Cierto Private Collection Reposado 750ML

Cierto Private Collection Reposado 750ML is a 40% ABV ultra-premium tequila aged 11 months in French Limousin oak casks from Jalisco, Mexico. This expression took Best In Show Tequila at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and earned 95 points from The Tasting Panel, placing it among the most decorated reposados currently available.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Jalisco, Mexico  |  Aged 11 Months  |  Distillery: NOM 1146, Amatitán

Production & Heritage

NOM 1146, situated in the town of Amatitán, Jalisco, operates under the direction of master distillers Enrique Fonseca and Sergio Mendoza. The Private Collection Reposado starts with 100% estate-grown Highlands blue Weber agave, steam-cooked in low-pressure autoclaves and fermented in open-air tanks before double distillation through a combination of copper pot and column stills. Where this expression breaks from convention is its 11-month maturation in French Limousin oak casks that previously held fine wine, cognac, and Armagnac — a significant departure from the American oak barrels that dominate reposado production across the category.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Butter and vanilla arrive first on the nose, followed by rolling caramel and a gentle warmth contributed by the Limousin oak. Beneath it all, the cooked agave backbone remains clearly defined.

Taste: The entry is soft with mature cooked agave, transitioning at mid-palate to butterscotch and light vanilla. Caramel sweetness then builds toward a peak of rich cinnamon spice, with the French oak lending a polished, almost vinous structure that separates this reposado from its American-oak-aged peers.

Finish: Medium-long and slightly dry, with lingering cinnamon and caramel that slowly recede. The agave character holds through to the end, keeping the finish anchored and distinctly tequila.

How to Drink Cierto Reposado

Neat at room temperature is the most direct way to appreciate the Limousin oak influence; a single ice cube or a few drops of water can help release the butterscotch and vanilla aromatics further. For cocktails, three options stand out: a Tequila Old Fashioned, where the cinnamon spice and caramel replace bourbon's corn sweetness with agave-driven complexity; a Tequila Manhattan, since the wine-cask maturation naturally bridges to sweet vermouth's herbal depth; and a refined Paloma, where the caramel richness adds a new dimension against grapefruit's tartness.

Best For

• Gifting a tequila enthusiast who values French oak-matured spirits
• Post-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or flan
• Side-by-side tastings comparing Limousin oak aging to American oak reposados
• Marking a milestone with an award-winning, limited-production tequila

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cierto Reposado taste like? Cierto Private Collection Reposado leads with cooked agave and butterscotch, develops into caramel and light vanilla at mid-palate, and finishes with a pronounced cinnamon spice and a slightly dry close.

How does Cierto Reposado compare to Don Julio 1942? Don Julio 1942 is technically an añejo aged a minimum of two and a half years in American oak, yielding heavier oak and toffee notes, while Cierto Private Collection Reposado rests 11 months in French Limousin oak, producing a lighter, more agave-forward profile with vinous elegance. Both sit in the ultra-premium tier, but they represent fundamentally different aging philosophies.

Is Cierto Reposado good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 40% ABV and 11-month French oak maturation produce a smooth, layered spirit specifically designed for contemplative sipping. Its 95-point score from The Tasting Panel was awarded based on neat evaluation.

Where is Cierto Reposado made? Cierto Private Collection Reposado is produced at NOM 1146 in Amatitán, Jalisco, Mexico, using 100% estate-grown blue Weber agave sourced from the Jalisco Highlands.

What foods pair well with Cierto Reposado? Grilled pork with a mole glaze complements the cinnamon spice; crème brûlée mirrors the caramel and vanilla notes; aged Manchego cheese echoes the butterscotch richness; dark chocolate intensifies the dry finish; and carnitas tacos with pickled onion balance the oak sweetness with acidity.

What sizes does Cierto Reposado come in? Cierto Private Collection Reposado is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Cierto Reposado worth the price? Cierto Private Collection Reposado positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier, and the French Limousin oak aging, estate-grown agave, and consistent critical recognition — including Best In Show Tequila at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — substantiate its standing among top-shelf reposados.

Why Cierto Reposado?

The defining feature here is the 11-month rest in French Limousin oak casks previously used for cognac, Armagnac, and wine — a production choice almost no other reposado maker employs at this level. That decision, guided by master distillers Enrique Fonseca and Sergio Mendoza, delivers a vinous refinement and cinnamon-laced complexity that American oak simply does not produce. The results speak through the scorecard: Best In Show Tequila at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a 2023 San Francisco Double Gold, and 95 points from The Tasting Panel. For anyone serious about reposado tequila, this is a benchmark expression that demonstrates how much barrel selection can reshape the category.