Iconos De Mexico - Anejo Cristalino
$45
íconos De México – Añejo Cristalino Tequila
Collection: No 2, Bottle No 1922
ABV: ~35%
Age: ~24 months
Distillery: NOM 1489: Destileria Leyros S.A. de C.V.
Type: Tequila
Mash: 100% Agave
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Very sweet on the nose. You get a little licorice, but it mostly has the standard earthy agave smell that many have come to love or hate in tequila. You aren’t going to find a complex nose on this bottle like you’d find in a Mezcal or any other non-filtered tequila for that matter. It’s very clean and minimal.
Taste/Palate: Very smooth off the bat. Right up front you get a very very sweet hit like you’re drinking sugar water with a hint of black licorice and anise. In the mid palate it transitions slightly back to a tequila to remind you that’s what your actually drinking. It finishes with a slight mouth tingle which is a little surprising since it’s only ~35%.
Finish: This tequila has a very smooth finish and after taste. You definitely are left with sweet agave nectar taste lingering in the back of your mouth.
Verdict: If you found this (most likely in Mexico) for the same price I did a couple years ago $45. Buy 2 or even 3. If you are looking for a sweet and smooth tequila this one is terrific. It’s not complex, but you’ll be surprised you’re actually drinking tequila.
The Story: I usually go to Mexico every year and enjoy a new city and all-inclusive resort for 8 days / 7 nights. When I’m there I like to visit local liquor stores to see what I run into. 2 years ago I was in Ixtapa, MX. I left the resort and went into town to do some shopping and drinking. I wondered into “Casa Tequila” liquor store. Well, wouldn’t you know it! They give out samples. The store owner would turn around to about 50 bottles on a shelf and then hand me a half full shot glass to try. After about 5-6 tries to hand me something that I liked he handed me a half full shot glass that was clear. As I brought it up to my nose my first thought was “Oh great, a blanco, this is going to be rough”. I smelled it and it was as described above. I took a little sip and was blown away. Maybe it was because I was expecting a blanco to kick me in the nuts, but instead I was given one of the smoothest tequilas I have ever tried. Just to make sure I wasn’t being scammed I asked to see the bottle and pour another half shot. Yup. It was good. I purchased 2 bottles for $45 each.
The next day I returned with a few members of my travel group and told them about this tequila. Most “weren’t tequila drinkers” siting some story from college where they got passed out drunk on Jose. I would have to talk them off the ledge and explain that getting drunk off cheap liquor is completely different than sipping on a quality spirit. Each of them tried the half shot and were also blown away. I purchased 2 more bottles for myself and they each bought a bottle as well.
I had to research Cristalino’s after my tasting experience. Turns out it’s an aged tequila then filtered (which removes the color). I’m sure many tequila purists are against this, because when filtering a spirit you remove impurities and off-flavors, but most importantly it also removes some good flavors too. I can confirm since I found this tequila I have purchased 5 different Christalino tequilas and not one of them comes close to this bottle. Whatever they did, it worked for me and every other person who’s tried a drink from my bottle. I haven’t found this bottle in the states anywhere or online. If you see it, buy it.
This tequila is NOT overly complex, but it is the kryptonite to many non tequila drinkers that claim they don’t like tequila. If this tequila doesn’t change their mind, nothing will.
(I will use the same rating methodologies for non-whiskey spirits however I rank tequilas vs other tequilas and bourbons vs bourbons. A highly scored tequila vs a average scored bourbon doesn’t mean I prefer one over the other. They are in different categories. This is to be fair, because I’m not a fan of gin. But, using this system gin will be ranked independently to how I feel about how much better bourbon is).
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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