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Jose Cuervo TequilaNOM: 1104 Distillery: Tequila Cuervo La Rojeña, S.A. de C.V. Region: Lowlands Jose Cuervo tequila is the "Coca-Cola" of the industry. That’s the comparison I always draw when introducing friends to this world-renown tequila brand. Jose Cuervo sells 3 times more tequila than Sauza, the 2nd largest tequila producer in the industry. Jose Cuervo tequila is EVERYWHERE. The U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa… you name it. No other brand has marketed and positioned and maintained itself as effectively as Jose Cuervo. It was Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo, founder of the distillery, who received a royal land grant from King Charles of Spain, circa 1758. However, his son, Don Jose Cuervo Guadalupe, who received the first Mexican permit to produce mescal. Jose Cuervo Labastida, yet another descendant of this legendary tequila family, modernized the company, standardizing the “Cuervo” brand name and logo use. Jose Cuervo currently markets to the young consumer, sponsoring night club events and promoting tequila consumption. Cuervo marketed itself abroad heavily during the 70s, consolidating its role as the lead tequila producer. Jose Cuervo Especial Silver (Blanco)Type: mixto. Aging: none. Price range: $ 10-20 (750 ml) This is the most basic Jose Cuervo product. While not as famous as its “Gold” counterpart, Jose Cuervo Especial Silver still has a strong following. It’s a very simple spirit, with hints of black pepper and a firm agave presence. This is most definitely a mixer, not a sipper. Great for making margaritas on a budget! Jose Cuervo Especial GoldType: mixto. Aging: little to no aging. Price range: $ 10-20 (750 ml) I’ll be brutally honest: I love and hate Jose Cuervo Gold. This is the best-selling tequila in the world, perhaps the most iconic tequila brand in history. But it’s not because of its quality… Jose Cuervo Gold is many newcomers’ first tequila experience. I love the way Cuervo has reached out to new consumers through this brand. Unfortunately, this is also many newcomers’ last tequila experience. The flavor (sour, hot, bitter, and slightly buttery) is far from the standard other quality tequilas have set. First-time tequila drinkers have tried it, hated it, and mistakenly believed all tequilas to be the same. There goes another potential aficionado… That’s my love-hate relationship with Jose Cuervo Gold. If you MUST have it, then mix it. Otherwise, stay clear and move on to other sipping tequilas. Jose Cuervo ClásicoType: 100% blue agave. Aging: no aging. Price range: $ 10-20 (750 ml) Jose Cuervo Clasico was introduced in 2003. It’s a blend of double-distilled blanco liquor and slightly-aged tequila. We call this blend “joven” tequila. The last time I saw this tequila was at the La Rojeña distillery in Tequila, Jalisco… 6 months ago (as of December 2010). It’s definitely overshadowed by other Jose Cuervo brands, but it mixes well. Click here to read about Jose Cuervo's top-shelf tequilas Return to Tequila Brands from Jose Cuervo Tequila
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