Cierto Tequila has finally started to roll out across the United States. Handcrafted by Master Distillers Enrique Fonseca and Sergio Mendoz–fourth and fifth generation agaveros–Cierto is completely free of additives or impurities and housed in a gemstone-inspired bottle designed to showcase the rich, natural colors of the tequila within.
Cierto starts with fully mature, estate-grown agave from the Jalisco Highlands. The agave is then hand-cut, cooked slowly, and distilled in alembic copper pot stills and Coffey column stills at the La Tequileña distillery in the town of Tequila.
Cierto’s aged tequilas mature primarily in rare French Limousin oak casks, which previously contained fine wines and spirits, including cognac and Armagnac. Each expression is blended with aged tequilas from the Fonseca family’s private library, containing some of the oldest and rarest tequilas in existence. The result is a luxuriously smooth and pure-tasting collection of tequilas.
In 2017, the Chairman of Elevated Spirits, Todd Chaffee, decided to delve into the tequila industry. While researching, Chaffee discovered Mr. Mendoza as a prominent voice outlining the differences between authentic, “real tequilas” and “fake tequilas” littered with artificial additives. “When I first met Sergio, I was impressed by his extensive knowledge of the Highlands’ terroir, agave plants, distilling techniques, and the history of the entire tequila industry. We are incredibly blessed to have Sergio and his uncle Enrique Fonseca as our partners. Since they are both agaveros and master distillers, they have truly unique perspectives on the best ways to grow and harvest agave in addition to crafting world-class tequilas,” said Chaffee.
After blending and tasting hundreds of options from the Fonsecas’ vast library of aged tequilas, the Cierto team crafted eight exceptional Cierto agave expressions, which they shared with family and friends while conducting extensive consumer research.
When the research results came back overwhelmingly positive, the Cierto team began entering the Cierto portfolio in top international spirits competitions to gain insight and recognition from the world’s most discerning and respected palates. The results have been remarkable, with Cierto winning top honors in every major competition. Each of Cierto’s eight agave expressions has won dozens of medals and awards, and to date, Cierto’s 600+ international medals and awards make it the Most Awarded Tequila in History.
Cierto has assembled a team of seasoned industry executives to develop the brand, partnering with Demeter & Co, which is led by Jeff Menashe as CEO and with Jim Clerkin as its Chairman. Cierto’s Chief Growth Officer, veteran spirits executive Jim Ruane, comes with nearly two decades of marketing and beverage industry experience. “We are thrilled to debut Cierto Tequila, bringing this remarkable award-winning spirit to U.S. drinkers,” said Ruane. “Cierto is a testament to the true art of tequila-making. With skyrocketing growth in luxury tequila and consumers paying increasing attention to what they’re putting into their bodies, we see an opportunity to differentiate with a supreme liquid that speaks for itself – no additives, no artifice, and no shortcuts.”
Cierto Tequila is launching first with its Private Collection, four distinct agave expressions embodying the rich complexity of the Highlands’ terroir:
- Cierto Tequila Private Collection Blanco: Rested before bottling, it is smooth and fresh with an herbaceous aroma that imparts sweet floral and agave notes. Best enjoyed on the rocks or in a Margarita, with an SRP of $89 / 750ml.
- Cierto Tequila Private Collection Reposado: Aged primarily in French Limousin oak, it has a light aroma with hints of butterscotch and cooked agave, offering a flavor profile that begins with agave, shifts to caramel, and finishes with rich cinnamon spice. Best enjoyed on the rocks or in an elevated Paloma, with an SRP of $119 / 750ml.
- Cierto Tequila Private Collection Añejo: Aged primarily in French Limousin oak, this unique marriage of rare añejo tequilas has orange and oak aromas, with a complex array of coffee, chocolate, and caramel flavors. Best served neat or on the rocks, with an SRP of $169 / 750ml.
- Cierto Tequila Private Collection Extra Añejo: Aged primarily in French Limousin oak, the aroma bursts with oak, cherry, and cooked agave, with deep flavor notes of tobacco, vanilla, and oak, finishing with honey and spice. Best served neat or on the rocks with an SRP of $279 / 750ml.
Cierto Tequila is now available for purchase where luxury tequilas are sold, and online at ReserveBar, Drizly, Instacart, and others. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
