Tres Generaciones Core Tequila Range

Tres Generaciones, one of Sauza’s upscale Tequila brands, has announced two new additions to the brand’s storied range: Tres Generaciones Cenobio’s Batch Plata Tequila and Añejo Cristalino. These are the first additions to the Tres Generaciones range in the last quarter century.

The story of Sauza, one of Tequila’s oldest and largest producers, is closely intertwined with the history of Tequila. Over multiple generations, Sauza has been one of the industry’s leading innovators and continues to do so today.

It was Cenobio Sauza, for example, who pioneered the use of steam to cook the agave piñas in the stone ovens (hornos). He was also among the first Tequila producers, along with Cuervo, to first export Tequila to the United States. Cenobio was also the first major producer to promote the exclusive use of the Blue Agave, then called Blue Chinese, for Tequila production.

In 1973, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the company, Sauza released Tres Generaciones in honor of the three generations that had managed Sauza since its creation: Don Cenobio, Don Eladio and Don Francisco Javier.

The new expressions are part of a packaging makeover that features refreshed graphics as well as a renewed distribution push in the North American market.

Cenobio’s Batch Plata is the premier entry into the planned Tres Generaciones Legacy Series—a set of limited-edition Tequilas that the distillery claims will “celebrate the rich, illustrious Sauza family heritage.” In addition, Tres Generaciones has also announced the release of a new ultra-premium offering—Tres Generaciones Añejo Cristalino.

Cenobio’s Batch Plata Tequila features tahona crushed Blue Weber agave. A tahona is a large stone wheel used to crush the cooked agave to extract the juice.

A tahona (stone wheel) used to crush the cooked agave at Sauza

This process is slower than either the typical automated roller mills or diffusers.  Rollers mills shred the cooked agave piñas to remove the fibers and crushes the pulp to extract the juice. Roller mills typically spray water over the crushed agave to maximize the extraction of sugars.

Diffusers work by shredding the piñas, either cooked or uncooked, although uncooked is typical, spraying the shredded material with a series of hot water sprays to extract the sugar and then, usually, cooking the liquid in an autoclave. An autoclave is essentially a large pressure cooker.

While very efficient, both processes has been criticized as resulting in the loss of some of the agave’s more subtle flavors. By comparison, crushing with a tahona is less severe and it’s believed by many Tequila enthusiasts, better preserves the full range of aroma and flavor elements in the resulting Tequila.

Like the other Tequilas in the Tres Generaciones range, it is triple distilled. Triple distillation is unusual for Tequila but not unheard of. There are around 73 different Tequila expressions across several dozen producers that are triple distilled. In addition to Tres Generaciones, some of the other well-known brands that triple distill include Casa Noble, Esperanto and Milagro. Not to be outdone, Luna Sueño is distilled four times.

The diffuser apparatus at Sauza used to extra agave sugars from the piñas

According to Rashidi Hodari, Managing Director Tequila at Beam Suntory:

It’s a tall order to make a spirit worth of one of the fathers of Tequila…Crafted using traditional processes akin to those employed in 19th century Mexico when Don Cenobio was pioneering his family legacy, this still strength Plata offers bold flavor and unmistakable character, honoring Don Cenobio’s extraordinary impact on Tequila history.

He added, “this limited-edition Tequila is just the start of exciting things to come.”

Also slated for addition to Tres Generaciones’ core range is an ultra-premium Añejo Cristalino. A Cristalino is a Tequila, typically an añejo, that has been filtered after aging to remove any color. The result is a crystal-clear liquid that is smooth yet showcases the oak influences, especially the vanilla and caramel notes, that are created from oak aging.

Luis Navarro, Senior National Brand Ambassador for Tres Generaciones, noted:

Though the liquid is absolutely crystal clear, our filtration process allows us to retain the Tequila’s unique complexity. The result is a pristine, incredibly smooth Tequila balancing light wood notes with a sweet and creamy taste that is best enjoyed neat, over ice or in a craft cocktail.

Added Hodari, “Cristalino Tequila is the fastest growing subcategory in the market.” In Mexico, the introduction of Cristalino Tequilas has led to a new growth spurt in the Tequila market that has brought in many female consumers, especially Millennials. In fact, in Mexico, women now outnumber men among Tequila drinkers.

Below are tasting notes on the Tres Generaciones core range, including the two latest additions.

