Herradura marks 50 years of Reposado with Masters win

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the world’s first Reposado, introduced by Herradura. Kicking off the celebrations, The Tequila & Mezcal Masters saw the brand take home three awards, following on from its success in 2023’s competition.

This year’s Tequila & Mezcal Masters saw Herradura take home three awards, following on from its success in 2023’s competition.

With a heritage dating back to 1870, Tequila Herradura has been using traditional production methods to craft its products while staying true to its values of authenticity and sustainability.

Tequila Herradura is made using traditional brick ovens to slowly cook the agave, which can take up to 26 hours. The process helps to enhance the flavours and aroma, resulting in an extraordinary and award-winning liquid.

All of the brand’s products are created at Casa Herradura in Amatitán, Jalisco (the birthplace of Tequila), which is said to be one of the world’s oldest and most historic Tequila distilleries.

The key to crafting such extraordinary liquids lies in the production process, which comprises natural fermentation, double distillation and the vital ageing process, as well as its use of 100% Blue Weber agave. More than 16 different species of fruit trees on its grounds provide the different strains of yeast to make Herradura’s unique flavour profiles.

In The Tequila & Mezcal Masters 2024, Tequila Herradura took home three trophies, including a coveted Master award for its Reposado expression. The judges praised the super-premium Tequila for its “complex layered aromas with sweet vanilla and stone fruit”.

It comes as no surprise that its Reposado expression was awarded, as the Herradura distiller is credited with inventing the very first Reposado in 1974. As well as the Reposado, Herradura’s Plata (silver) and Añejo were also awarded during the competition. The awards add to the three Gold medals that the brand took home in 2023.

The brand takes pride in its extended ageing periods for all of its expressions, with the Resposado aged for 11 months – nine months longer than the industry standard – and its extra Añejo aged for a staggering 49 months. Its Añejo expression is aged for 25 months – 13 months longer than the industry standard.

Casa Herradura claims to be one of only a few Tequila distilleries, if not the only one, that produces its own barrels. The distillery ages its liquid in 55-gallon charred American white oak barrels.

Herradura has made innovation a priority throughout its over 150 years in the Tequila business. Going forward, the brand hopes to highlight the modern and unique twist it brings to an age-old liquid through marketing campaigns, activations and creative cocktail serves. With recipe suggestions including a Watermelon Negroni – made with Herradura Plata and a blend of watermelon, Italian vermouth and a bitter aperitivo – and a Tequila Old Fashioned, made with Herradura Añejo, coffee and chilli – the brand is showing Tequila is far more versatile than an ingredient for a Margarita.