Cava de Oro is a Tequila brand founded by the Partidas family from El Arenal, Jalisco. While the brand was founded around the 1990s, these folks have a tequila-making lineage that traces back six generations. The man at the helm of it all is Alberto Partida, the brand's master blender. 

Their tequila is harvested from 100% estate-grown Blue Weber Agave, and labelled as such. This means that all fermentable sugars come from the blue agave plant (tequila regulations allow non-100% agave tequilas to be made with up to 49% cane sugar).  Distillation is conducted at a larger facility, Tequilera Puerta de Hierro in Jalisco.

In recent years, Cava de Oro had been making its mark outside Mexico, especially in the US and Canada. And I get why. While party tequila are all about shots, lime wedges and chasing a high, premium tequilas like Cava de Oro and Clase Azul come across as a breath of fresh air, designed for sipping without fuss. They tend to be much more accessible and easy to drink. You pour it, you sip it. Simple as that. 

I got my first taste of the Cava de Oro Anejo at Jaguarita's, a modern Mexican-inspired bar and taproom at The Metropolis in Singapore. Being a self-proclaimed Mexican food fanatic I can assure you that the quesadilla and birria tacos are fantastic. They've even got very decent craft beers here – their bosses are pretty chummy with another popular beer joint in town, Orh Gao Taproom.

But back to my Cava de Oro experience. I didn't just order a glass; I dove straight into Jaguarita's spirit flight. And guess what? They served it in cute Mexican copitas. I appreciated that touch—it felt genuine, you know? It's like I got a tiny slice of Mexico right there in Singapore.

I began with the Cava de Oro Anejo, which had rested for at least two years two years in French white oak barrels. Like other premium tequilas, this comes in a rather distinct hefty bottle, with a distinct topper, and containing a ruddy amber liquid. But I wouldn't put it beyond Cava de Oro not to use caramel colouring. Even if a tequila is labelled "100% Agave Tequila", tequila regulations still allow up to 1% of the volume to be made up of permitted additives or flavouring.  

Let's give this a taste anyway!

Cava de Oro Tequila Anejo, 40% ABV – Review

Colour: Deep copper. 

Nose: Opens with a distinct aroma of fresh, sweet honey. It's sweet but predominantly a mellow candied fruits not, reminiscent of candied oranges. Beneath that, there's a hint of cherries, plums, and just a touch of cotton candy.

Palate: Sweet but not cloying, enveloping the mouth in a pleasant velvety, viscous texture. The strong presence of maple syrup comes to the forefront - a sweetness complimented by a slight singed note. Complemented by undertones of vanilla, cinnamon, and other familiar baking spices. Develops a touch of oak-induced dryness, followed by subtle herbaceous notes.

It has an almost complete absence of pepperiness - and yes you could say it has a relatively low 40% ABV, but I've tried some harsher mezcals at this proof.

Finish: Moderate length, it concludes with a certain dryness, reminiscent of the oak from the palate, paired with vanilla and a gentle hint of those herbaceous elements.

My Thoughts

🇺🇸 An Americanized tequila. 

Okay, so here's the deal. This feels like a tequila designed for the mainstream crowd. It leans heavily into flavors of butterscotch, caramel, and vanilla, and it resembles a sweetened caramel whiskey liqueur.

If I had to label it, I'd say it's an "Americanized" take on tequila. It's smooth and easy on the palate, making it a solid choice for those who might be a bit apprehensive about diving into the deep end of traditional tequila tastes. If you're new to the world of tequila or mezcal, this might be right up your alley.

That said, seasoned mezcal aficionados might find it tipping the scales on the sweet side. It seems to miss some of the freshness and nuanced flavours that less sweetened tequilas and mezcals often bring to the table.

At the end of the day, you cannot please everyone. That being said, this is still a decently tasty sweetened tequila in my view.

@CharsiuCharlie