The assumption that añejos and extra añejos, long-aged tequilas, were superior counterparts with unparalleled sophistication and complexity, is seeing a turn. Largely used in cocktails before, the un-aged or barely-aged blancos are now getting unprecedented attention thanks to their pure expressions. These “blancos” reveal the real character of the spirit - the agave taste, the terroir of the region it sprouts from, and the unique imprint of the distiller - aspects often shadowed in aged tequilas.

A striking instance of this changing perception can be seen in the results of the 2025 Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB). The CMB, renowned for its stringent standards, bestowed all three of its prestigious Grand Gold Medals, including the highly-coveted “Revelation Tequila,” to blanco tequilas.

In its 27th run, the CMB's Spirits Selection took place in Jalisco, Mexico. An international panel of over 120 judges from 45 countries participated in this event. Jalisco, known for being a cultural pivot of Mexico, is also the birthplace of tequila and supplies the bulk of the Blue Weber agave used in its production.

While more than one spirit can bag a Grand Gold Medal, only one takes home the Revelation honor. This year, the trophy went to Maestro Dobel Blanco, free of additives and formulated with just three ingredients - agave, water, and yeast. An offshoot of the family that owns Jose Cuervo, it was launched in 2008 by Juan Domingo Beckmann Legorreta. Retailing at $45, its taste notes are characterized by a smooth and lightly smoky finish punctuated with hints of caramel, cooked agave, olive, dried fruit, and nutty undertones.

Two other blancos swept up Grand Gold medals - Tequila Mi Familia Flores Plata and Tequila Fregón Blanco. Produced in Jalisco’s valleys, Flores Plata, retailing at $49, stands out with its cooked agave and citrus notes, while Fregón Blanco, from Jalisco's southern Highlands, resonates with flavors of agave, anise, and mint, complemented by light fruity notes.

Worth noting is that although these three Grand Gold champions are bottled at 40% ABV, the legal alcohol minimum in the USA, in Mexico they are bottled at lesser levels - Maestro Dobel and Mi Familia Flores at 38% ABV, and Fregón at 35% ABV.

Out of the nine Grand Gold Medals awarded in all spirits categories at the Spirit Selection, tequila claimed three. Tequilas also won a total of 62 medals including Gold and Silver, marking their best ever CMB performance.

As tequila continues its global transformation, its purest versions, the blancos, are the ones making the loudest impact.