A good quality Tequila can be the difference between a good drink and an amazing drink, especially in the case of Margaritas. Does this one stack up the many available options out there ? Let us find out.This is our review of Olmeca Altos Tequila Plata.
There might be a few people out there unfamiliar with Olmeca Tequila and assume it’s a fairly new brand, but Olmeca has now been going for 53 years strong and since its launch in 1967 the company has grown to have a presence in over 80 countries worldwide. Olmeca Tequilas are produced at Destileria Colonial de Jalisco in Mexico with the operations at the plant overseen by Maestro Tequilero Jesús Hernández and his team of workers. Jesús is responsible for all of the production process of the Tequilas, from the harvest of the Agave plants in the fields to the eventual bottling of the Tequila. The location of the distillery is in the small town of Arandas, Jalisco (the unofficial capital of Los Altos) 2104 meters above sea level taking advantage of the blue Agave plants that are locally grown.
Olmeca has three Tequila products; Olmeca , Olmeca Altos and Olmeca Tezón, all of which contain Tahona Liquid. But it is the production process of Olmecas products that make them stand out from the crowd. Made from blue Agave plants that have been aged over 7-8 years, a traditional brick oven is then used to cook the piñas. A 500 year old artisan Tahona method is then used which consists of a two tonne millstone made of volcanic rock known locally as Tezontle. Once the Agave piñas have been cooked they are crushed by the Tahona creating a pulp and drawing out all the sweet juices from the fibres. These juices are referred to as Tahona Liquid and is used widely in all of Olmecas Tequilas fermentation and distillery processes, with Olmeca Tezón exclusively containing 100% Tahona Liquid – certified by Consejo Regulador del Tequila.
What is in it?
As stated above Olmeca Altos Plata is made from Blue Agave plants and is 100 % Agave meaning that it is a pure product that has not had any additional preservatives or sweeteners added to it in its production process. This is a great time to mention this, if you are looking for great quality Tequilas only buy the ones that have “100% Agave” on the bottle as then you will defiantly at least be consuming a pure quality product. In terms of everything else in this Tequila we could not find any further description of ingredients on the bottle or online, however it is fair to assume its citric flavours come from the use of lemon and lime juices and some form of spices would have been included to get that slight heat from it that we mentioned. It is not unusually for companies to withhold ingredient details of their products, especially if they have their own secret formular or production process.
What does it taste like ?
Altos Plata has great light tones of ripe lemons and limes with a steady well balance undertone of Jalapeno spice running throughout it. You can also get a slight hint of orange zest and pepper in it that provide a unique experience that you will struggle to find in other common Tequilas .It is not what you would call an intense flavour but if you have tried many of Tequilas before you will certainly know the flavour in this one as soon as it hits your tongue. As a straight shot with a lime or lemon wedge it is exceptional and very pleasing , certainly if you find yourself doing a lot of Tequila shots this one would be ideal as the flavours help what for some people is a quick experience they do more for the laughs then the quality of the Tequila. There are many Tequilas out there that are not a good quality product that will add in sweeteners which will ruin the natural taste and push aside the undertones, but this one takes full advantage of its unique distillery process and this results a pleasing overall taste.
What is it like in a drink ?
Well there is probably no better test of a Tequila then using it in a Margarita, and this one held up really well in what we consider the best balanced Margarita recipe. The citrus and fruity tones of it are difficult to sus out in the drink but are definitely there. As well as this it pairs well with the sweeter side of our Margarita that comes from the Agave nectar used in it. The alcohol bite of it is there but not so much as it would put you off, it blends in quite well with the traditional sweet and sour vibe of a Margarita without ruining all the great flavours you would get.
We feel this Tequila would also go well in other Tequila based cocktails such as the Matador or Pacific Sunshine as its citrus tones and flavours would balance out the sweet parts of these drinks well. It may also be worth exploring Olmecas Reposado Tequila for use in a Margarita (Review on this one coming soon) as it will bring a different dynamic to your drinks and broaden your choices when making Tequila cocktails.
Is it worth my money ?
In stores in our area, the available Olmeca Tequila products typically range from £24 -£28 depending on the store and offers on at the time. We feel this is a reasonable price range considering the quality of the product and when you consider the price of a standard Patron Silver Tequila (typically £37-£45) it really is a good price. Depending on your country you may be strapped for many choices when it comes to Tequilas, especially ones that are 100% Agave and actually have good quality to them. But Olmeca Altos Plata is sold worldwide, and you should at least be able to buy it online through Amazon if needs be to try it.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by this Tequila considering its price, somewhat simple and light flavours, and the brand itself being known but not being a household name when it comes to well-known Tequilas. Many people will look to a Patron for a good quality Tequila but not everyone can afford it , in contrast those with little to spend usually end up buying something like Jose Quavo which is cheap but the overall quality of product just is not there and you will be disappointed. We Like to think Altos Plata is a good middle ground and possibly a contender to some of the more popular high end brands.
If there was a criticism to it , we would say that it could offer more in terms of the heat end of things. As mentioned, there is a slight spice flavour to it. However, this is barely noticeable and the average person probably would not pick it up. So if you are looking for a good value Silver Tequila that will provide a good tasting experience across both cocktails and in straight shots then Olmeca Altos Plata may just be the next one on your list you will want to try.
Rating 8.5/10
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