The tequila revolution is in full force now and as a lifelong fan (well since I was 18) I’m all for it. Exciting contemporary brands are popping up all the time and you can even pick up a bottle of half-decent 100% agave tequila at your local supermarket these days.
Over in the United States, tequila sales are set to eclipse those of Bourbon by the end of the year and vodka over the next few years. It has quite a bit more catching up to do here in the UK, but the signs are positive – sales were up 94% in the 12-month period leading up to March 2022.
Hacien is by far one of the brightest newcomers on the tequila scene and the fact that this brand was born in Leeds makes me love them even more. Set up by three entrepreneurs with a wealth of industry experience, Hacien has been several years in the making, but countless trips to Mexico and endless hours of product and brand development have paid off.
The result is a trio of premium tequilas that have already taken the bottle shop at Harvey Nichols and select bars in Leeds, London, and Manchester by storm. The bottle design is a thing of sheer beauty, the branding is spot on and most importantly, the liquid itself is supreme.
I enjoyed a Cristalino Old Fashioned at the Hacien bar in Harvey Nicks and was mightily impressed. Mixed using the bold and complex Añejo Cristalino (Hacien’s premium barrel-aged and charcoal-filtered variant), bitters and sugar, this moreish tipple is a million miles away from the mediocre mixto blends that are so often associated with tequila.
I left with a bottle of Hacien’s signature Pineapple Tequila Blanco, which has already become a bestseller. As someone who is not especially fond of pineapple, I was pleased to discover it perfectly complements the flavour of 100% agave tequila.
It’s also incredibly versatile. You can enjoy it as a shot or sip neat over ice. The sweet and aromatic pineapple balances nicely with the subtle tequila flavour. It’s silky smooth with no harsh aftertaste.
But this variant is best enjoyed mixed with a good quality ginger ale (we went with Fever Tree), which perhaps goes down a little too easily. If you happen to be a little more adventurous, you should try out the cocktail recipes on the Hacien website, which includes several new creations and some modern twists on classics. The Cafe Naranja looks particularly tempting.
Hacien is available to purchase at Harvey Nicks and can also be enjoyed in Leeds at bars such as Dakota Deluxe, SALT and Fibre. It makes for an excellent gift for tequila-loving friends and family and is already near the top of my Christmas 2022 wish list. Hacien rocks.
