The World’s Best Tequila — According to the 2023 Tasting Alliance World Championship

The growth of tequila and mezcal over the past decade has been nothing short of meteoric. Sales of Mexican agave spirits totaled $6.5 billion in 2023, according to the latest tracking data from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. This represents a 7.9% year-over-year increase in U.S. stores. That is, he is not only one of the fastest growing styles, but also second only to vodka in total numbers.

In fact, within the next two years, tequila itself is on track to overtake vodka as the most popular spirit category in the United States. Let’s think about that for a moment.Vodka could be — and teeth— Distilled anywhere on Earth. It can be distilled from any fermentable raw material imaginable.tequila can only They come from a specific region of Mexico, either the state of Jalisco or one of the four neighboring states.and it is possible only It is made from one specific type of plant: the Blue Weber agave. Truly exceptional.

But tequila’s explosive success also means there’s a glut of products on the shelves, and not all of them are worth paying for. Tasting Alliance is here to help you spend your money wisely. Last week, we talked extensively about the organization and how it has announced a kind of International Liquor Olympics. Today, we are exclusively announcing the top tequila bottle selected by our world-class panel of judges. Don Vicente Extra Añejo, please step up to the top of the podium.

Profile Tequila was produced in the highlands of Jalisco, Destilleria El Pandillo. This is the same prestigious outpost in charge of ArteNOM Selección de 1579. Here the agave is ground in a tahona (traditional stone roller mill) and cooked in a brick oven. Like other Extra Añejos, the liquid was aged in barrels for a minimum of three years. For this particular 80 proof spirit, maturation took place primarily in American white oak barrels.

Attention to detail in fermentation, distillation, and aging creates a tequila with supernatural characteristics. Explosively aromatic, full of tropical fruit and toffee. But the real beauty is in the bite. An oily mouthfeel coats the tongue in vanilla custard, and the creaminess lingers through the finish, with tickling notes of freshly cracked black pepper and molasses hanging in the air for several minutes. A refreshing and enjoyable drinking experience.

Don Vicente was previously named Best in Class Tequila at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. To take home this top honor, it had to outperform the best-in-class tequilas from the New York Spirits Competition and the Singapore World Spirits Competition in a blind tasting. Volcan De Mi Tierra Extra Anejo and Cierto Reposado respectively.

Currently, the highly acclaimed Extra Añejo is on shelves for around $170 a bottle. However, such prestigious awards tend to influence the price. So don’t be surprised to see more listed in the coming months. Stay up to date as more World Champion Spirits are announced throughout 2024. Follow us as news drops.