 

Support The Spirits Educator

If you would like to support the content here, please click the button below to buy me a cocktail or neat pour through PayPal. You can also use Venmo @thespiritseducator.

Thank you for your support!

Glencairn & Riedel Glassware Recommendations

 

Affiliate Disclosure

The links for product recommendations in this post are affiliate links. At zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. This helps support this website so that I can continue to bring you new content.

Please Drink Responsibly.

The Complete Guide to Siempre Tequila - Where Tradition Meets Innovation (Verified Additive-Free)

Overview

Monica Sanita and Alex Lacroix co-founded Siempre. They grew Siempre into a thriving international brand from $9,000 and a credit card. Their risk paid off. They put it all on the line to build a brand inspired by Monica's grandmother's lifelong agricultural experience and creating agave spirits in Mexico. 

If you would like to learn the full backstory of how co-founder Alex Lacroix went from felon to tequila maker, I highly recommend Jeanette Hurt’s 2022 Forbes article. In 2024, Siempre partnered with wine and spirits supplier Prestige Beverage Group to expand distribution and growth.

A Note on Tequila Matchmaker

Siempre Tequila is very proud to market that their products are verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. I want to highlight who they are quickly without going too far down the rabbit hole. Please download their app or check out their website for more information. Many in the spirits industry consider Tequila Matchmaker the single source of truth in the tequila business. It is a third-party organization providing an unbiased rating system from active users and an expert panel of judges. They also conduct deep production and purchase ledger inspection and random lab analysis to provide transparency for Tequila brands, with a significant focus on legal additives.

A Note on Agave Sourcing (Los Altos vs El Valle)

I recently attended an in-depth Milagro Tequila brand training session with Luis Lopez, their West Coast brand ambassador. (Shout out, Luis, for a fantastic training. Please follow him on Instagram @chicharronesconlimon.) Luis brought up a fascinating point for English-speaking Tequila fans. William Grant & Sons, the Scottish parent company for Milagro Tequila, owns Hendrick's Gin, Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky. He said we borrow the English terms "highlands" and "lowlands" from Scotch to describe Los Altos and El Valle, the primary growing areas for Blue Weber agave in Jalisco. Jalisco has a lot of elevation, so calling any area the lowlands is inaccurate. Luis recommends sticking to the Spanish terms Los Altos and El Valle to sound more informed about Tequila.

He described the difference between agave sourced from Los Altos and El Valle in the following way:

The Los Altos region has high altitudes, extreme temperature swings, and a higher iron-rich soil mineral content. The agave matures slower with a higher sugar yield. The flavor of the agave from Los Altos will typically be fruitier, sweeter, lighter, and floral. 

The El Valle region has harsh, dry weather and dry volcanic soil with few minerals. It's a tougher region on the agave, and the plants are less hydrated. The flavor of El Valle agave is typically spicer, earthy, and vegetal, with aromas of herbs, grass, and minerals. 

Photo by Prestige Beverage Group

Siempre Plata

The Plata label is double distilled in copper pot stills at the Feliciano Vivanco y Asociados distillery (NOM 1414) in Arandas, Jalisco, from 100 % blue Weber agave sourced from the Los Altos region. The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens, crushed using a roller mill, and open-air fermented using a rum and Champagne yeast strain. The brand also has a unique fermentation process called the Mozart Method, where they play classical music to the yeast during fermentation. I wonder if it is always exclusively Mozart or if they rotate composers. The water source used comes from a deep well. The final product is bottled unaged at 80 proof (40 % ABV) and verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. Co-founder Monica Sanita wanted the Plata to be carefully balanced, soft enough for newcomers, yet complex enough for enthusiasts. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Plata is $49.99, but I have found it in my home market between $37 and $39.

Recommended Glassware - Riedel Drink Specific Double Rocks

Photo by Prestige Beverage Group

Siempre Reposado

The Reposado label is double distilled in copper pot stills at the Feliciano Vivanco y Asociados distillery (NOM 1414) in Arandas, Jalisco, from 100 % blue Weber agave sourced from a single estate in the Los Altos region. Sourcing the agave from a smaller and more defined location, or a single estate, is the first sign of increased quality for this product compared to the Plata. The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens, crushed using a roller mill, and open-air fermented using a rum and Champagne yeast strain. The water source used comes from a deep well. Next, the tequila is aged 2 to 6 months in American white oak vats with a deep hand-fired char called pipónes. The final product is bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV) and verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Reposado is $54.99, but I have found it in my home market between $42 and $44.

