Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia
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 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 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
Served neat in a tequila glass
Glencairn & Riedel Glassware Recommendations
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