Gran Centenario Rosangel

Rosangel Hibiscus-Flavored Tequila, A Cinco de Mayo Treat

Filed under: Spirits

Sipping a margarita made with the hibiscus-infused Gran Centenario's Rosangel's Tequila took me back several decades to when I tasted my first flavored spirit. It was a Buffalo vodka and appropriately enough, it was served to me in the former USSR on the eve of May Day.

So here on the eve of celebrating Cinco de Mayo, it seemed only appropriate to try the fanciful combination of an hibiscus-infused tequila that debuted to market about a year ago. While not a frequent tequila drinker, I was curious about the hibiscus, which as a tea drink is consumed hot or cold all over the world. In Mexico, the hibiscus is known for its mild flavor, tanginess and color.

Rosangel is made of the "finest, sweetest, highest quality" 100% Highland blue agave, and only harvested after a decade or more. The hearts of the agave are baked for up to 72 hours in traditional clay ovens to "guarantee that even the subtlest flavors of the agave remain." After the resulting spirit is fermented and distilled, it rests in new French Limousin white oak barrels for a minimum of 10 months, then blended with a small amount of older tequila reserves for balance and character and then set to rest for another two months in port barrels.

Tags: alcohol, cinco de mayo, Gran Centenario, Gran Centenario Rosangel, spirits, tequila, tequila recipes, tequila tasting

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Gran Centenario Debuts World's 1st Hibiscus Tequila

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Gran Centenario is releasing a new ultra-premium, pink-tinged spirit - Gran Centenario Rosangel (above), the world's first hibiscus-infused tequila. Rosangel, like Gran Centenario's much-loved Reposado, is made of the "finest, sweetest, highest quality" 100% Highland blue agave, harvested after 10 to 12 years. The hearts of the agave are baked for up to 72 hours in traditional clay ovens to "guarantee that even the subtlest flavors of the agave remain". After the resulting spirit is fermented and distilled, it rests in new French Limousin white oak barrels for a minimum of 10 months.

The Reposado is then blended with a small amount of older tequila reserves for character and balance, after which it rests for two months in port barrels, which "imparts Rosangel's sunset pink hue and deepens the complexity of its flavor." Finally, the spirit is infused with the natural flavor of delicately sweet hibiscus flowers, a staple in Mexican culture and cuisine. The finished product has a complex, perfumed nose with ripe fruit and floral notes, plus hints of vanilla, while the palate holds flavors of dried fruits leading to a smooth, gentle finish.

Tags: Gran Centenario, Gran Centenario Rosangel, GranCentenario, GranCentenarioRosangel, Hibiscus, Mexico, Rosangel, tequila, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay, vday09