Centinela Tequila Blanco

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T September 18, 2008
 
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Centinela Tequila Blanco

Tequila Review

Brand
Centinela
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Oven Type
Extraction Method
Distillation
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Tasting Awards
2012 TEQUILA.net Awards - "Best of the Best" Best Highland Blanco Tequila
2012 TEQUILA.net Awards - Best of the Best

Tequila Centinela Blanco

Tequila Centinela Blanco is 100% Agave and produced at Tequila Centinela in Arandas, Jalisco.

Tequila Centinela was established in 1904 and was the first distillery located in Arandas, Jalisco. Centinela means "the one to watch and keep".

The process has not changed; we combine tradition with top technology to ensure the consistency in our products. Our Agaves take approximately 8 years to mature, and are hand-picked at their peak from our own Agave fields. We also buy 20% from local producers to help the region's economy. Our Jimador's are hired as full time workers and are paid a salary. The Jimador's are trained to cut the pencas extremely close to the pina to prevent any bitter flavors during cooking.

We take our time cooking the Agave as this is crucial in our tasting profile. We use a clay oven (compared to others that use stainless steel ovens) that gives our cooked Agaves a smoky flavor, and a sweet after taste. Tequila Centinela slow cooks with steam and this process takes approximately 24 hours. In the first 4 hours we get, by gravity, some liquids from the cooked agave that we discard, to eliminate impurities and "the amargo" (the bitter). The cooked Agave is then allowed to settle and cool for an additional 24 hours.

For the extraction or the grinding process, we have 2 mills with 5 press each, they crush and wash the fibers in a gentle way. The reason is not to tear the fibers so they don't release bad flavors in the juices (other distilleries use more industrial machinery for this process, like the "diffusor" that cooks and rinses the Agave in one process, it saves time, but it compromises the flavor). The extracted juice is called "Aguamiel" (honey water), and is very sweet with high sugar content, which is what is needed to create alcohol in the fermentation process. The "Aguamiel" goes to the fermentation; Our yeast is natural and it comes from the environment, and is controlled. This process takes from 3 to 5 days, as the yeast starts converting the sugars into alcohol.

The first distillation is called "destrozamiento" (5 hours), we get rid of the "heads and tails" (colas y cabezas) and the heart in this process is called "ordinario". The second distillation is called "rectificacion" (10 hours), again we cut the "heads and tails", and now the heart of the second distillation is called Tequila.



User reviews

2 reviews
Overall rating
 
92
Aroma-Nose
 
91(2)
Initial Taste
 
92(2)
Body
 
92(2)
Finish
 
92(2)
Enjoyability
 
92(2)
Price
 
93(2)
Presentation
 
90(2)
Overall rating
 
91
Aroma-Nose
 
90
Initial Taste
 
91
Body
 
92
Finish
 
91
Enjoyability
 
91
Price
 
92
Presentation
 
90
I've long been a fan of the Centinela brand in the older round bottles. I've been told that when the bottles changed, so did the formula, so I'm hoping that I'm not disappointed as this is my first taste of the blanco from the square bottle.

Aroma: Very nice cooked agave nose with floral notes. Maybe a hint of white pepper as well.
Initial Taste: Nice and thick agave filled entry. A well balanced sweetness with just enough spice to round it out.
Body: A great oily body. Hints of cinnamon and pepper give it a powerful, but very tasty spice. Just a hint of earth rounds it out.
Finish: A medium length finish with a nice agave punch and pepper linger. Very classic.

This is an authentically well made blanco. It has all of the elements that you look for, but it adds a bit extra in the cinnamon/spice hint to make it stand out. For under $40, this is a blanco that is definitely worthy of a place on your shelf. It's not quite as fruity as the old Centinela, but that doesn't mean it's not good. If you like a good blanco, check this one out.


TT
#1 Reviewer 414 reviews
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Overall rating
 
92
Aroma-Nose
 
92
Initial Taste
 
92
Body
 
92
Finish
 
92
Enjoyability
 
92
Price
 
93
Presentation
 
90
Tasted out of a snifter. Clear in color with nice to boot, Centinela blanco is truly a classic. I don't know what it is, but there's something very 'old school' about it. I know it's an older distillery and I'd have to say thats the impression it gives off. Very old school, and traditional. I tried this at El Carmen, and Im having a hard time finding a bottle. Someone said the blanco is only available in Mexico, but then how did El Carmen have it? In any case, a very nice blanco that I highly recommend to new and seasoned tequila drinkers. This blanco's key is subtlety, done right.

Aroma: A light aroma consisting of grass and floral (violet). Light, yet it really works.
Initial Taste: A semi-oily mouth feel, a semi-heated entry with no bitterness. An initial taste of tropical fruit.
Body: A very nicely balanced, yet subtle body of agave, with hints fruit, floral, and earth.
Finish: A slightly heated finish of long duration with a lingering of floral.
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