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 Añejo Cristalino Organico may not be not the first cristalino to come from the greater  brand family, but it marks the first in the Reserva lineup, and it is in fact the first Reserva añejo expression (the others are blanco, reposado, and extra añejo). The brand hosted a group of media at the distillery in the town of Tequila recently to try the new Cristalino, which is made at the facility where other Reserva expressions are produced (Cuervo operates a few different distilleries that employ various production methods depending on which brand is made there). Reserva de la Familia Cristalino is made from organically grown agave harvested at average age of seven years old. The tequila is then matured for a minimum of one year in virgin American oak barrels (no second-use barrels are used for Reserva), before being finished for about six months in Pedro Ximenez casks from Spain. According to the brand, those aging times may vary depending on flavor profile of an individual batch. Finally, the tequila undergoes a proprietary filtration process to remove the color.

On the nose, there are notes of cherry, raisin, grape, vanilla, and a faint whiff of agave. The palate opens with more vanilla, followed by banana, chocolate, raisin, dark berries, and a bit of lemon custard. There is little spice present, and the palate veers more towards the sweeter side with the agave notes being fairly muted. This seems like a tequila that is meant to broaden the category even further, pulling in casual tequila fans or those who think they don’t like this spirit based on past experiences, but who are willing to pay a premium for an elevated expression. This new cristalino is firmly ensconced in the ultra-premium camp with an SRP of $150, and the sleek black bottle design is very different from the core lineup, as is the liquid within. Reserva de la Familia Añejo Cristalino will be available to purchase from ReserveBar later this month, but for now you can find the rest of the lineup .

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