Tequila Olmeca: a guide to alcohol
Briefly about the drink
Tequila is a strong alcoholic beverage that is produced from blue agave exclusively in Mexico. It is one of the few drinks that is a designation of origin, i.e., produced only in a certain country.
Olmeca tequila is one of the most popular tequila brands. Thanks to a somewhat aggressive marketing strategy, almost everyone knows about Olmeca, even if they are not familiar with tequila in general.
One of the reasons for the brand's success is the diversity of its products - from affordable mixta drinks to premium samples. Olmeca also produces liqueurs, gaining some more market share.
The current owner of the brand, Pernod Ricard, a real giant in the alcohol industry, claims that some of the tequila is produced using the pre-industrial tahona technology, which is a special way of grinding agave.
To promote Olmeca, a special society, Tahona, was created, which conducts seminars and master classes for bartenders in many countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In particular, with the help of this community, a method of drinking tequila with lemon and salt was promoted to the masses, which is not used in Mexico itself, where it is hardly known.
Consider the types of Olmeca
Olmeca is represented by three main lines of tequila, which differ in categories and aging.
The basic line
Olmeca Blanco
Unaged tequila of the mixta category. Used in cocktails, not consumed in its pure form.
Olmeca Gold
Blend of Blanco and shortly aged Reposado tequila. Contrary to popular belief, it contains sugar coloring, which gives it a beautiful golden color. Differs from Blanco in being milder, but is used in cocktails.
Olmeca Reposado
Tequila of the mixta category, aged for six months in a bourbon barrel. It has a richer golden color, has a fruity aroma with notes of smoke, and a little pepper in the taste.
Olmeca Añejo
The same mixta, aged for 18 months. The aroma becomes more vanilla, the fruit in the taste is complemented by honey shades with notes of spices.
Olmeca Dark Chocolate
A unique mixta with dark chocolate that reveals this drink in a new way. The flavor is chocolate and cocoa, sprinkled with roasted nuts. The taste is soft, with hints of dark chocolate and agave syrup.
Premium line
Olmeca Altos Plata
Unaged 100% agave tequila. Possesses a fresh profile filled with fruit and herbs. Used in cocktails, connoisseurs do not consume it in its pure form, although it is suitable for this.
Olmeca Altos Reposado
Golden tequila that has been "resting" in an oak barrel for six months. Fruity aroma gives way to citrus and herbal flavors, with hints of spice and hints of oak. It will be an excellent ingredient for cocktails, and will show itself well as a standalone drink.
Ultra-premium
Olmeca Tezón Blanco
An excellent example of unaged tequila. The aroma has bright shades of grapefruit and freshly cut grass, the taste has notes of lemon and vanilla. Surprisingly long and fresh aftertaste for a white tequila. A good option for use in premium cocktails or in its pure form.
Olmeca Tezón Reposado
The golden tequila "rests" in a barrel for about 10 months, thanks to which its aroma gains notes of sweet citrus and slightly wilted fruit. The flavor is citrus and vanilla, complemented by minerality. This tequila is drunk in its purest form.
Olmeca Tezón Añejo
Truly elite tequila, aged for six months. The aroma has caramelized citrus and honey, the taste reveals hints of orange and oak wood, and sea salt is clearly felt.
How to distinguish a fake Olmeca
Since Olmeca is a brand known all over the world, there are also fakes. Nowadays, it is difficult to detect unoriginal alcohol on a store shelf, but it is almost impossible to identify it only by its appearance.
Shake it up recommends:
Visit trusted stores that care about their reputation.
Pay attention to the excise stamp and the overall appearance of the bottle. Do not waste time on details.
Use the Anti-Counterfeit Alco app (Android и Apple) for the Russian Federation and its analogues in your country. These apps allow you to identify counterfeit alcohol in seconds by scanning the excise stamp.
Update: 29.06.2021
Category: Tequila