Casamigos Blanco Tequila: The Ultimate Bottle Guide
Nowadays, it seems as though every celebrity has their own liquor, and there is no spirit with more of a celebrity presence than tequila. Many of these tequilas, however, have failed to impress distinguished members of drinks and spirit culture, often being cast aside for their lack of craftsmanship or just being an overall cash-grab for famous people. Casamigos, on the other hand, has the recognition, sales, and longevity to back itself up, and its tequila Blanco is its most fundamental contributor.
In fact, in the summer of 2021, Casamigos reached an esteemed milestone, becoming a million-case spirit brand. The classification is held by less than 200 brands, according to Inside the Cask, and the landmark accomplishment by Casamigos comes just eight years after being founded in 2013. Furthermore, Casamigos was named the Tequila Brand Champion by The Spirit's Business in 2021, making it the most successful tequila brand within the million case category with 1.1 million 9-liter cases sold, a year-over-year increase of 82%.
Not only is Casamigos selling well, but the quality of its tequila — especially its Blanco — has also won numerous accolades from international competition. These include winning the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, the Vancouver International Tequila Expo, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and the Spirits of Mexico Tasting Competition, to name a few.
Casamigos Blanco Tequila highly acclaimed tequila within its industry for a reason. Its clarity and depth are exemplary of how this tequila speaks for itself. Here is everything you need to know.
Casamigos was founded unexpectedly
Casamigos was founded in 2013 by legendary actor George Clooney and his close friends Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman (via Business Insider). Clooney and Gerber had been friends for decades and on one of their golf trips to Mexico, the two stayed at a compound called "casamigos," or "house of friends." In Mexico, tequila is the obvious drink of choice. Almost every meal shared between Clooney, Gerber, and others was fueled by the spirit, and the two would be recommended and try bottles at restaurants. Some they enjoyed, some they didn't, and some came with exorbitant, undeserved price tags.
It was then that Clooney recommended to Gerber that they create a tequila they would enjoy, one catered to their own taste. The mission from then on was never to rake in cash with an overpriced, mediocre tequila. It was to make an exceptional one that can be sipped and savored without the accompaniment of salt, lime, or anything else. Furthermore, and perhaps most valuably, they wanted a tequila you can drink a lot of and not regret the following day.
Although Clooney and Gerber had plenty of tequila-drinking experience, they dug deep into the industry and art form, going on an extensive quest to learn everything they could about the spirit. After working with distillers and testing about 700 samples, the duo finally found what they were looking for. A tequila with no burn made expertly with dedication to the craft.
Casamigos sold for an enormous amount of money
It is amazing what a happy accident can turn into. As mentioned earlier, Casamigos was quick to become one of the fastest-growing, most popular tequila brands after its establishment in 2013. Just four years after that, Casamigos was sold to spirits giant, Diageo, in a deal worth up to $1 billion, according to CNBC.
The deal is structured with an initial payment to the founders of $700 million, with the other $300 million left as potential payment depending on the brand's performance over the next decade. The deal actually made George Clooney the highest-paid actor in the world for that year. The thing is, Clooney did not appear in a single film the year the deal was made.
This acquisition by Diageo did not come with any changes to the founders' involvement, however. Clooney, Gerber, and Meldman have remained integral parts of Casamigos and its operation. When asked about the sale, Clooney told CNBC "if you asked us four years ago if we had a billion-dollar company, I don't think we would have said yes."
In fact, Casamigos started merely as a way for the founders to make tequila they could enjoy and share with their family and friends. They ended up making so much that they were required by law to get a license. With that, the decision was made to begin distributing it and just four years later, a potentially billion-dollar deal was made.
Casamigos has become iconic in hip-hop
To date, Hennessy is the all-time great spirit of rap songs and culture. The cognac has been namechecked countlessly in songs by hip-hop legends like Nas in his song "Illmatic" as well as 2Pac's "How Do You Want It," to name a couple.
In recent years, however, it seems as though Casamigos is becoming the new spirit of choice among rap artists and their lyrics. Lil' Baby has mentioned the tequila brand when featuring in songs by superstars Nicki Minaj and Drake, and Soulja Boy has an entire song named after Casamigos. The most notable mention, though, was made by Jaden Smith in his song with Young Thug titled "Sin."
Nowadays, namechecking Casamigos in a rap song is almost unnoteworthy because it is so common in addition to being a popular brand among younger members of the drinking scene. On TikTok, posts with the "casamigoschallenge" hashtag have received upwards of 200 million views as of August. The reason for Casamigos popularity among rappers and their younger audiences is because of the brand's association with the lifestyle hip-hop artists often write and rap about. Casamigos is marketed as an ultra-premium tequila but remains relatively affordable enough that young music listeners can enjoy it along with their favorite artists. Casamigos exudes luxury without the corresponding price tag, and it is slowly starting to give Hennesy a run for its money.
How is Casamigos Blanco made?
As is the case with any tequila, it all starts with the agave. In accordance with tequila law, the only species of agave that can be used to make tequila is blue weber agave. While many other celebrity-owned tequilas use sweetening additives, Casamigos proudly reports its tequila is made from 100% blue weber agave brought to life with long, slow roast and an elongated fermentation.
