The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Gran Centenario Añejo
TequilaIssue 19

Gran Centenario Añejo

Casa Cuervo (Beckmann Family / Proximo Spirits) · Tequilera Arandina, Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco

$3580 (40% ABV) proofAged up to 3 years
Gran Centenario Añejo is a lesson in how thoughtful cask architecture transforms agave into something approaching luxury. The selección suave process — a solera-inspired blending method using French limousin oak and American white oak — creates a layered complexity that belies its approachable price point. The highland agave provides a clean, sweet foundation; the French oak adds refinement and tannic structure; the American oak contributes vanilla warmth. The result is a tequila with the kind of deliberate design you typically find at two or three times the price.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Cooked agave, butterscotch, vanilla, cinnamon, toasted oak, a trace of dried apricot

Palate

Rich caramel, baked apple, dark chocolate, warm spice, buttery agave sweetness, gentle oak grip

Finish

Smooth and lingering with oak, vanilla, and gentle pepperTequila & Mezcal

Specifications
Agave
100% Blue Weber Agave from Los Altos (Highland) region
Production
Slow-cooked in traditional brick ovens, selección suave process with French limousin and American oak aging
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

— The Centenario Oaxacan: 1.5 oz Gran Centenario Añejo · 0.5 oz mezcal · 1 oz fresh lime juice · 0.75 oz agave nectar · Chili salt rim · Lime wheel garnish. Shake with ice, strain into a chili-salt-rimmed rocks glass with fresh ice.

Food Pairing

Mole negro with braised short ribs — the chocolate and warm spice in the tequila amplify the mole's depth while the oak tames the richness.

Train These Aromas
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