Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/807384
april 2017 / the tasting panel / 83 The Right Stuff with Tequila Revolución Confidence is everything in the spirits market. With nearly 15 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry as his foundation, Adrian Sosa, National Sales Director for Tequila Revolución, has the confidence and tools to take this newly revitalized brand to new heights. "We've got the right juice in the right bottle at the right price point in the right category with the right team," he beams with steadfast assurance. "We are a luxury brand. Everything's got to be top-notch," he explains. Tequila Revolución had remained a relatively obscure brand since its initial launch in 1995. Enter Adrian Sosa and a new team. "We kept the distillery and juice, and we updated everything around it," he says of the rebuild. With new branding and new passion, Tequila Revolución was launched in metro New York, Florida and California this year to great response. "A couple of things that differentiate us: the juice, and it's not another vodka. It's a clean, authentic tequila," Sosa mentions. "The tequila category really isn't that saturated in the super-premium segment, which is driving the category year after year." Sosa's current focus is on high-end and "white tablecloth" accounts. "We have some aggressive goals over the next five years," he adds enthusiastically. "We want to expand into international markets making this a worldwide, iconic brand." The benefits of a working distillery in need of a branding facelift meant that Tequila Revolución could launch more than just a standard blanco tequila while waiting for the rest to age. Currently available are the Tequila Revolución Silver (SRP $42.99), Reposado (SRP $47.99), Añejo (SRP $56.99) and the very special Extra Añejo American Cask (SRP $79.99). When asked who the brand's target drinker is, Sosa responds with a confident smile, "Being a luxury brand, the easy answer is everyone. We want to be a viable, legitimate, mainstream brand being enjoyed all over the world. With hard work and a little bit of luck, we'll get there." —Matt Jackson Tasting Notes Tequila Revolución Silver Bright, salty nose with squeezed lime and vanilla bean; clean brisk palate, with dots of saline, vanilla candle, cigar leaf and mocha. Deep and decisive, unmasked and pure tasting. 94 —Meridith May Tequila Revolución Reposado As with the pure nose of the silver, this aged tequila shows the same freshness on the nose. Hints of honeyed orange, that bright salinity and a touch of herbal makes it quite the aromatic reposado. The lilting notes of melon, peach and cherrywood render this more feminine than the earthy Silver, and equally charming. A mocha finish washes with a dot of black pepper. 95 —M. M. Tequila Revolucóon Añejo The delicately barrel-aged tonality includes cinnamon toast, black cherry, mocha latte and a touch of brine. A twinge of heat on the mouth encourages the spreading peppered honey to coat the tongue. Tobacco and sage make for a brushy finish. This would be a wise coupling with a fine cigar. 94 —M. M. Extra Añejo American Cask No masked notes of agave here! Despite the 3-year aging cycle, this beautifully scented tequila brings up maple-agave notes along with apricot nectar and peppered lime rinds. New leather paints the tongue, while heady notes of that pleasant maple-agave stay long on the palate. Dotted with pepper along the way, the spicy oak integrates into broad strokes of cigar and peach on the finish. 95 —M. M.