Sierra Tequila is known worldwide for its unique shot ritual: Cinnamon - Sierra Tequila Reposado - orange. Zignum Añejo also received a Silver award because of its “resinous” qualities on the palate and for being “well rounded and balanced”. “I would say these weren’t traditional mezcals, but they were well aged, good añejos,” said Gomez. “Reposado and añejo is not traditional in the mezcal world, but more and more producers are ageing their products, following the Tequila, rum and whisky industries to be more accessible and friendly for the market. These products did this pretty well.” Sierra Tequila Reposado is traditionally twice distilled in copper pot stills. The Mexican tequila is matured for up to 9 months in toasted ex-American oak barrels, giving this incorruptible, gold brown color. This type of production is known as "Reposado", meaning "recovering, calm or approved". The special feature of the production of the Sierra Tequila Reposado is that only blue agave are used which have grown more than eight years in the province of Jalisco. In the super-premium contingent, Patrón Añejo Tequila secured the top accolade. The Tequila still had distinct agave flavours, but maturation had “mellowed things nicely”, finishing with a “little pepper and slight saltiness on the palate”. Like pure gold, the Sierra Tequila Reposado Mexican Gold radiates through the white transparent glass of the stylishly designed bottle in the authentic Mexican design.

Prousaefs was pleased to see a “very solid round”. Tanner added: “This was great value for money.” Lovely complexity

The opening flight of Mixto Tequila – Blanco delivered a set of Silver medals for El Sueño Tequila Silver and Sierra Tequila Silver. El Sueño Tequila Silver was “light and bright” on the nose, with “delicate citrus and a peppery palate”. Sierra Tequila Silver had a “slight nuttiness”, but was found to be “what you’d expect” from a mixto blanco – “solid”, noted one judge. Lobos 1707 Extra Añejo Tequila also gained a Master title for being “elegant”, with a “nice balance of flavours”. Silky texture El Tequileño Reposado Rare received a Gold in this flight, hailed for its “slightly floral aroma” with “pepperiness” on the palate and a “long finish”. Fellow Gold medallist The Bad Stuff Reserva Especial Extra Añejo had plenty of “lime zest and pepper” on the nose, which led to a “well rounded and balanced” spirit. Tequila Avíon Reserva 44 was awarded a Silver medal, with its “agave aromas mixed with some icing sugar sweetness”. One of four Gold medals in this flight went to stablemate The Lost Explorer Mezcal Tobala. This mezcal had a “chocolatey aroma, slight vegetal notes and a hint of smoke” creating a “complex and well balanced” mezcal. Yola Mezcal 1971 also received the Gold seal of approval, with its “fruity pear drops” nose and “ripe agave”, which again would make it accessible for those new to the mezcal category. Reflecting on the 2021 tasting and the standard of entries, Gomez noted the resilience of Tequila and mezcal to continue to connect with consumers – particularly given the challenges of 2020.

After much consideration, the judges agreed to award the coveted Taste Master title to Sierra Milenario Tequila Extra Añejo. Pushing the boundaries The final 100% agave Tequila flight was the ultra-premium extra añejo, which proved to be a very strong flight indeed. Fraternity Spirits received a Master medal for Corralejo 1821. “The appearance is perfect; it has a very nice balance between wood aromas, flavours and agave notes,” enthused Gomez. “It’s sweet, but not too sweet, not too woody. I think it is definitely worth the money you’d pay for it. I think if you get this quality it’s very good; complex enough for an extra añejo.” In conclusion, Sierra Tequila Reposado is a smooth and aromatic tequila, with notes of caramel, vanilla and spices, making it perfect to enjoy on any occasion. Its traditional winemaking process and careful aging in oak barrels make it a true treasure of Mexico. Undoubtedly, a drink worth trying. Summary Tequila Sierra Reposado

Four Gold medals were also awarded in this round, including one for Gran Centenario Leyenda. The Tequila had a “silky, luxurious texture” and a “nice dryness” on the finish. Decadent and luxurious are just some of the adjectives used to describe tequilas that fall into the extra añejo category. A newer class that was added in 2006, these premium tequilas are barrel-aged for a minimum of three years (also in barrels that cannot exceed 600 liters), but can spend even longer in wood depending on the distiller. Varying in color from deep gold to reddish-brown, extra añejos are smooth, complex, and offer drinkers a unique experience like no other spirit. Cristalino The ultra-premium añejo round also supplied three Gold medallists: Tequila Gran Diamante – Añejo, Sierra Milenario Tequila Añejo, and Corralejo 99,000 Horas. Tequila Gran Diamante – Añejo was described as being “beautifully rounded, complex and balanced”. Meanwhile, Sierra Milenario Tequila Añejo’s “oily texture” gave a “luxurious feel” to the Tequila, and was said to be simply “delicious”. Corralejo 99,000 Horas was found to be full of “raisins and dried fruit” on the nose, with “medjool dates and a good overall balance” on the palate. Chambers said: “This feels like a category where producers are trying to experiment and push the limits a little bit within the rules. It was a pretty great flight.” But The Tequila & Mezcal Masters is about quality, not quantity, and that is precisely what the 2021 blind tasting set out to confirm. The pandemic meant the tasting was once again held remotely from the safety of the judges’ London homes. Each entry was kept closely guarded from the judges thanks to Wine Sorted, which decanted and shipped each bottling to guarantee total anonymity throughout the assessment.

As we moved from on to 100% agave Tequilas, Patrón Silver Tequila took home a coveted Gold medal in the Super-Premium Blanco flight. The Tequila delivered a “bright, fresh” aroma, which led to “agave and pepperiness” on the palate. Corralejo Blanco Tequila received a respectable Silver. In the more costly super‐premium price range, a Master was awarded to Olmeca Altos Reposado. Athavia noted the “fantastic integration of the oak on the palate”, which she said gave the Tequila “body, texture and a hint of sweetness”. Among the five Gold winners in this flight was Calirosa Tequila Añejo, with its “dessert‐like” palate and “dry” finish, with “some marzipan and nuttiness”. The Spirits Business held its annual Tequila & Mezcal Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges uncovered some of the category’s best expressions available on the global market.Sierra Reposado Tequila has a bright gold color, and its flavor is sweet with predominant notes of caramel and hints of vanilla. It also has small hints of orange with touches of vanilla and coconut. Its aroma is fruity, with delicate notes of vanilla and caramel, as well as essences of herbs and spices. International awards

Winemaking process: double distillation in copper stills, aging for 9 months in toasted oak barrels.

Winner of 3 spirit awards

This was well balanced with good agave notes, good mineral flavours; the barrel influence was there but not too much,” added Gomez. “It gave the Tequila just the right balance.” Four Silver medals were also awarded to San Cosme Mezcal, The Lost Explorer Mezcal Espadin, Recuerdo Joven and Lokita Tobala. Agave-based spirits have never been so highly sought after and there is some exceptional liquid now on the market. We round up the expressions that took home the top awards in our recent blind-tasting competition. SB presents award-winning bottlings from its Tequila & Mezcal Masters The judges then turned their attention to aged Tequilas, beginning with a flight of Mixto Tequila – Reposado. In this round, two Silver medallists were discovered. Sierra Tequila Reposado secured Silver for aromas of “fruit, vegetal notes and a touch of pepper”, leading to “some warming spice” on the palate. El Sueño Tequila Gold also took home Silver for delivering “some grassy notes” on the palate, and a “nice spiciness”.