The agave used for Casamigos normally falls between seven and nine years old. When it is ready to be harvested, each plant is stripped of its leaves by highly-skilled artisans called jimadors. The jimadors leave behind only the core of the agave, known as the piña. The piñas are then roasted for three full days inside brick ovens before being pressed to extract as much juice from the agave as possible. This liquid is then fermented for 80 hours, which is double the standard for making tequila. This elongated fermentation is what brings out Casamigos unique and true flavor.
After fermentation, the liquid is strained and ready to be distilled. As per industry regulations, tequila must be distilled twice, according to Difford's Guide. The first brings the solution to about 20% alcohol, and the second distillation brings it to about 55%. At this point, the tequila is diluted with water to bring down the proof, in Casamigo's case, to 80. Finally, Casamigos Blanco Tequila is bottled, slapped with a label, and distributed all over the world to be enjoyed.
What does Casamigos Blanco taste like?
All great tequilas rely on a strong foundation of agave, but different styles of tequila carry different characters. Reposado — or rested — tequilas age in wood barrels for several months until accumulating a golden color and flavor notes like oak and caramel. Añejo — or old — tequilas mature for even longer and have an even richer, more complex depth of flavor. Blanco tequilas, on the other hand, are the most basic expression of the spirit, which makes them unique, and Casamigos Blanco serves this style well.
Casamigos Blanco is made with 100% agave and is exemplary in aroma, flavor, and texture. Upon each sip, the nose is greeted with that straightforward agave scent along with hints of bright citrus. The citrus notes carry on into its flavor along with a slight presence of mellowing vanilla. The finish is long with little to no burn taking away from the soft, sweet agave that immediately inspires another go at it. It's truly something to behold that Casamigos Blanco is so seamlessly approachable without any support from an extensive aging process. This brand's founders set out to create a tequila that can easily be enjoyed all on its own with nothing else but company to share it with, and this Blanco tequila accomplishes just that.
How should you drink Casamigos Blanco?
Typically, Blanco tequilas are seen as more suitable for mixing with club soda or into a cocktail, but Casamigos achieved what it wanted. Casamigos Blanco is more than palatable enough to be sipped on its own, and although any glassware will suffice, there are specific glasses from which a sip of Casamigos is enhanced and reaches its full potential.
The best glass to sip tequila, or any spirit for that matter, is anyone that allows enough room for both your mouth and nose simultaneously. These types of glasses trap the aromas of the tequila and hold them for your nose to take in while you take each sip. Smell contributes to taste immensely, so having your senses intensified in tandem naturally makes for a more profound experience. Glassware that will work to achieve this includes Glencairn glasses, brandy glasses, or wine tumblers. There are also tequila-specific glasses called copitas, which have a tulip shape and long stem, resemblant of a champagne flute.
If sipping spirits straight isn't quite for you, Casamigos Blanco is an excellent tequila to use in classic cocktails like a classic frozen margarita or zesty Paloma, or something as simple as a Mexican Mule. No matter what you need your Blanco tequila to do, Casamigos Blanco has your back. Everyone has different tastes and preferences, and this tequila will satisfy them all.
Is Casamigos Blanco expensive?
According to Wine-Searcher, one bottle of Casamigos Blanco costs an average of around $50. There are several high-quality tequilas produced with passion and craftmanship that do cost less than Casamigos Blanco, yes, but Casamigos Blanco is not an overpriced tequila. Considering Casamigos markets itself as an -ultra-premium brand of tequila in addition to its widespread popularity, the price point of its Blanco tequila is just about right.
Many premium tequila brands upcharge for a bottle that will look nice on your home bar, which, to be fair, is what some drinkers look for. But if you do decide to spend the money on a bottle of Casamigos Blanco, you do not have to worry about whether or not you will get your money's worth. This tequila's price is an accurate representation of its quality, and its versatility and ability to be enjoyed with no other accompaniments is a characteristic well worth a few extra dollars.
Casamigos Blanco vs. Teremana Blanco
It seems only fair to compare and contrast Casamigos Blanco with another celebrity-owned tequila, and Teremana might be the only one worthy of doing so. Teremana Tequila is owned by Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson, who founded the brand in March 2020, and, just like Casamigos, the brand was quick to catch on. Teremana broke an industry record for first-year sales, selling more than 600,000 cases.
The name is an homage to Johnson's Polynesian heritage, translating to "spirit of the earth" in his ancestral language. As of now, Teremana still only produces a Blanco tequila and a reposado tequila, but each is a quality expression that goes further than the bottle. Teremana is dedicated to producing its spirits ethically and sustainably. In fact, 100% of leftover agave fibers are converted into an organic fertilizer used on the agave fields. Plus, the wastewater left at the end of the process undergoes filtration to be purified and used again. It's a quality brand for more reasons than one.
A bottle of Teremana Blanco costs an average of $32, per Wine-Searcher, which is well short of the Casamigos Blanco, but both price points are fair. Teremana Blanco is a very well-executed, clean, tasty tequila you can get at a relatively low price. Casamigos Blanco, however, is the superior product and the price point authentically reflects that.