what is cristalino tequila

Cristalino tequila is a type of aged tequila that has been filtered, often through charcoal, to remove the naturally occurring colors it picks up from spending time inside the barrel. The filtration process strips the color and some of the tequila’s woodier notes without removing the rich flavors and textures imparted by the barrel. This results in a tequila that has the complexity and character of an añejo with the crisp, bright notes of a blanco. Cristalino tequila is usually an añejo or extra añejo tequila that has been filtered with activated charcoal in order to remove its color and enhance smoothness while retaining the taste and aroma of barrel aging. Cristalino tequila was first developed by tequila producer Don Julio in 2011 and is the fastest growing tequila category in Mexico. There are currently around 50 brands of cristalino tequila in Mexico, around two dozen of them are available in the U.S. . Cristalino tequila has subtle honey, almond or coconut tones, often with a long finish and a less peppery or citrusy bite than a typical blanco. It is a relatively new category and is gaining attention as tequila brands experiment with the category.