Tasting Table: “Cierto Tequila Racks Up Awards”
By Jessie Molloy
Cierto Tequila is a relatively new spirit brand in the U.S., as it was released in February of this year, but regardless, it was one of the biggest winners at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. According to a press release from Cierto's owner – The Elevated Spirits Company – the brand walked away from this year's competition with eight total awards, including four Double Gold medals, the competition's highest rank.
Over four days, a panel of 65 judges blind taste and judge over 5,500 spirits on their individual merits without knowledge of their origin or price. The medal-worthy spirits are then advanced to the next round where they are ranked with Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals by the judges. Double Gold is awarded to spirits that the judges unanimously agree deserves a Gold Medal. Individual spirits which receive Double Gold for three years in a row are given the incredibly rare Platinum medal.
This year, four Cierto Tequilas were among the 48 spirits awarded a Double Gold award. Cierto Tequila's Private Collection Reposado, Reserve Collection Blanco, Private Collection Extra Añejo, and Reserve Collection Extra Añejo all received recognition.
The Cierto Tequila Reserve Collection Extra Añejo, which sells for around $240 per bottle, is a finalist in the Extra Añejo category and will advance for consideration for Best in Show competition, which will take place in Las Vegas in June.
Additionally, Cierto Tequila Reserve Collection Reposado and Private Collection Añejo received Gold medals, and the brand's Private Collection Blanco and Reserve Collection Añejo were awarded Silver. This is the fifth consecutive year that a Cierto Tequila has been awarded a Double Gold. These accolades bring the Mexican label's total international medals and awards count to 610 across the brand.
"This is about as good as it gets," said Cierto's Chief Growth Officer Jim Ruane, in the press release. "We are honored that one of the world's most discerning judging panels has recognized Cierto as a Double Gold tequila every year in which we have entered the competition."
