What's the Difference

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

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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? - Yellowstone Toasted vs Yellowstone Rum Cask

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Yellowstone Toasted, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Toasted Oak Staves

The Yellowstone Toasted was the first release in the "Special Finishes Collection." This product starts as the 4-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 13 % rye, and 12 % malted barley used for the Yellowstone Select. Next, the bourbon is finished with toasted staves for an undisclosed period. The brand offers little transparency on this product, but they tell us they use at least five toast-style staves. The staves used for the second finishing are described as high toast, American oak double toast, high vanilla, rick house, and spice rack staves. The final product is bottled at 100 proof (50 % ABV). Yellowstone Toasted won a double gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

I'll provide a general explanation for toasted-finished bourbons because they are so popular these days. Once the base bourbon has reached the target flavor profile, in this case, it's around four years, and additional wooden staves are added inside that barrel for a specific period. For Yellowstone Toasted, the company does not tell us how long they finish this product. The added staves have been toasted for particular lengths to generate an ideal flavor they might impart. For example, specific toasting methods might develop a strong vanilla or coffee flavor in the whiskey. Usually, a producer will add a combination of staves, imparting different types of oak flavor and hopefully creating greater complexity.

  • Nose - Toasted caramel, vanilla, hints of fall spices and cinnamon

  • Palate - Walnut, toffee, black tea and white pepper

  • Finish - Cocoa and tobacco with a crisp oak finish

Yellowstone Rum Cask, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks

The Yellowstone Rum Cask is the second release in the "Special Finishes Collection." At the time of writing, in October 2024, this is the newest release from the brand. This product starts as the 4-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 13 % rye, and 12 % malted barley used for the Yellowstone Select. Next, the bourbon is cask-finished for 9 weeks in rum barrels sourced from Havana, Cuba. The final product is bottled at 100 proof (50 % ABV). 

  • Nose - Gingerbread, poached pear and fresh-cut hay

  • Palate - Toasted marshmallow, crème brûlée, toffee and toasted oak

  • Finish - Tobacco, clove and cocoa-seasoned oak with a long honey finish

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Glencairn & Riedel Glassware Recommendations

 

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Please Drink Responsibly.

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What's the Difference? - Yellowstone Select Bourbon vs Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey

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Photo by Yellowstone

Yellowstone Select, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Yellowstone Select is the brand's flagship product. It combines 4-year-old and 7-year-old bourbon distilled from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 13 % rye, and 12 % malted barley and bottled at 93 proof (46.5 % ABV). Yellowstone Select won a gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

  • Note - Rye spice with soft, leathered cherries

  • Palate - Smoked caramel with hints of vanilla and honey

  • Finish - Smoky oak brown sugar

Photo by Yellowstone

Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey

The Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey is not a bourbon but a 4-year-old whiskey distilled from malted barley at a single distillery. They do not disclose what style of malt(s) they use. This product is bottled at 108 proof (54 % ABV). 

  • Nose - Cereal malt and honey with a hint of peach blossom

  • Palate - Sweet medium body with notes of honey, pear, stone fruit and dates

  • Finish - Notes of oak with hints of cinnamon and English walnuts

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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)

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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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What's the Difference? - Bushmills 10 Year-Old vs Bushmills 12 Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Bushmills Irish Whiskey - The Brand

Bushmills is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. King James granted the original license to distill on April 20, 1608. The brand specializes in two styles of whiskey: unpeated Irish Single Malt and Blended Irish Whiskey, with a high proportion of single malt whiskey in the final blend, unique for the Irish whiskey category. The distillery is located in Bushmills in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, on the River Bush, where the mills initially processed the grain to make whiskey. The water from the River Bush is still used to distill and proof down the whiskey. This river is filtered through the volcanic bedrock and flows from the village of Bushmills to the world-famous Giant’s Causeway. Single Malt whiskey forms the backbone for all expressions of Bushmills. All their Single Malt whiskey is triple-distilled in traditional Irish copper pot, and the proprietary design has been the brand’s logo for three centuries. All barley is 100 % sourced from the Island of Ireland, and all Bourbon barrels are sourced from Kelvin Cooperage.

