Although Mexico is known for many great things, one thing that puts the South American country on the map is its wide variety of popular tequila brands. There are many reasons why tequila is so popular in Mexico, including the fact that this alcoholic drink has been enjoyed in the country for many centuries, which makes it the country’s symbol of pride. This article offers you the 6 most popular brands of tequila from Mexico.
6 Famous Brands of Tequila from Mexico
Tequila has made a name for itself in Mexico where it has been enjoyed for centuries. This alcoholic beverage is believed to have originated in Mexico during the 1910 Revolution, following the collapse of the Diaz regime. Tequila was associated with Mexican rebels and heroes of the time.
It was also trafficked to America for troops manning the American-Mexican border. This contributed immensely to its popularity in the United States. Soon, tequila became the symbol of Mexican pride as more Mexicans replaced their passion for French champagne brands with an appetite for tequila from local distillers.
The revolution led Mexicans to develop an unwavering patriotic fervor for Mexican products, making tequila the most popular alcoholic drink in the country. This led to the emergence of many popular tequila brands. Tequila is a type of distilled alcoholic drink brewed from the popular blue agave plant.
This drink acquires its name from the city of Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco in western Mexico. This city is known to be the main source of the blue agave plant. The abundance of the blue agave plant in Mexico has led to the emergence of many distilleries that specialize in brewing tequila.
This has led to a tremendous increase in the number of tequila brands in Mexico. If you love tequila, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you’re looking for the right Mexican brand. Here are some of the most popular tequila brands from Mexico that you can try.
1. Jimador Blanco
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Jimador Blanco is one of the best-selling tequila brands in Mexico. Despite its popularity, this brand is one of the most affordable alcoholic drinks in the country, retailing for only $17 ($300 Mexican pesos). Aside from the fact that it’s one of the most pocket-friendly tequila brands, Jimador Blanco is the favorite alcoholic beverage for a wide variety of consumers in the country.
This tequila brand is commonly used to prepare cocktails by mixing it with other drinks, including grape juice, pineapple juice, Coke, and grapefruit soda among others. Jimador Blanco has a very strong note of medicinal alcohol, combined with agave. It also features a heavy taste of black pepper.
Your first sip of Jimador Blanco will deliver a heavy hint of alcohol and black pepper on your palate. But it’ll eventually mellow out, leaving you with a taste of fruits, as well as the agave hint. However, it’s important to mention that the taste of alcohol doesn’t fizzle out completely.
This tequila brand is a product of Casa Herradura, which is one of the oldest distilleries in Mexico having been established in 1870. You can use this tequila to make a wide range of cocktails, including Tequila Shooter, Ranch Water, Cheap Margaritas, and Tequila Sunrise.
2. Jose Cuervo Silver
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Jose Cuervo is the oldest commercial distiller in Mexico and it brews a fifth of all the tequila sold across the world. This makes it one of the most popular tequila brands from Mexico, if not the most popular brand. It has a pleasing minty aroma merged with moderate agave, black pepper, and a hint of grapefruit.
On the palate, it offers a peppery taste, which changes gradually to a hint of grapefruit and agave. This is followed by a plain and floral undertone. The final taste features a moderate burn of alcohol along with a hint of mint, agave, and citrus.
Jose Cuervo is served neat or on ice rocks. Ice helps to tone down the peppery taste, giving it a more approachable flavor. Although this isn’t the most complex tequila brand, it’s quite serviceable and a good mixer for parties and domestic use, especially when you’re working on a small budget.
3. Gran Centenario Plata
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With an alcohol content of 80 proof (40% ABV), Gran Centenario Plata is a great ingredient for a wide range of cocktails. Its nose evokes a hint of a lifesaver candy and a moderate rubber undertone. It’s also combined with baking soda notes.
The palate has a smooth and sugary flavor combined with vanilla notes and oak. However, this taste becomes somewhat bitter after several sips. This tequila has a dull body with a skinny texture.
It ends with a short and unimpressive taste of vanilla and black pepper. The final taste has minimal warmth. This brand of tequila is quite smooth and sweet, making it easy to enjoy.
Furthermore, it’s fairly affordable and can be served neat or on ice rocks. However, this is not the most impressive brand of tequila. So, if you’re looking for something to impress your friends at a party, try another brand.
4. Hornitos Plata
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Almost similar to Cazadores Blanco, Hornitos Plata contains 40% ABV (80 proof). It’s perfect for making cocktails. This tequila has a very strong scent of harsh nail polish combined with a hint of sweet fruits.
It also features a strong burn of alcohol and peppery notes. It’s combined with earthy elements and an artificial fruity savor. The sugary taste is eventually overpowered by a strong scent of alcohol and pepper.
The overwhelming peppery taste of alcohol makes Hornitos Plata a challenging beverage to drink, especially for beginners. Its finish is short and has an element of warmth and peppery flavor. So, it’ll leave you with a barky aftertaste.
In Mexico, this brand of tequila is commonly used as a mixer, but its flavor can be quite unpleasant. Many pollsters list this tequila brand as one of the bad tequilas. Its only redeeming trait is the fact that it’s 100 percent agave.
5. Don Julio Blanco
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The nose of Don Julio Blanco has a noticeable taste of alcohol with a strong note of ethanol. This makes one of the warmest tequilas on the market today. Its palate has a smooth and sugary hint of citrus.
You’ll also notice a taste of earthiness, agave, and a rush of black pepper on the palate. However, this tequila lacks a body, but it is slightly hot. Its finish is fairly long and syrupy with an element of a bite. Nevertheless, this is solid tequila with a definitive taste of tequila that hasn’t been aged.
You can drink it neat or add a few ice rocks. You can also mix it with other beverages like Coke, grapefruit, etc. This brand of tequila is quite expensive compared to other Mexican brands as a 750ml bottle goes for $38.
6. Patron
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Patron is a product of the Patron Spirits Company located in Mexico City. It’s one of the leading alcoholic beverages produced by the company. There are several varieties of Patron tequila, including Gran Patron Burdeos, Patron Reposado, Gran Patron Platinum, and Patron Silver among others.
It has an alcohol content of 40% ABV (80 proof) and it’s brewed from the blue agave plant. This brand of tequila enjoys a vast market share.