Tequila

Reserva de la Familia Platino Tequila vs Reserva de la Familia Cristino Tequila

Reserva De La Familia - The Brand

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 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 


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Glencairn & Riedel Glassware Recommendations


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What's the Difference? - Siempre Plata Tequila vs Siempre Supremo Tequila (Verified Additive-Free)

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 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


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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.