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Cincoro Tequila by Michael Jordan Review
by Greg Rutkowski
Distilled at Destiladora del Valle de Tequila (ranked #74 out of 114 distilleries) in Tequila, Jalisco, Michael Jordan’s Cincoro Tequila has a NOM of 1438. According to TMM (Tequila Matchmaker), it carries an average rating of 77/100 and offers 5 different expressions:
- Cincoro Tequila Blanco
- Cincoro Tequila Reposado
- Cincoro Tequila Anejo
- Cincoro Tequila Extra Anejo
- Cincoro Tequila Gold
Distillation Process
According to Cincoro Tequila’s website, their mark of distinction is that, unlike most other tequilas, Cincoro blends both highland (sweeter) and lowland (earthier) Jalisco agave to create its distinct flavor.
Blue Weber agave is cooked first in a stone oven and then a second time in a high-pressure autoclave. It is extracted in a roller mill, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and then twice-distilled in stainless pots with copper coils.
Cincoro Tequila also boasts a “unique aging regimen” that involves Tennessee whiskey barrels and a considerably longer aging process than the minimum required for reposados, anejos and extra anejos.
Cincoro Tequila Blanco
On TMM, the Blanco has a panel rating of 60/100 and a community rating of 73/100.
The Blanco clocks in at 40% ABV and has a retail price of $85.00.
The Cincoro Tequila website says the tasting notes are “smooth and complex. Fresh and cooked agave, citrus (lime, grapefruit), light vanilla.”
Cincoro Tequila Reposado
On TMM, the Reposado has a panel rating of 61/100 and a community rating of 76/100.
The Reposado clocks in at 40% ABV and has a retail price of $105.00.
The Cincoro Tequila website says the tasting notes are “smooth, slightly sweet, light oak. Cooked agave, caramelized vanilla, white chocolate.”
Cincoro Tequila Anejo
On TMM, the Anejo has a panel rating of 62/100 and a community rating of 81/100.
The Anejo clocks in at 40% ABV and has a retail price of $145.00.
The Cincoro Tequila website says the tasting notes are “complex, toasted oak, cooked agave, butterscotch, dark chocolate.”
Cincoro Tequila Extra Anejo
On TMM, the Extra Anejo has a panel rating of 62/100 and a community rating 83/100.
The Extra Anejo clocks in at 40% ABV and has a retail price upwards of $1350.00.
The Cincoro Tequila website says the tasting notes are “very complex, light toasted oak, sweet cooked agave, white chocolate, lingering spices, light coffee.”
Cincoro Tequila Gold
The Cincoro Gold claims to be a blend of the previous four expressions, including a “generous proportion” of the very expensive Extra Anejo.
On TMM, the Cincoro Tequila Gold has no panel rating and a community rating of 89/100.
The Gold clocks in at 40% ABV and has a retail price of $329.00.
The Cincoro Tequila website says the tasting notes are “sweet honey, toasted oak, vanilla, and dried fruits.”
What The Critics Are Saying About Cincoro Tequila
Many critics seemed to take issue with Cincoro’s heavy-handed cake batter and vanilla sweetness as well as the absence of a genuinely complex agave taste. Its hefty price tag also caught a lot of flack, as many critics felt it did not correspond with the questionable quality. Yet another point of contention was that additives were detectable and that the excessive sweetness simply masked underlying issues with the real flavor of the tequila.
However, community ratings were all around much higher than critic ratings for Cincoro Tequila, and fans of the tequila championed its smooth drinkability, unique bottle design and Michael Jordan-backed branding. It’s also worth noting that it won several medals in various spirit competitions, including a double gold for its Reposado. In conclusion, this tequila will probably more than satisfy the average consumer, but might leave tequila aficionados wincing at the less-than-authentic taste as well as the hole they’ve burnt in their pockets.
The History of Cincoro Tequila And Michael Jordan
According to the story, it was the summer of 2016, and five heretofore barely acquainted basketball team owners—Michael Jordan, Emilia Fazzalari, Wyc Grousbeck, Jeanie Buss and Wes Edens—arranged to have dinner together. They chose the popular Pasquale Jones pizzeria in New York to discuss NBA business; unfortunately, a mistake with their reservation left them stuck in the waiting area for almost an hour.
Having just come from a bar where they drank tequila, the topic of tequila was again brought up, and the five strangers bonded over their enthusiasm for the spirit. It was during this time that they began to discuss what each of them longed for in a tequila, what was missing. By the end of the night, they had decided to join forces to create a tequila that was “ultra smooth” with a “long, luxurious finish” reminiscent of cognac or whiskey. Launched in September 2019, the result of this meeting was Cincoro Tequila.
The Meaning of “Cincoro” Tequila
The name is a combination of the Spanish words “cinco,” meaning five, and “oro,” meaning gold. “Cinco” refers to the five founders who conceived of Cincoro Tequila, and “oro” refers to the gold standard to which they hold their tequila.
The Cincoro Tequila Bottle
Designed by Mike Smith, the creative director of the Jordan brand at Nike, the bottle’s tapered and five-sided design is intended to represent an agave leaf, while the glass stopper is a mini inverted replica of the bottle itself. The brand’s “Fire Agave” icon is displayed both on the front of the bottle and on the punt of the bottle, which is notably at a 23-degree angle (23 also being Michael Jordan’s jersey number).
The Cincoro Tequila Cocktail Recipes
The Cincoro Tequila website provides 6 original recipes using their tequila:
- Cincoro Old Fashioned
- Cincoro Diablo
- Cincoro Margarita
- Cincoro Paloma
- Cincoro Blanco Spritz
- Cincoro Jalisco Cocktail
Of course, that’s not to say you can’t make your own, or make one of ours!
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