Are you a tequila lover looking for a new addition to your shelf? Consider a bottle of Gran Centenario Leyenda. It would not only make your time with friends memorable but also brings a level of prestige.
The production of small batches of tequila in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, began several centuries ago. As was tradition, Mexicans believe traditions should be celebrated, so they remain loyal to tequila.
In this article, we will be doing a Gran Centenario Leyenda Review, bringing to the table all there is to know about this drink.
Let’s get started!
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Value for Price
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Sippability
⇒ Fun Facts ⇐
| Name: | Gran Centenario Leyenda Extra Anejo Tequila |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Gran Centenario |
| Country: | Mexico |
| Spirit Style: | Anejo |
| Spirit Type: | Tequila |
| Taste: | Rich, Oak, Lengthy |
Brand History
Mexico’s #1 tequila, Gran Centenario, was founded in 1857 by a tavern owner and tequila maker, Lazaro Gallardo. He was the first Tequila Master Distiller, using a groundbreaking and registered Seleccion Suave process to blend high-quality tequila. To date, the company applies the same method to create 100% agave tequila, which yields exceptional smoothness and flavor complexity.
The Mexican tradition is blended into every bottle, so the brand remains Mexico’s #1 tequila maker. It also remains a family-owned business, transcending through the years with the same tradition.
In 1920, Lazaro’s son Luciano started bottling the family’s tequila. In addition, the bottle is designed with ‘The Angel of Independence,’ inspired by the Mexican Centenario gold bullion coin, minted to venerate the centenary of the country’s independence in 1910.
This was also why Gallardo named his tequila Gran Centenario, commemorating the beginning of a new century and marking the kick-off of selling it at his tavern.
Gran Centenario Leyenda Extra Anejo Tequila Review
This exceptional and authentic Extra Anejo tequila contains matchless flavor and character. The founder first created it as special tequila for his notable guests and family. Gran Centenario Leyenda is made using the same original recipes that have exceeded generations. Its complex flavor and notes have been used to celebrate people, places, and moments. Here is the taste profile you have been longing to know:
Nose: This four-year-old Extra Anejo kicks off with oak blasts. While breathing, vanilla, agave syrup, and caramel pop in, followed by a banana note.
Taste: Oak takes center stage on the palate, followed by more oak. As you sip it, vanilla and caramel step in, followed by hints of black pepper and citrus notes.
Finish: The ending is medium-to-long, with more oak stealing the show. However, caramel and spice linger backstage.
Alcohol content: Gran Centenario Leyenda is bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in the United States and 38% ABV (76 proof) in Mexico. Due to tax reasons, tequila is usually watered down south of the border. You have to consider the location when buying it.
Price: This tequila could be pricey because of the length of time involved in its aging. On average, you can get it only between $120 and $160 per bottle.
Aged: This spirit is aged four years (48 months) in New American oak.
Pros & Cons
Many factors determine the answer to the question. However, as long as you drink responsibly, the following reasons are strong enough to pour this drink into a glass and sip:
Help lose weight: If you plan to shed some excesses and are skeptical about drinking a glass of this spirit, give yourself the treat you desire. While the rule states that if you want to lose weight, don’t drink alcohol, drinking it in a controlled quantity isn’t bad. The agave sugar in the drink is natural and stimulates the metabolism to burn fat.
Aids digestion: Taking a small quantity of tequila after a sumptuous meal promotes digestion. It is not also wrong to do so before the meal or together with it. All the drink does is stimulate the appetite and metabolism while assisting digestion.
Help drug make it to the colon: Individuals suffering from diseases affecting the digestive system, including colitis, may need the fructans in Leyenda to rev up the metabolism. Certain natural chemicals in fructans help shield the drug from the stomach acid to the colon, where it is needed.
Curb insomnia: Having a relaxing effect makes Gran Centenario Leyenda a possible option for fighting a lack of sleep. Taking it occasionally enables you not to become dependent on it.
Doesn’t give hangover: Since this particular tequila brand is a high shelf and is made from 100% agave, you can trust it not to knock you out.
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How Best is Gran Centenario Leyenda Served?
The most recommended way to serve Gran Centenario Leyenda is by pouring it into a glass at room temperature and drinking it. Drinking it neat makes you feel at home with the hidden flavors of this tequila. It is smooth enough to be enjoyed by sipping it. Do not add water or an ice cube; diluting it does not get better.
