Don Ramon Cristalino Tequilas

Casa Don Ramon enters the expanding market for cristalino tequilas with its Platinium collection which includes a reposado and an anejo cristalino.

I recently reviewed and rated the first mezcal from Casa Don Ramon, a distillery previously only known for its tequilas. It’s clearly not a company to rest on its laurels as it now introduces a new Platinium collection of three tequilas, two of which are cristalinos. The Platinium collection consists of a plata or blanco tequila, a cristalino reposado, and a cristalino anejo.

What are Cristalino Tequilas?

A cristalino isn’t yet an official category of tequilas, although some distillers are lobbying for it to be made one. A cristalino is a tequila that has been aged for at least two months, so qualifying it to be a reposado. You can also make cristalinos from anejo and extra anejo tequilas, but obviously not from blancos as these haven’t been aged at all.

What’s the Cristalino Process?

To make a cristalino you simply filter the aged tequila, usually through charcoal, to remove all or most of the color that the spirit has picked up from its time in the barrel. The process also usually removes some of the oakier notes, but retains the other flavors to produce a tequila that is as crisp (in taste and in color) as a blanco, but with all the complexity of aromas and tastes that the original aged tequila has.

Each distillery has its own filtration process to produce the type of cristalino that they want, reflecting the original tequila.

Don Ramon Cristalino Tequilas

All the cristalinos I’ve seen so far have been, as the name implies, crystal clear. This isn’t the case with Don Ramon’s cristalino tequilas, however. The first thing you notice is that the anejo has an almost imperceptible pale straw color, and the color of the reposado is just a little more noticeable. This is a decision made by the maestro tequilero as a reflection of the qualities of the original aged spirits.

All three tequilas are 100% blue agave and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof).

Don Ramon Plata

Some people can be dismissive of plata or blanco tequilas as they lack the complexity of an aged tequila. Even the minimum two months in the barrel required to create a reposado starts to add aromas and flavors to the tequila.

However, for the maestro tequilero the blanco is crucial, as it’s this tequila which eventually produces all other tequilas in the range. If you don’t have a good blanco, the ageing process can only do so much to enhance the tequila. Get the right blanco and you’re in business!

The Don Ramon Plata (or blanco or silver tequila) is double-distilled in a steel still. On the nose what hits you is tropical fruit, especially coconut, with some lime, and some agave bringing a balancing earthiness to the otherwise zesty aromas. The agave comes through a little more on the palate, but the citrus and tropical fruit are still there. Recommended price $42.

Don Ramon Reposado

Wow! Even just taking the top off the bottle I can smell rich caramel and toffee aromas. As I pour a glass they’re joined by vanilla and coconut, some chocolate and cinnamon. It’s like Christmas and Easter as a kid, when you’re allowed to indulge yourself in all your favorites. The palate has the same wow factor, with all those aromas turned into flavors, with added citrus and spices. The reposado has just the slightest touch of color to it, and is totally delicious. Recommended price $44.

Don Ramon Anejo

The color of the anejo, such as it is, is somewhere between the plata and the reposado. On the nose the caramel is much more subtle than in the reposado, which is strange as the anejo will have spent longer in the barrel. But such is the art and the mystery of distilling. Perhaps it’s simply that the caramel/toffee notes are now toned down a little thanks to many more scents coming through – lime, vanilla, chocolate, mint, agave, cinnamon.

Again, the palate delivers what the nose promises, with the addition of an almond-like sweet nutty taste. There is a touch more caramel on the finish, which is smooth as silk. Recommended price is $46.

The Verdict

All three tequilas are first class. While I normally find that I prefer the more aged tequilas, the anejo and extra anejo, for this one it’s the reposado that knocked me out. The anejo is arguably ‘better’, in that there’s much more going on in the aromas and flavors, but tasting is very personal and the reposado was the one that definitely pushed all my buttons.

Buying Don Ramon Cristalino Tequilas

For more information on the Don Ramon range of tequilas, and their mezcal, visit the Don Ramon website. The website will tell you where your nearest stockist is, and if there isn’t one nearby you can find a range of Don Ramon tequilas at Drizly.