Bushmills 10-Year-Old Single Malt

The Bushmills 10-Year-Old is the gateway expression to the brand’s Single Malt line-up. Unlike the blended expressions, which contain a proportion of lighter grain whiskey distilled from corn or wheat, their Single Malt whiskey is triple distilled in copper pot stills from 100 % Irish malted barley at a single distillery. This style of Irish whiskey changed when the British Crown imposed a tax on malted barley in the mid-1800s, causing most distilleries to switch to corn or to include unmalted barley. Bushmills continues the original process, and their Single Malts are “pure malts” with no peat or smoked malt. The 10-Year-Old expression is matured for a minimum of ten years separately in ex-Bourbon barrels, sourced from the Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky, and Oloroso Sherry casks, before being blended and bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV). This product is the favorite of Bushmills Master Blender Helen Mulholland, Ireland’s first female Master Blender.

Bushmills 12-Year-Old Single Malt

The Bushmills 12-Year-Old expression is the newest addition to the single malt lineup and was designed to offer customers a bridge product between the 10 Year-old and 16-Year-Old expressions. This expression is triple distilled from 100 % Irish malted barley and matured for a minimum of 11 years in former sherry casks and bourbon barrels before combing and finishing for 6-9 months in Marsala wine casks, which is a fortified wine from Sicily, a large island south of the Italian Peninsula. This product is bottled at 80 proof (40 % ABV).

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What's the Difference? - Penelope Toasted Bourbon vs Penelope Toasted Rye

Penelope - The Brand

Michael Paladini founded Penelope Bourbon. He and his wife, Kerry, struggled to conceive a child, but Kerry finally became pregnant. The couple knew they would have a girl and wanted to name her Penelope. Mike wanted to create a bourbon brand to celebrate this moment every day. Partnering with his lifelong friend Danny Polise, he sourced the spirit from MGP (Midwest Grain Products), now called Ross & Squibb, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. They chose a unique blend of three bourbon mash bills to set the brand apart from other MGP products. The brand began with the four-grain, white label, which is still the brand's flagship product. Penelope was later acquired by the Luxco & MGP parent company, which will give the brand access to older barrels and also elevate production. Items that may have been extremely limited in the past should have more volume across the board. Mike will still be very involved in innovations, and Danny will maintain his position as master blender.

Penelope Toasted Bourbon, Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Toasted Series is distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, from a mash bill of 75 % corn, 21 % rye, and 4 % malted barley. Unlike the Four Grain and Barrel Strength, this mash bill is not a blend. The bourbon is aged 5 years in a charred new American Oak barrel and finished in a second new American Oak toasted barrel. The char level of the first barrel can range from # 1 to # 5, and the toast level of the second barrel can be light, medium, or heavy, depending on the batch. This product is non-chill filtered and bottled in small batches at 100 proof (50 % ABV). Charring a barrel is similar to flame-throwing the wood while toasting is more similar to holding a lighter to the wood. The comparison that is often used is toasting bread in a toaster. The Toasted won a gold medal in 2022 at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

  • Aroma - Rich caramel & vanilla

  • Body - Bold on the palate with notes of marshmallow &vanilla

  • Finish - Long savory finish that leaves a nice hug

Penelope Toasted Rye, Straight Rye Whiskey

The Toasted Rye is also distilled at the Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, from a mash bill of 95 % rye and 5 % malted barley. Like the Toasted Bourbon label, this mash bill is not a blend. The rye whiskey is aged 6 years in charred new American Oak barrels and finished in new, freshly toasted barrels. My bottle (batch # 24-504) received a # 2 char and a heavy toast. This product is non-chill filtered and bottled in small batches at 100 proof (50 % ABV). The Toasted Rye won a double gold medal in 2024  at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

  • Aroma - Decadent on the nose with bold sweet caramel and hints of mint

  • Body - Vanilla, toasted marshmallow, hints of light tobacco and fruit

  • Finish - Long finish, sweet desert character, orange peel with a subtle spice note

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Please Drink Responsibly.