The Tres Generaciones Tequila Core Range

Tres Generaciones, Tequila Plata, 40% ABV, 750 ml

On the nose, there is a distinctive sweetness with a slight minerality. The Tequila is fruity with additional notes of citrus and cooked agave, along with tropical fruits, green vegetative notes, a hint of anise and spice notes.

On the palate, it’s very smooth and creamy, with a very slight but lingering pepperiness. There are green vegetative and herbal notes of green pepper and tobacco leaf. There are noticeable agave notes, both cooked and raw, along with some earthiness.

The finish is medium length, slightly sweet, with a distinctive, lingering green pepper note.

Tres Generaciones, Tequila Reposado, 40% ABV, 750 ml

The Tequila is rested for a minimum of four months in virgin (new) barrels of American oak. All of Sauza’s Tequila production is matured in new barrels of American oak. The toasting can vary from a medium toast for barrels intended for Tres Generaciones to a deep char for barrels destined for Hornito Black Barrel.

On the nose, there are light wood notes, along with vegetative, citrus and spice notes. There are additional notes of Japanese pear, cooked agave and caramel notes.

On the palate, the Tequila is sweet, smooth and creamy with green vegetative and herbal notes that feature green pepper and raw agave, along with flavors of cooked agave, Japanese pear, caramel, and spice notes of cinnamon, ginger, cracked black pepper, allspice and a hint of earthy white pepper.

The finish is long, sweet, with a distinctive earthiness and lingering vegetative and black pepper notes.

Tres Generaciones, Tequila Añejo, 40% ABV, 750 ml

This Tequila is also aged new barrels of American oak for a minimum of one year.

On the nose, its very fruity with hints of tropical fruit, along with vanilla and pepper notes. Both the vegetative and tropical fruit notes become more pronounced as the Tequila opens up in the glass. There are additional notes of cooked agave, caramel, spice, along with some citrus, a bit of smoke and a touch of saddle leather.

On the palate, its smooth and creamy, featuring sweet tropical fruit notes of mango, papaya, melon. a hint of coconut, and just a touch of banana and pineapple. There are additional vegetative notes, though less pronounced than its younger siblings, along with some light wood, some citrus, brown sugar, caramel and vanilla. There is also a pronounced pepperiness, although it fades quickly.

The finish is long, sweet, with a lingering fruitiness and a pronounced pepperiness.

Sauza Tres Generaciones Cenobio's Batch Plata

Tres Generaciones, Cenobio’s Batch Plata, Legacy Edition Tequila, 45% ABV, 750 ml

Unlike the other Tres Generaciones expressions, which use a diffuser for extracting the sugars from the agave piñas, a process that Sauza refers to as “gentle extraction” the piñas intended for Cenobio’s Batch are baked in traditional stone ovens and then crushed using a tahona.

On the nose, the Tequila is very intensely flavored. There are distinctive notes of cooked agave and caramel, along with earth, citrus and black pepper.

On the palate, the sweet, cooked agave and creamy caramel notes are very pronounced, as is the pepperiness. There are additional notes of earth and dried mushroom, along with a hint of minerality.

The finish is long, sweet and creamy, with a noticeable palate weight and lingering cooked agave and caramel notes, and a pronounced pepperiness.

This is a wonderful Tequila. Much more intensely flavored than the other Tres Generaciones expressions, and an excellent candidate to be drunk straight up or on the rocks.

Sauza Tres Generaciones Anejo Cristalino Tequila

Tres Generaciones, Añejo Cristalino, 39% ABV, 750 ml

Like its three original Tres Generaciones siblings, this Tequila is produced via diffuser extraction with the extracted sugary liquid subsequently cooked in an autoclave. It’s aged in new barrels of American white oak and then filtered, using charcoal and diatomaceous earth prior to bottling, to remove the color.

On the nose, it has a slight vegetative note, along with vanilla, caramel and black pepper.

On the palate, its smooth and viscous. There are notes of caramel and cooked agave, some fruit, along with black pepper, and some slight vegetative flavors. There is also a very slight hint of smoke and a bit of wood spice.

Tres Generaciones is an outstanding line of Tequilas—smooth, creamy and flavorful. The limited addition expressions promise to offer exceptionally concentrated, very flavorful Tequilas, which make great sippers and will do double duty both as an aperitif and an after-dinner drink. Well worth exploring.