Centinela Tequila Reposado

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T September 18, 2008
 
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Centinela Tequila Reposado

Tequila Review

Brand
Centinela
NOM
Oven Type
Extraction Method
Distillation
Barrel - Cask
Alcohol Volume

Tequila Centinela Reposado

Tequila Centinela Reposado is 100% Agave and aged up to 18 months in previously used bourbon barrels.

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.

Once we have our Tequila ready it goes to the aging room, and each of our products is differentiated in this process according to its tasting profile. We age our Tequilas in previously used 200 liter American White oak bourbon barrels.



User reviews

3 reviews
Overall rating
 
92
Aroma-Nose
 
92(3)
Initial Taste
 
92(3)
Body
 
92(3)
Finish
 
92(3)
Enjoyability
 
92(3)
Price
 
94(3)
Presentation
 
85(3)
Overall rating
 
92
Aroma-Nose
 
93
Initial Taste
 
92
Body
 
93
Finish
 
92
Enjoyability
 
92
Price
 
94
Presentation
 
80
I heard some comments about this line on the board and read the reviews so I thought I would give it a try. In all honesty, Pina's review is right on target.

Aroma: Fruity agave with a hint of cinnamon.
Initial Taste: Light feel with a sweet taste complimented by citrus fruit.
Body: The spices start coming through nicely...the most notable being cinnamon.
Finish: A nice long and spicy finish...more than just cinnamon. Pepper notes come through nicely as well.

For $31, this is a bargain. The bottle is nothing special and I'd prefer a stopper to a screw top, but that's nit picking. This is a very good tequila for a nice price.
TT
#1 Reviewer 414 reviews
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Overall rating
 
92
Aroma-Nose
 
92
Initial Taste
 
91
Body
 
92
Finish
 
92
Enjoyability
 
91
Price
 
93
Presentation
 
90
With a light straw golden color, Centinela reposado completes my tasting of a line I consider to be consistent, tasty, and an excellent value. A very good reposado. I just can't say anything bad about Centinela.

Aroma: Agave, spice, and slight fruit.
Initial Taste: A semi oily mouth feel, its sweet with no bitterness, with an initial taste of citrus/cinnamon.
Body: A very nice body full of agave, cinnamon, citrus, and spices.
Finish: A nice semi heated finish of medium duration, and a lingering of spices.

Centinela is just one solid line.
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 0
Overall rating
 
92
Aroma-Nose
 
91
Initial Taste
 
92
Body
 
92
Finish
 
92
Enjoyability
 
93
Price
 
95
Presentation
 
85
Tequila Centinela Reposado, NOM 1140. At one time, this tequila was more readily available. After a long, dry period of unavailability, I was fortunate to find a bottle on a recent visit to Taos, NM. Centinela Reposado has a pale, light yellow color. It has a nice aged character of caramel & oak & is much deeper in taste than many other repopsados. This is quite evident through the entire tasting experience & is actually more pronounced at the end rather than at the beginning. A wonderful sweetness carries all the way through the long finish, ending in a bouquet of caramel & fruit. This spirit is quite smooth, a consistent attribute I've found from one bottle to the next. If you should happen to find Centinela Reposado, don't hesitate to purchase it. You won't be disappointed!
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