Recommended Glassware - Riedel Drink Specific Double Rocks

Photo by Prestige Beverage Group

Siempre Añejo

The Añejo label is a perfect bridge product for whiskey lovers. It is double distilled in stainless steel with copper parts at the Casa Maestri, Destiladora del Valle de Tequila (NOM 1438) in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, from 100 % blue Weber agave sourced from 50 % Los Altos and 50 % El Valle. The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens, crushed using a roller mill, and open-air fermented using an agave yeast strain. The water source used comes from a volcanic spring. Next, the tequila is aged up to 36 months in American oak bourbon barrels.  The final product is bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV) and verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Añejo is $60, but I have found it in my home market between $52 and $54.

The Añejo is the first product from Siempre, where you can see some significant differences compared to the Plata and Reposado. The Añejo is distilled at a different distillery with a slightly different still. It uses a different yeast strain without classical music, water, and agave sources.

Recommended Glassware - Glencairn Whisky Glass

Photo by Prestige Beverage Group

Siempre Supremo

Siempre Supremo is a complex old-world, high-proof, wild-fermented blanco tequila made from 100% tahona-crushed Supremo agave, known for its high price and superior sugar content. It is double distilled in stainless steel with copper parts at La Cofradia distillery (NOM 1137) in Tequila, Jalisco, from 100 % "supremo" blue Weber agave sourced from the Los Altos region. More on Supremo Agave later. The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens, 100 % Tahona-crushed, and open-air wild fermented with the agave fibers. The water source used comes from a volcanic spring. The final product is bottled unaged at still-proof between 90-110 (45-55 % ABV) and is verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Supremo is $70, but I have found it in my home market between $78 and $81.

I wanted more clarification on what they meant by "supremo" agave, so I contacted an employee of the brand. They said, "Supremo means the agave was harvested at their peak maturity, anywhere from 6 to even sometimes 12 years. Hand-picked from every harvest, significantly larger and higher in brix content. Every time the agave is harvested, we receive a GUIA, which shows which location they were harvested from and the agave maturity. These factors determine whether or not we classify the agave as "Supremo."

Recommended Glassware - Riedel Tequila Tasting Glass

Photo by Prestige Beverage Group

Siempre Rebel Cask

The Rebel Cask Reposado began as a single-barrel program. Still, it evolved into a limited series with various releases aged entirely (not just finished) in bespoke oak barrels from around the world. The name refers to a rebellious twist on tradition because each micro-batch is unique. It is double distilled in stainless steel with copper parts at La Cofradia distillery (NOM 1137) in Tequila, Jalisco, from 100 % supremo blue Weber agave sourced from the Los Altos region. The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens, crushed using a Tahona and screw mill, and open-air fermented with agave fibers using a Champagne yeast strain. The water source used comes from a volcanic spring. The aging for the Rebel Cask Reposado will vary per barrel based on the series but could be between 2 and 24 months. The final product is bottled at 84 proof (42 % ABV) and is verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Rebel Cask is $80, but I have found it in my home market between $68 and $70.

Recommended Glassware - Glencairn Whisky Glass

Photo by Prestige Beverage Group

Siempre Exclusivo Vivo

The Vivo is an ultra-limited yearly expression that draws production inspiration from Mezcal and Peruvian pisco. It is slowly double distilled in copper pot stills with the live yeast at the Feliciano Vivanco y Asociados distillery (NOM 1414) in Arandas, Jalisco, from 100 % blue Weber agave sourced from El Chivo in Arandas. The agave is cooked in stone and brick ovens, crushed using low-pressure roller mills, and open-air wild fermented with classical music. Usually, when fermentation is complete and there is no more sugar to convent into alcohol, the active or live yeast will die off before distillation. What sets Vivo apart is that they distill using live yeast, so they do not let the fermentation end before distilling. The water source used is deep well water. The final product is bottled unaged and uncut without any water dilution at 95 proof (47.5 % ABV) and is verified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Exlusivo Vivo is $120, but I have found it in my home market between $103 and $107.

Recommended Glassware - Riedel Tequila Tasting Glass

Support The Spirits Educator

If you would like to support the content here, please click the button below to buy me a cocktail or neat pour through PayPal. You can also use Venmo @thespiritseducator.

Thank you for your support!

Skip the Hangover and Hydrate Naturally with Vita Coco Organic Coconut Water

Affiliate Disclosure

The links for product recommendations in this post are affiliate links. At zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. This helps support this website so that I can continue to bring you new content.

Please Drink Responsibly.