MAXIM: CIERTO IS AN “UNADULTERATED AGAVE GEM”

By Nicolas Stecher

CIERTO RESERVE COLLECTION EXTRA AÑEJO 

Cierto founders Sergio Mendoza and Enrique Fonseca achieved international acclaim in 2020 when their juice was named “World’s Best Tequila.” Coming from a lineage deeply rooted in agave cultivation – Mendoza as a fourth-generation and Fonseca as a fifth-generation agavero (agave farmer) – they oversee every aspect from planting and nurturing to harvesting the agaves that ultimately become tequila. In a market often strained by shortages and commercial pressures, Cierto stands out by adhering to a commitment to harvest their piñas only when fully ripe. 

This dedication stems from their extensive generational knowledge, allowing them to discern the precise moment of readiness for their agaves. Cierto’s “Reserve Collection Extra Añejo” is a testament to this craftsmanship, aged for four years in French Limousin oak which previously held fine wines, Cognacs and Armagnacs. This aging process imparts a luxurious mouthfeel akin to Cognac, accompanied by a rich aroma and a golden hue. 

The smoothness, viscosity and sweetness of many XA expressions is often because they are rife with sweeteners, but not Cierto – its polish, mouthfeel and sweetness are strictly the gift of French oak and time, not vanillin and glycerin. Think notes of tobacco, sweet cherry and honey, perfectly complementing the natural essence of cooked agave, earning it 117 awards to date. “’Cierto’ translates as ‘true,’ so we take transparency really seriously,” says Cierto Chief Growth Officer Jim Ruane. “We have an open-door policy at our distillery and in our agave orchards, where anyone can come see every single step of the process, from field to glass. There’s not a question we won’t answer.”

“Ultimately, though, the proof is in the product and one sip of Cierto is usually all it takes to solidify Cierto’s purity, agave forwardness and craftsmanship,” he continues. “Additive-free status isn’t the end-all-be-all – the tequila still needs to taste exceptional. We like to say our focus lies with what Cierto is, versus what it isn’t.”

Read more at Maxim.com.