1800 Milenio Extra Añejo Tequila.

If it feels like tequila-based drinks are popping up on cocktail lists everywhere, rest assured, you’re not hallucinating. Tequila, a spirit once consigned to shooters and, even worse, hangovers, is suddenly everyone’s favorite spirit.

As the second most popular spirit in America, only vodka has a larger share; tequila is having its long overdue moment in the spotlight. Much like bourbon, another North American original that has recently been rediscovered by drinkers, a big reason that tequila is booming is the emergence of a plethora of high-quality brands on the market.

These premium and ultra-premium tequilas from Mexico have completely transformed how people view tequila. While it still nicely fits into the party drink category, it is quickly gathering a wide array of fans as an excellent sipping liquor and the perfect base for a memorable cocktail.

The International Wine & Spirits Competition, a venerable and renowned global event, recently announced the winners of its 2024 competition. This prestigious contest, held every year in London, utilizes a blind taste-testing method to score up to 100 points. This year, out of thousands of entries, 107 bottles, including two exceptional tequilas, achieved the Gold Outstanding Medal by scoring 98 points or more. These top-scoring tequilas are both widely available for purchase.

1800 Milenio Extra Añejo Tequila

This exceptional tequila first came into production in 2000 and has been impressing judges and tequila enthusiasts regularly with its releases. Produced at the historic La Rojeña Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico’s tequila heartland, it shares its birthplace with other famous brands like Jose Cuervo and Gran Centenario. Launched in 1975, 1800 Tequila was among the pioneers in crafting premium tequilas, effectively transforming global perceptions of the spirit. The 1800 Milenio Extra Añjeo, their flagship product, is crafted from 100% blue Weber agave, which is carefully grown and harvested at the peak of maturity on family-owned estates in Tequila, Mexico. It undergoes a meticulous and prolonged aging process to achieve its distinctive quality.

After a two-year aging process in oak barrels, the beverage was further refined in French Oak Cognac barrels for a brief period, achieving a famously smooth and well-balanced flavor profile. Currently, it is available for purchase at about $249 per bottle. You can buy it here.

The judging panel commented, “Luscious stone fruit and red apple aromas lead to a perfect mix of alcohol and sweetness in taste. The experience is enriched with a profound mouthfeel and a spicy finish that lingers.”

Lunazul Primero Humosa Blanco Tequila.

Lunazul Primero Humoso Blanco Tequila

When Lunazul Tequila was launched in 2004, it was met with great anticipation. Established by Francisco Beckmann, who comes from the longest-standing tequila-producing lineage in Mexico, his goal was to craft premium, small-batch tequilas that would reveal the intricate tastes of a frequently misunderstood spirit.

To do this, Beckmann established Tierra de Agaves, a boutique distillery nestled within the expanse of the Beckmann family’s vast agave fields, one of the globe’s largest. The distillery prides itself on using only ingredients harvested from their lands, producing tequilas that have consistently won accolades for their robust taste profiles.

Lunazul Primero Humoso Blanco Tequila stands out by combining the smokiness typical of Mezcal with the smooth finish characteristic of a classic Blanco. This is epitomized by its name “humoso”, which translates to ‘smoky’ in Spanish.

This exceptional smoked tequila, crafted using a combination of mesquite wood-smoked agave and fresh blue Weber Agave, offers a distinct taste. Ideal for sipping neat or as a versatile base for various cocktails, it is available at a retail price of $29.99. You can purchase it here.

Here is what the judges had to say about it: “Fresh grass and peppermint creaminess with a whisper of smoke. Rounded and earthy, showcasing nuances of root with tropical and citrus aromatics. Smoothly rounded and balanced with vibrant fruitiness and earthy spices, revealing balsamic and citrus on the lingering finish.”

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