Tierra Noble Tequilas - Making Tequila in High Places
If you have been shopping in our Tequila section over the last few years and have talked to me about some of my favorites, you have heard about Insolito Tequila. One of the cool things about the brand is the Distillery they use NOM 1558, Premium de Jalisco located in Mazamitla, Jalisco, which sits at 7,200 feet above sea level creating a unique environment for not only fermenting but also aging Tequila. The distillery is owned by Brothers Octavio and Alberto Herrera, and while they assist in making Tequila for a few small batch brands, the brothers also focus on their own Tequila; Tierra Noble.
So, if they make Tierra Noble, why do the Herrera brothers make Tequila for other brands too? Well, when you’re making a small amount of Tequila in this big ol’ category, you might need something else to help bring in cash flow. And luckily for the Herrera brothers and others who own distilleries, there are way more Tequila brands than there are distilleries. And at their high altitude, the cooking and aging processes at the facility invite those who are looking for a unique quality in their Tequilas. For Tierra Noble, Octavio and Alberto blend 80% lowland agave and 20% highland agave, this takes the peppery, herbal characteristics of lowland agave and combines it with the rich, fruit forward flavors found in agave from the highlands. The Herrera brothers are making a wide variety of Tequilas, including these ones that are carried here at The Wine Country.
There is a savory pepperiness up front that is to be expected of a Blanco. Then your palate is introduced to vibrant orange zest, soft vanilla bean creaminess and hints of coco.
Aged for 8-11 months in new American oak. Creamy mouthfeel, soft notes of oak spice transitions to rich butterscotch. White pepper and hints of vanilla on the finish.
Aged for 2-3 years in a combination of American and French oak. Caramelized oranges and butterscotch up front. Oak spice and white pepper team up to cut through some of the richness, toasted cinnamon and delicate notes of vanilla on the finish.
Tierra Noble Tequila Cristalino
All other Tequila producers that make a Cristalino, that I have personally seen or had, will take an aged Tequila and filter it through charcoal to remove the color. The problem with that is it will also take away from of the rich flavors of the aged Tequila. While you do get some of the richness from aging, you are also losing parts of it in the charcoal. Tierra Noble decided to go a different route when making their Cristalino. They take their Reposado Tequila and re-distill it to pull the color out and keep all the flavor. Very aromatic, notes of caramelized oranges and white pepper hit your palate first. Creamy vanilla bean transitions to more pepper characteristics and some soft tropical fruit.