Additionally, using it as a tequila mixer is too expensive to make cocktails. If you must mix it into cocktails, use the Anejo version.
Perfect Pairings
Determining which food to pair with your Leyenda can be a challenging task. It could be more daunting if everything on the menu looks tantalizing. Never mind; we will help you select the best options for this tequila. Below are the recommended ones:
Nachos: If you want to know the best party food that goes well with Gran Centenario Leyenda, look no further than nachos. Nacho’s saltiness complements the sweetness of the Extra Anejo. The taste can only be described by trying it.
White meat: dishes containing white meat and citrus-based sauce will pair well with this tequila. You won’t go wrong if you want chicken fajitas, fish tacos, pork enchiladas, or other varieties. Leyenda will enhance the flavor of the food.
Ceviche: When trying Gran Centenario Leyenda with seafood, ceviche usually comes to mind. It is a dish with scallops, shrimp, fish, and a tangy lime juice sauce. This entrée is worth dying for once a glass of this tequila is close by.
Dessert: Who said tequila is not a great option to wash down your dessert? Flan is one sugary treat that would make your exploration a memorable one. If you want to know, flan is homemade vanilla custard with a burnt sugar topping. Try it with cakes, chocolate, or other desserts, and you will remain grateful for what it does to your taste buds.
Popular Related Drinks
Gran Centenario came prepared for its unique customers, willing to buy excellent drinks. Whether you want Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, or Crystalino versions of tequila, you will find them in their collections. Of course, Leyenda is the Extra Anejo you are looking for.
Gran Centenario Plata: Blended in French Limousin oak barrels to obtain a delicate wood note and an exceptionally smooth taste, this tequila is a remarkable silver tequila. It gives fruit-forward notes of citrus, lime, and pear, with a touch of black pepper. It is made from 100% agave and is perfect for sipping and blending in cocktails.
Gran Centenario Reposado: Aged in new oak barrels for six months, this tequila gives a perfect equilibrium of smoothness and taste. On the nose, it offers a hint of fruit, light oak, vanilla, toasted almonds, and clove, with sweet characters of cooked agave. Besides, it opens on the palate with round and rich hints of spice, leading to a dominance of fresh agave tone, a bite of oak, and citrus vibes. This finishes with a bite of oak, black pepper, citrus, and grass. The color comes off as deep gold.
Gran Centenario Anejo: This drink is distilled meticulously from 100% blue agave and aged in new American oak casks. Afterward, it is blended using the proprietary Seleccion Suave process, creating a smooth and complex flavor profile. It also boasts a hint of sweetness and notes of vanilla, cooked agave, cloves, and toasted almonds. It is a top Anejo from Gran Centenario, which can be enjoyed on its own, over ice, as a smooth shot, or into a margarita. Finally, it has won several awards for the brand, including Double Gold Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirit Competition.
Gran Centenario Cristalino: This expertly crafted blend of Anejo and Extra Anejo tequila is the crux of the company’s excellence. It is meticulously finished in Calvados casks and filtered through a careful process. The outcome is the incredibly balanced, faultless tequila. It equally reveals sweet notes of cooked agave, vanilla, oak, and baked apple, with a smooth texture that hits the spot. This Gran Centenario Cristalino is making waves in the United States, covering over 35% of the high-end tequila category. The latest offering of Mexico’s #1 tequila maker provides a transformative, silky, and complex profile from the first sip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gran Centenario Leyenda good tequila?
The answer is yes because it is made from 100% agave and produced by a premium-tequila company. Besides, it is silky and rich, although it could be highly oaky. Extra Anejo could also be pricey since it has aged longer than most other tequila variants.
Does Gran Centenario Leyenda expire?
Typically, tequila has a shelf-life that keeps it fresh for ages due to the quantity of alcohol it contains. If properly stored, it can stay as long as you want it. In contrast, you can no longer guarantee its freshness once you open it.
How long is Gran Centenario Leyenda aged?
It is aged for four years or 48 months in new American oak barrels.
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Cheers
Gran Centenario Leyenda is one drink you should not miss whenever you come across it. It is a celebrity drink and gives prestige when you grace your occasion with a bottle.